Modern art egotistical?

Here is an essay that will perhaps be interesting to the students in Aesthetics. Relevant quote:

The successful modern artist’s subject is himself, not in any genuinely self-examining way that would tell us something about the human condition, but as an ego to distinguish himself from other egos, as distinctly and noisily as he can. Like Oscar Wilde at the New York customs, he has nothing to declare but his genius: which, if he is lucky, will lead to fame and fortune. Of all the artistic disciplines nowadays, self-advertisement is by far the most important.

I do not agree that all modern art is like this. Many contemporary works explore feelings, attitudes, and events in our experience without feeling the need to tie them to transcendent themes. Some are merely explorations of color and composition. I don’t think you need “transcendent juice” in a work to make it powerful, beautiful, or provocative.

Fr. Richard John Neuhaus – 1936-2009

Noted Catholic scholar Fr. Richard John Neuhaus has died.  Perhaps best known as the founder and editor of the monthly journal of Catholic philosophy/theology/culture critique called First Things, he also made his mark with his book ‘The Naked Public Square’ (1984 but still one of the best books on the place of religion in the public square).  He was a prolific writer, a very clear mind, and with George Weigel and Michael Novak was probably the best known ‘Whig Thomist’ (who wish to synthesize the politics of modernity with Catholicism, as opposed to the ‘Communio School’ or ‘Augustinian Thomists’ like Alasdair MacInture who see the liberal tradition of rights talk as hopelessly modern and incompatible with Thomist and Catholic  views of person/community).

I am personally quite sad over it.  Neuhaus’ brilliant book ‘Death on a Friday Afternoon’ is something I read every Lent.  It is a penetrating and personal series of meditations on the last words of Christ, informed by thinkers from Augustine to Renee Girard.  I would recommend it highly to both Christians and non-Christians, anyone who wants a thoughtful reflection on why Christians think Good Friday is the center of everything.