It is an observation made by historian Tom Holland (see his new book Dominion) that the trenches of WW1 were everywhere filled with crosses. It is sure that some lost their faith in the trenches, but the surprising thing is how many didn’t, and even had belief confirmed. Tolkien, for example, seems never to have…
Law & Liberty have kindly published my short reflection of an interesting new book, Rusty Reno’s The Return of the Strong Gods. Fashion is a way to think of an alternative to both the problem and solution Reno identifies. Can the “Strong Gods” Breathe Life into the Barren West?
Many thanks to Law and Liberty for posting my reflection on a book about how the arts are housed in our cities: Art’s Establishment
Tim Cook: “National and international debates will outlive us all, and, while important, they do not govern the facts. In this case, we thoroughly reviewed them, and we believe this decision best protects our users” (https://www.forbes.com/sites/isabeltogoh/2019/10/11/apple-ceo-tim-cook-defends-decision-to-drop-controversial-hong-kong-protest-app/#161be9c8186c). Over the last two weeks, America’s woke capitalists have been only too eager to placate China’s authoritarian government…
Phenomenology’s Influence in the West
Perhaps no revolution in history brought so much misery and brutality to people’s lives than the Russian. Apart from the carnage, there was also a drabness to help crush the spirit. Here are a few pictures of the last ball thrown by the Czars: http://www.openculture.com/2019/07/the-romanovs-last-spectacular-ball-brought-to-life-in-color-photographs-1903.html Another cost was fashion. How sad that no one…
I am just back from ten days in County Durham, a place I strongly recommend. The main attraction is the city of Durham with its Romanesque cathedral and prestigious university. The city is very old and the university prettily spread about in charming lanes around the cathedral. Close by is Bowes Museum, a purpose…
Three brief profiles of Englishmen at the peak of the fashion establishment. Each of them worthy expositors of Hume’s civilisational goal, the refinement of the arts and sciences. I love this passage from an interview with Edward Enninful, editor of British Vogue: “I used to spend all my money on books I couldn’t afford…
In my latest post over at Law & Liberty (https://www.lawliberty.org/2019/06/28/commercial-civilization-apollonian-or-dionysian/) I try to show that Caillois’s account of us — members of a commercial civilisation — does not quite capture the totality of how commerce works. Caillois thinks we are Apollonian, rather than mask wearing Dionysians. Civilisation is the substitution of the norms of…
Commercial Civilization, Apollonian or Dionysian?