The horrible Genius - 200 years Richard Wagner
March 30, 2013 at 6:43 pm
(This post was last modified: March 30, 2013 at 6:47 pm by Something completely different.)
Next month, 200 years ago, Richard Wagner was born.
I think one can considere him to be the most controversial german artist of all time, if not the most controversial artist. From artistic viewpoint there is not much to be critizised about him, he was without any doubt one of the most influencial composers of the 19th century who changed the expressions of music of the romantic period and his works are known worldwide. For him, art should be used to convey a message rather than simply be entertainment.
What makes him so controversial, were his political views. He was a nationalist who tried to destroy the "decadent art for simple entertainment" of the romantic period, he wrote operas which had dramatic plots and conveyed a message to the viewer, which was a message of german nationalism intent to cause revolution which would unite germany as one nation.
Most controversial of all, probably was his antisemitism, he clearly saw the jewish people as a section of german sociaty which tried to prohibit germany from unifying and doing so by controling the world of art - which he saw as deeply conected with politics. Not only did he see the jews as a controling conspiracy but also as infirior and due to their language and culture incapable to produce "good" art.
He expressed these views in his publication: "Das Judentum in der Musik" - "Jews in Music"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Judenthum_in_der_Musik
Wagner would end up being the national socialists favorite composer and an artist whos works are today viewed with alot of controversy. The Beireut festival in which his musical work is celibrated is often surrounded by controversy due to the ways in which the operea is staged or because of the actors which perform.
In foreign countries he has become pritty much a symbol of art coming from germanies 19th - 20th century militarism, and is often assosiated with militaristic german stereotyps. Some contries such as Israel completly boycott his music all together.
If one listens to wagners music on youtube it is very likely to fint the top rated comment being something like:
Can one enjoy art, which was made by an evil man?
I think one can considere him to be the most controversial german artist of all time, if not the most controversial artist. From artistic viewpoint there is not much to be critizised about him, he was without any doubt one of the most influencial composers of the 19th century who changed the expressions of music of the romantic period and his works are known worldwide. For him, art should be used to convey a message rather than simply be entertainment.
What makes him so controversial, were his political views. He was a nationalist who tried to destroy the "decadent art for simple entertainment" of the romantic period, he wrote operas which had dramatic plots and conveyed a message to the viewer, which was a message of german nationalism intent to cause revolution which would unite germany as one nation.
Most controversial of all, probably was his antisemitism, he clearly saw the jewish people as a section of german sociaty which tried to prohibit germany from unifying and doing so by controling the world of art - which he saw as deeply conected with politics. Not only did he see the jews as a controling conspiracy but also as infirior and due to their language and culture incapable to produce "good" art.
He expressed these views in his publication: "Das Judentum in der Musik" - "Jews in Music"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Judenthum_in_der_Musik
Wagner would end up being the national socialists favorite composer and an artist whos works are today viewed with alot of controversy. The Beireut festival in which his musical work is celibrated is often surrounded by controversy due to the ways in which the operea is staged or because of the actors which perform.
In foreign countries he has become pritty much a symbol of art coming from germanies 19th - 20th century militarism, and is often assosiated with militaristic german stereotyps. Some contries such as Israel completly boycott his music all together.
If one listens to wagners music on youtube it is very likely to fint the top rated comment being something like:
Quote:"Listening to this makes me want to invade Poland"
Can one enjoy art, which was made by an evil man?
