Now, When, Where, Why

Consider those times and places that represent humanity's greatest cultural achievements.

Objectively, the elevation of culture, even at the most base levels, evolves in conditions that promote and defend the freedom of the individual and the merits of reason and work.  Without these, there is only the stasis of collective morbidity, held fast by the tyranny of small minds.

Over Mind

Not everyone views art as being more than personal, emotional, expression, of course.

So it is that the art that is a living connectivity between the earthly and the spiritual, contemplative imagination-- which is to say, between ordinary consciousness and the transcendent-- cannot be realized by those attached to the mediocre and the mundane.

Freeze in Conformity

Conditions in human societies, for good and ill, have reason and cause.

Those who accept sclerotic social and political perspectives deserve the art and culture that reflects them.

Digital Inferiority

The West does not lack in reason, spiritual enlightenment, or contemplative arts.

It is contemporary life that is wanting in broader, deeper perspectives than the ones most likely to be celebrated in the shallow confines of academia, populist politics, and mass media.

Unrevealing

Look for what cannot be seen, listen for what is not there.

Fellow artists understand the essential nature of this statement, with some, but very few, others.

Entitlement and Falsity

Reality demands the artist be self-reliant.

The alternative is obligation-- obligation to cultural norms or special interests, commercial investors, and any number of people generally who provide for the artist's well-being. Some creative types will not only find this acceptable, but desirable, and these are the people-- predators and parasites, in point of fact-- who give art a bad name.

The artistic "expressions" produced in these scenarios are inconsequential, impermanent, detestable, and vain-- like the society they reflect.

Affray

No narrative that contradicts objective reality is viable.

When the arts are used as a vehicle to call day night, and night, day, the culture subjected to this is no longer merely wasting energy and indulging in frivolity.  Freedom itself is absolutely endangered.