The 15th Century Aztec poet, Ayocuan Cuetzpaltzin, suggested that there is a time when humankind can touch the enduring truths that underlie our fleeting lives. That time is the moment of artistic creation.
“From whence come the flowers (the artistic creations) that enrapture man?†asks the poet. “The songs that intoxicate, the lovely songs?â€
And he answers. “Only from His (that is, Ometeotal’s) home do they come, from the innermost part of heaven.†He is saying that through art alone can human beings approach the real.
It is a mystery.
An artist may be able to say this, but that presupposes that a person is naturally artistic, creative, or musical, and can see and appreciate such things in order find the ‘real’. (A scientist could say say the same thing with the same caveat)
However, a person who is tone deaf, is bored by art, and is non creative in the artistic sense misses out. And there are many who are all these things. – though maybe they can appreciate a sunset or bluebell wood etc and be thankful for nature or God.
Lets just say that it is ONE way humankind can ‘touch the enduring truths that underlie our fleeting lives.’
Yes, Jane, and I’d go even further. Art is one of MANY ways that we can experience “enduring truths,” anytime and anywhere. Good-will, attention, and reflection on what unfolds right in front of us can produce revelations about reality as powerful as an artist’s canvas or a musician’s composition.
On any given day we can gain truthful insights from a friend’s conversation, or sense the mystery of a child’s learning to craft a sentence, or catching sight of a goldfinch flitting in the elm near the driveway. Wonder-ful.
It does, however concern me that so many people have to live their lives with little or no imagination. Without imagination life presents a dull palette. Imagination is part of human nature but to has to be brought out and nurtured. It doesn’t appear in a blinding flash. So I feel sad for the individual those whose parents, teachers and friends have failed to nurture his or her imagination.
I am struck by some of the comment on Obama’s election rhetoric . So many commenters express a genuine puzzlement about what he means by “change”, as if they haven’t lived through the worst 7 years or so of American history and cannot imagine a more grown-up world. Change from what, and to what, they ask. That is amazing. A true lack of imagination.