Art that saves

[Danny]

Beauty will save the world. — Dostoyevsky

Prince Myshkin, what a guy, but you know how he winds up, Dr. Karl.

[Wanderer]

I imagine this phrase is best interpreted to mean that art may be perceived as a glimpse into the divine (however one defines it). It is to be seriously doubted that any sui generis redeeming qualities lie inherent in music, the arts, art or Art. Not until a new religious dogma informs us otherwise, of course.

[EmpNapoleon]

I imagine this phrase is best interpreted to mean that art may be perceived as a glimpse into the divine (however one defines it). It is to be seriously doubted that any sui generis redeeming qualities lie inherent in music, the arts, art or Art. Not until a new religious dogma informs us otherwise, of course.

A conductor is really out of his mind, like a priest.  Whether he's glimpsing the divine or achieving profound feelings of the human body, I don't know. 

Laying aside for the moment the problematic question "What is 'being saved'?" my experience and instincts tell me that art can save, but it can also fail to save.

Yes.  It requires the listener to reach levels. 

It did not save Wagner from being a creep.

If his character was different, his music would have also been different.  Leave him alone; he's dead.  All that's alive is the music.  You won't have to worry about meeting Wagner the creep.  Even if that was possible, you'd probably love meeting him.

His ideas are alittle too mystical for my taste.

That's true.  But on the other hand, everything mystical could be translated into psychological.

Am I supposed to have another feeling besides wow?

That one "feeling" has a billion, infinite variations, or maybe just a few conditioned ones.  Is that "wow" feeling earned?  One time I may think the wow once and move on because of laziness.  Another time, the wow lasts for several minutes.  Maybe the wow is what saves.

[Haffner]

You mean . . . they haven't?

The Revelations never cease !

[jochanaan]

A conductor is really out of his mind, like a priest.  Whether he's glimpsing the divine or achieving profound feelings of the human body, I don't know. 

Tantra practitioners say you can do both at once.

If his character was different, his music would have also been different.

Yes.  It might have been even greater!

[max]

A conductor is really out of his mind, like a priest.  Whether he's glimpsing the divine or achieving profound feelings of the human body, I don't know. 
 
Yes.  It requires the listener to reach levels. 

If his character was different, his music would have also been different.  Leave him alone; he's dead.  All that's alive is the music.  You won't have to worry about meeting Wagner the creep.  Even if that was possible, you'd probably love meeting him.

That's true.  But on the other hand, everything mystical could be translated into psychological.

That one "feeling" has a billion, infinite variations, or maybe just a few conditioned ones.  Is that "wow" feeling earned?  One time I may think the wow once and move on because of laziness.  Another time, the wow lasts for several minutes.  Maybe the wow is what saves.

...this has to be among the best and insightful responses I've read from anyone on this forum!!
.

I especially like

everything mystical could be translated into psychological

and the one preceding it

You won't have to worry about meeting Wagner the creep.  Even if that was possible, you'd probably love meeting him.

No doubt! The experience may be very different from what one would expect!