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KlarkashTon's avatar

I found the discussion about "enchantment" particularly interesting and would love to have a longer piece on that topic by you. To me it seems that, in a strange way, we have more enchantment than, say, in the early 90s, because the "end of history" in the sense of Fukuyama would, IMO, be pretty much the most disenchanted state of affairs possible. At that time, techno-globalism and various other dystopian scenarios did not loom large, at least not in the same way as now. With these now in plain sight, are we ourselves not in a struggle with modern-day Grendel and is this struggle itself not a source of re-enchantment, albeit perhaps with a cyberpunk flavor? It´s almost like being in a real-life computer game.

Morgoth's avatar

I have a lot of written essays and videos on the theme of enchantment.

This is the one referred to in the conversation.

https://morgoth.substack.com/p/the-disenchantment-of-the-rhine-and

KlarkashTon's avatar

Thank you. I know that essay and like it very much. I should have been more precise in asking for a piece concerning the possibility (or lack thereof) of re-enchantment in the here and now.

Læwis's avatar

Morning Morg, was listening to this this morning, haven't finished it yet.

Though I was reading this piece this morn as well;

https://open.substack.com/pub/expressiveegg/p/the-woods?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=ga0u4

Point being when reading this I was reminded of your own piece own the garden you have, I will assume maybe that many people are not able to remain content or more deeply In a State of Tranquility with modernity as it is extremely Civilised and so feel a sense of Gloom.

Could be wrong, cheers for the lovely commentary as always, best wishes, may the gods bless you and yours.

Morgoth's avatar

All the best, Louis.

John Wood's avatar

44 minutes : you can't have beauty for beauty's sake in England, Keats must be spinning his urn

When old age shall this generation waste,

Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe

Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

White Collar Barbarian's avatar

Re the Philip Glass opera, is this not indicative of an almost overwhelming need of his "group" to deconstruct and desanctify every aspect of life? In nearly every art form where Glass and his group gain any influence, you see this trend towards the gross, the venal, the mundane. It seems to be an irresistible compulsion for them.

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Jan 12, 2024
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White Collar Barbarian's avatar

You've so eloquently put into words exactly how I feel when I consider the culture at large. I spend a great deal of psychic energy resisting this gloom. It is like living through a slow motion apocalypse that no one wants (or can) admit is happening.