The tragedy of power and the vices of the body

The virtues of the soul are many: peace, serenity, goodness, wisdom, love, intelligence, knowledge, bliss — to name a few. The vices of the body are innumerable: anxiety, loathing, pride, hate, lust, ignorance, misery — to name but some. The mask of Dionysus, the spirit of tragedy. Power seems to bridge between body and soul, … Continue reading The tragedy of power and the vices of the body →

The evolution of music and the importance of balance

Music, as I’ve recently argued on this blog, swings from one extreme to another. On the one hand, there are the technicians, who think music can be learned through meticulous practice. The chief virtue of technicians is the demand for perfection. On the other hand, there are the artists, who think music comes from innate … Continue reading The evolution of music and the importance of balance →

The true musical genius of Taylor Swift

A lot of things are said about clear musical geniuses, like Kanye West, Jacob Collier, and Billie Eilish, including on this blog. But I would like to consider a less obvious choice for contender with established greats like Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, and J. S. Bach. This contender, usually seen as a pretender, is nonetheless … Continue reading The true musical genius of Taylor Swift →

On the poetry of purgatory

One of the best movies I’ve seen is The Pianist, directed by Roman Polanski. It reminds me of some other movies I’ve seen, like Moonlight and Parasite. The difference is that these brilliant films conclude with more-or-less utter hopelessness, while The Pianist ends with the ambiguous hope of music. Other films also do this, to … Continue reading On the poetry of purgatory →