By Jennifer Byerly
In class last week we talked about how rhythm and harmony make up all art. In “Poetics” Aristotle lays out the basic framework for his philosophy that rhythm and harmony, in different combinations, are the foundations for all of art. This isn’t so bizarre a concept when thinking about something like music, where the harmonies and rhythms are audible and obvious. But for instance think of sculpture; definitely a form of art, and yet… So silent and still – could there be unperceivable motions and sounds running through the world like some kind of inaudible and untouchable artistic current?
“Just as form and colour are used as means by some, who (whether by art or constant practice) imitate and portray many things by their aid, and the voice is used by others; so also in the above-mentioned group of arts, the means with them as a whole are rhythm, language, and harmony —used, however, either singly or in certain combinations. A combination of rhythm and harmony alone is the means in flute-playing and lyre-playing, and any other arts there may be of the same description, e.g. imitative piping. Rhythm alone, without harmony, is the means in the dancer’s imitations; for even he, by the rhythms of his attitudes, may represent men’s characters, as well as what they do and suffer. There is further an art which imitates by language alone, without harmony, in prose or in verse, and if in verse, either in some one or in a plurality of metres “ (http://www.authorama.com/the-poetics-2.html).
If art is an imitation of life, then dance and painting and drama all reflect on the beauty and pattern of the natural world. This means the world itself is composed of multitudes of rhythms and harmonies. The weirdest part of this concept to me is that it is one that spans all different times and places and is a reoccurring belief in multiple cultures. Take for instance, the Confucian prescriptions for ritual and everyday conduct. The Chinese believed there was a delicate balance and order to life that ought to be observed by certain rituals and prayers. A failure to do these things would disrupt the delicate balance and harmony of the world – these patterns could even be found in traditional art and music (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHPHIL/CONF.HTM).
Having an off week? Feeling out of the loop, like everything is going wrong? Maybe all you need is to restore that imperceptible balance and natural harmony the world is keeping around you. I know there have been times when it’s been a terrible week and I’m in a bad mood and all that makes me feel human again is sitting down and concentrating on painting or writing. Maybe this unintelligible harmony and rhythm the world works so hard to keep us in line is perceived through our minds or our hearts. Maybe this connection with the rhythm and harmony is one as essential as food or water or sleep.
In class last week we talked about how rhythm and harmony make up all art. In “Poetics” Aristotle lays out the basic framework for his philosophy that rhythm and harmony, in different combinations, are the foundations for all of art. This isn’t so bizarre a concept when thinking about something like music, where the harmonies and rhythms are audible and obvious. But for instance think of sculpture; definitely a form of art, and yet… So silent and still – could there be unperceivable motions and sounds running through the world like some kind of inaudible and untouchable artistic current?
“Just as form and colour are used as means by some, who (whether by art or constant practice) imitate and portray many things by their aid, and the voice is used by others; so also in the above-mentioned group of arts, the means with them as a whole are rhythm, language, and harmony —used, however, either singly or in certain combinations. A combination of rhythm and harmony alone is the means in flute-playing and lyre-playing, and any other arts there may be of the same description, e.g. imitative piping. Rhythm alone, without harmony, is the means in the dancer’s imitations; for even he, by the rhythms of his attitudes, may represent men’s characters, as well as what they do and suffer. There is further an art which imitates by language alone, without harmony, in prose or in verse, and if in verse, either in some one or in a plurality of metres “ (http://www.authorama.com/the-poetics-2.html).
If art is an imitation of life, then dance and painting and drama all reflect on the beauty and pattern of the natural world. This means the world itself is composed of multitudes of rhythms and harmonies. The weirdest part of this concept to me is that it is one that spans all different times and places and is a reoccurring belief in multiple cultures. Take for instance, the Confucian prescriptions for ritual and everyday conduct. The Chinese believed there was a delicate balance and order to life that ought to be observed by certain rituals and prayers. A failure to do these things would disrupt the delicate balance and harmony of the world – these patterns could even be found in traditional art and music (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHPHIL/CONF.HTM).
Having an off week? Feeling out of the loop, like everything is going wrong? Maybe all you need is to restore that imperceptible balance and natural harmony the world is keeping around you. I know there have been times when it’s been a terrible week and I’m in a bad mood and all that makes me feel human again is sitting down and concentrating on painting or writing. Maybe this unintelligible harmony and rhythm the world works so hard to keep us in line is perceived through our minds or our hearts. Maybe this connection with the rhythm and harmony is one as essential as food or water or sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment