As ever, a beautiful and thought-provoking installment of this newsletter, offering not answers but better (less anachronistic and solipsistic, more imaginative and self-dissolving) questions. Your final line makes me think of Bruno Latour's challenge to us to think of objects as associations, networks, gatherings in which many participants past, present, and future are involved. Your essay brings that challenge to life! Also want to mention proto-Internet troll G.K. Chesterton's "The Ballad of the White Horse" (1911), considered one of the last great traditional epics written in English (and a favorite of Robert E. Howard's), in which nihilistic invaders are routed by Alfred of Wessex and allies — Saxons, Romans, Gaels — after which Alfred and his followers scour the weeds which have grown over the Uffington White Horse — an act intended to remind British Christians never to relax their vigilance. Yeesh. Here's my challenge to you: Write [a section of] your own version of "The Ballad of the White Horse" in which the invaders and defenders stand instead for Battles-esque concerns and goals... Naturally I'd expect t o be offered right of first refusal when it comes to publishing this poetic epic.
Yes! Schwyzer discusses Chesterton extensively, and if I were to write at greater length, this is something I'd want in play—especially his take on the scouring, which you epitomize so well. I love your challenge, too, and will give it a think...
Interesting how Chesterton applauds Alfred for appropriating "pagan" paleolithic symbolism and turning it into Xtian propaganda. Conservatives understand the society of the spectacle so well.
The ‘manger’ photograph is powerful
As ever, a beautiful and thought-provoking installment of this newsletter, offering not answers but better (less anachronistic and solipsistic, more imaginative and self-dissolving) questions. Your final line makes me think of Bruno Latour's challenge to us to think of objects as associations, networks, gatherings in which many participants past, present, and future are involved. Your essay brings that challenge to life! Also want to mention proto-Internet troll G.K. Chesterton's "The Ballad of the White Horse" (1911), considered one of the last great traditional epics written in English (and a favorite of Robert E. Howard's), in which nihilistic invaders are routed by Alfred of Wessex and allies — Saxons, Romans, Gaels — after which Alfred and his followers scour the weeds which have grown over the Uffington White Horse — an act intended to remind British Christians never to relax their vigilance. Yeesh. Here's my challenge to you: Write [a section of] your own version of "The Ballad of the White Horse" in which the invaders and defenders stand instead for Battles-esque concerns and goals... Naturally I'd expect t o be offered right of first refusal when it comes to publishing this poetic epic.
From Book I of Chesterton's poem, just to get your competitive juices flowing.
Before the gods that made the gods
Had seen their sunrise pass,
The White Horse of the White Horse Vale
Was cut out of the grass.
Before the gods that made the gods
Had drunk at dawn their fill,
The White Horse of the White Horse Vale
Was hoary on the hill.
Age beyond age on British land,
Aeons on aeons gone,
Was peace and war in western hills,
And the White Horse looked on.
For the White Horse knew England
When there was none to know;
He saw the first oar break or bend,
He saw heaven fall and the world end,
O God, how long ago.
For the end of the world was long ago,
And all we dwell to-day
As children of some second birth,
Like a strange people left on earth
After a judgment day.
Yes! Schwyzer discusses Chesterton extensively, and if I were to write at greater length, this is something I'd want in play—especially his take on the scouring, which you epitomize so well. I love your challenge, too, and will give it a think...
Interesting how Chesterton applauds Alfred for appropriating "pagan" paleolithic symbolism and turning it into Xtian propaganda. Conservatives understand the society of the spectacle so well.