When I was in college, I made a decision to not own a TV. Movies would be an option (my sons and I watched many movies), but I decided that a constant stream of TV pouring into the room felt like it was somehow making me less. I’ve always been a movie buff, but I like to GO to the movies and also liked it better when I had to drive to Block Busters and pick something out—in the same way not having junk food in my house makes it easier for me to stay lean, just not having a constant stream of TV & movies seemed to make it easier to hold on to the brain cells.
Until last week, I had not read a good explanation of what I’ve felt since 40 years ago when I made that decision about TV.
Ayn Rand was born and educated in Russia and from that background wrote one of the most influential books in the English language, Atlas Shrugged. From that perspective (knowing what communist Russia looked like), she frequently wrote about the difference between “freedom of the mind” which she saw people dying to achieve in Russia, and “freedom from the mind” which she saw in the drugs and pop culture of the ’60s.
Her Romantic Manifesto contrasts these two ideas in the area of art.
She also, maybe, more importantly, talks about why we need art.
I’m a fan of Eminem (who can not love his song about mom’s spaghetti being vomited when he’s nervous about his big chance) and other rappers, as well as a fan of Beethoven–so I’m puzzled by my choices. What IS art and how is it made and how do we choose what to consume?
Rand’s book the Romantic Manifesto is helping me sort it out (at 61 years old, I still don’t claim to have the riddle solved)
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Top reviews from other countries
Bernardo Veiga Silva Rohrbacher
Livro bom, mas de qualidade mediana
Reviewed in Brazil on January 20, 2019
Sean
Highly thought provoking study on art and it's metaphysical values
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2015