Listen to Be

Information provides understanding, and choices.

Thus the impetus for heightening the sensory perceptions, these contributing to the subtlety and refinement of critical observation, analysis, and judgement.

These are essential tools of the composer's art.

Contention

That which is "almost possible" is not possible at all.

This is absolutely certain: without freedom of expression and freedom of thought there is neither liberty nor art.

Against Collective Thought

Authentic artistic expression may be viewed from diverse perspectives.

This authenticity is a form of "breaking out", and breaking out is not a form of "joining".

Intuitive Illumination

Art evokes elevation, and perceptual experience is heightened.

Empirical science measures neither aesthetic force and virtue, nor enlightened state of being.

Consciousness and Environs

"What are you doing out here?"

Listening.

"I don't hear anything."

You have to listen, and hear.

Between Light and Dark

It is easy to say, "day is night, and night is day".  It is nonetheless false.

So it is with art and war. What is false brings destruction.

Croesus consulted the oracle at Delphi concerning going to war against Cyrus of Persia, and was told, "If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire."

The empire thus destroyed was Croesus' own.

Disappeared

Totalitarian societies do not evolve naturally.

These rigid systems are created by ideological partisans, over time, through intimidation and manipulation of mass media. On the surface, they appear to embrace universal freedom and acceptance of all perspectives, but this is a transparently false narrative none dare question.

Such cultural tyrannies must continuously maintain and consolidate power against innumerable enemies, who must be hated and feared, and so must be dehumanized.

Without exception, the anti-conformist artist is the first to go.