A is for Art: "On Style" by Art Schopenhauer

FIRST DAY OF A TO Z! 5-124

Real fast version if this is your first time here. This blog is, mostly, me reading and commenting on various pieces of classic literature. Last year, year I did The Harvard Classics; this year, I'm doing The Gateway to the Great Books. Every day I take a word from the editor (Mortimer Adler)'s list of "Great Ideas" that goes with the day's letter. I'll grab one or two readings from it that add up to ~15 pages and tell you about them. Just for fun, I'll also list the other possible words. The numbers in parenthesis above indicate the volume and page number. I'm working from the pdf here.

A: Angels (not included in The Gateway), Animal, Aristocracy, and Astronomy. 

Summary: Write honestly, and make sure you have something to say. 

Bonus: With style!

Commentary: One of the things I appreciate about The Gateway compared to last year is that I mostly get to read, if not complete pieces, at least complete sections.

"Style is the physiognomy of the mind, and a safer index to character than the face. To imitate another man’s style is like wearing a mask."

I've written before about the tenuous relationship between writers and "artists." I think this is less true now than it was a decade or two ago, but there was a time where it seemed pretty common to not consider writers artists, or to consider them a sort of "fringe", as opposed to painters, musicians, etc. I think Schopenhauer's piece is a great rebuttal of this. He explains how writers have styles, just as other artists do, and how they develop and present that style is how they make their art. But this isn't just a puff piece for writers. It also has some good advice, and plenty of take downs of writers who try to disguise their lack of knowledge or otherwise puff themselves up. Great piece, should be mandatory reading in writing classes. 3/5 on the Classics scale (most people should read it, but not earth shaking.)

I'm grateful to be able to, in my own small way, help the next generation of artists. I got a creative writing elective approved at my school for next year, and I'm very excited for it.