Understanding Media

by

MARSHALL MCLUHAN 1/The Medium Is the Message

In a culture like urs! l ng accust med t s"litting and di#iding all things as a means $ c ntr l! it is s metimes a bit $ sh ck t be reminded that! in "erati nal and "ractical $act! the medium is the message% This is merely t say that the "ers nal and s cial c nse&uences $ any medium' that is! $ any e(tensi n $ ursel#es'result $r m the ne) scale that is intr duced int ur a$$airs by each e(tensi n $ ursel#es! r by any ne) techn l gy% Thus! )ith aut mati n! $ r e(am"le! the ne) "atterns $ human ass ciati n tend t eliminate * bs! it is true% That is the negati#e result% + siti#ely! aut mati n creates r les $ r "e "le! )hich is t say de"th $ in# l#ement in their ) rk and human ass ciati n that ur "receding mechanical techn l gy had destr yed% Many "e "le ) uld be dis" sed t say that it )as n t the machine! but )hat ne did )ith the machine! that )as its meaning r message% In terms $ the )ays in )hich the machine altered ur relati ns t ne an ther and t ursel#es! it mattered n t in the least )hether it turned ut c rn$lakes r Cadillacs% The restructuring $ human ) rk and ass ciati n )as sha"ed by the techni&ue $ $ragmentati n that is the essence $ machine techn l gy% The essence $ aut mati n techn l gy is the "" site% It is integral and decentralist in de"th! *ust as the machine )as $ragmentary! centralist! and su"er$icial in its "atterning $ human relati nshi"s% The instance $ the electric light may "r #e illuminating in this c nnecti n% The electric light is "ure in$ rmati n% It is a medium )ith ut a message! as it )ere! unless it is used t s"ell ut s me #erbal ad r name% This $act! characteristic $ all media! means that the ,c ntent, $ any medium is al)ays an ther medium% The c ntent $ )riting is s"eech! *ust as the )ritten ) rd is the c ntent $ "rint! and "rint is the c ntent $ the telegra"h% I$ it is asked! ,-hat is the c ntent $ s"eech.!, it is necessary t say! ,It is an actual "r cess $ th ught! )hich is in itsel$ n n#erbal%, An abstract "ainting re"resents direct mani$estati n $ creati#e th ught "r cesses as they might a""ear in c m"uter designs% -hat )e are c nsidering here! h )e#er! are the "sychic and s cial c nse&uences $ the designs r "atterns as they am"li$y r accelerate e(isting "r cesses% / r the ,message, $ any medium r techn l gy is the change $ scale r "ace r "attern that it intr duces int human a$$airs% The rail)ay did n t intr duce m #ement r trans" rtati n r )heel r r ad int human s ciety! but it accelerated and enlarged the scale $ "re#i us human $uncti ns! creating t tally ne) kinds $ cities and ne) kinds $ ) rk and leisure% This ha""ened )hether the rail)ay $uncti ned in a tr "ical r a n rthern en#ir nment! and is &uite inde"endent $ the $reight r c ntent $ the rail)ay medium% The air"lane! n the ther hand! by accelerating the rate $ trans" rtati n! tends t diss l#e the rail)ay $ rm $ city! " litics! and ass ciati n! &uite inde"endently $ )hat the air"lane is used $ r% Let us return t the electric light% -hether the light is being used $ r brain surgery r night baseball is a matter $ indi$$erence% It c uld be argued that these acti#ities are in s me )ay the ,c ntent, $ the electric light! since they c uld n t e(ist )ith ut the electric light% This $act merely underlines the " int that ,the medium is the message, because it is the medium that sha"es and c ntr ls the scale and $ rm $ human ass ciati n and acti n% The c ntent r uses $ such media are as di#erse as they are ine$$ectual in sha"ing the $ rm $ human ass ciati n% Indeed! it is nly t ty"ical that the ,c ntent, $ any medium blinds us t the character $ the 1

medium% It is nly t day that industries ha#e bec me a)are $ the #ari us kinds $ business in )hich they are engaged% -hen I0M disc #ered that it )as n t in the business $ making $$ice e&ui"ment r business machines! but that it )as in the business $ "r cessing in$ rmati n! then it began t na#igate )ith clear #isi n% The 1eneral 2lectric C m"any makes a c nsiderable " rti n $ its "r $its $r m electric light bulbs and lighting systems% It has n t yet disc #ered that! &uite as much as A%T%3T%! it is in the business $ m #ing in$ rmati n% The electric light esca"es attenti n as a c mmunicati n medium *ust because it has n ,c ntent%, And this makes it an in#aluable instance $ h ) "e "le $ail t study media at all% / r it is n t till the electric light is used t s"ell ut s me brand name that it is n ticed as a medium% Then it is n t the light but the ,c ntent, 4 r )hat is really an ther medium5 that is n ticed% The message $ the electric light is like the message $ electric " )er in industry! t tally radical! "er#asi#e! and decentrali6ed% / r electric light and " )er are se"arate $r m their uses! yet they eliminate time and s"ace $act rs in human ass ciati n e(actly as d radi ! telegra"h! tele"h ne! and T7! creating in# l#ement in de"th% A $airly c m"lete handb k $ r studying the e(tensi ns $ man c uld be made u" $r m selecti ns $r m Shakes"eare% S me might &uibble ab ut )hether r n t he )as re$erring t T7 in these $amiliar lines $r m R me and 8uliet9 0ut s $t: )hat light thr ugh y nder )ind ) breaks. It s"eaks! and yet says n thing% In ;thell ! )hich! as much as <ing Lear! is c ncerned )ith the t rment $ "e "le trans$ rmed by illusi ns! there are these lines that bes"eak Shakes"eare=s intuiti n $ the trans$ rming " )ers $ ne) media9 Is there n t charms 0y )hich the "r "erty $ y uth and maidh May be abus=d. Ha#e y u n t read R derig ! ;$ s me such thing. d

In Shakes"eare=s Tr ilus and Cressida! )hich is alm st c m"letely de# ted t b th a "sychic and s cial study $ c mmunicati n! Shakes"eare states his a)areness that true s cial and " litical na#igati n de"end u" n antici"ating the c nse&uences $ inn #ati n9 The "r #idence that=s in a )atch$ul state <n )s alm st e#ery grain $ +lutus= g ld! /inds b tt m in the unc m"rehensi#e dee"s! <ee"s "lace )ith th ught! and alm st like the g ds > es th ughts un#eil in their dumb cradles% The Increasing a)areness $ the acti n $ media! &uite inde"endently $ their ,c ntent, r "r gramming! )as indicated in the ann yed and an nym us stan6a9 In m dern th ught! 4i$ n t in $act5 N thing is that d esn=t act! S that is reck ned )isd m )hich >escribes the scratch but n t the itch% The same kind $ t tal! c n$igurati nal a)areness that re#eals )hy the medium is s cially the message has ccurred in the m st recent and radical medical the ries% In his Stress $ Li$e! Hans Selye tells $ the dismay $ a research c lleague n hearing $ Selye=s the ry9 -hen he sa) me thus launched n yet an ther enra"tured descri"ti n $ )hat I had ?

bser#ed in animals treated )ith this r that im"ure! t (ic material! he l ked at me )ith des"erately sad eyes and said in b#i us des"air9 ,0ut Selye! try t reali6e )hat y u are d ing be$ re it is t late: @ u ha#e n ) decided t s"end y ur entire li$e studying the "harmac l gy $ dirt:, 4Hans Selye! The Stress $ Li$e5 As Selye deals )ith the t tal en#ir nmental situati n in his ,stress, the ry $ disease! s the latest a""r ach t media study c nsiders n t nly the ,c ntent, but the medium and the cultural matri( )ithin )hich the "articular medium "erates% The lder una)areness $ the "sychic and s cial e$$ects $ media can be illustrated $r m alm st any $ the c n#enti nal "r n uncements% In acce"ting an h n rary degree $r m the Uni#ersity $ N tre >ame a $e) years ag ! 1eneral >a#id Sarn $$ made this statement9 ,-e are t "r ne t make techn l gical instruments the sca"eg ats $ r the sins $ th se )h )ield them% The "r ducts $ m dern science are n t in themsel#es g d r badA it is the )ay they are used that determines their #alue%, That is the # ice $ the current s mnambulism% Su"" se )e )ere t say! ,A""le "ie is in itsel$ neither g d n r badA it is the )ay it is used that determines it #alue%, ;r! ,The small" ( #irus is in itsel$ neither g d n r badA it is the )ay it is used that determines its #alue%, Again! ,/irearms are in themsel#es neither g d n r badA it is the )ay they are used that determines their #alue%, That is! i$ the slugs reach the right "e "le $irearms are g d% I$ the T7 tube $ires the right ammuniti n at the right "e "le it is g d% I am n t being "er#erse% There is sim"ly n thing in the Sarn $$ statement that )ill bear scrutiny! $ r it ign res the nature $ the medium! $ any and all media! in the true Narcissus style $ ne hy"n ti6ed by the am"utati n and e(tensi n $ his )n being in a ne) technical $ rm% 1eneral Sarn $$ )ent n t e("lain his attitude t the techn l gy $ "rint! saying that it )as true that "rint caused much trash t circulate! but it had als disseminated the 0ible and the th ughts $ seers and "hil s "hers% It has ne#er ccurred t 1eneral Sarn $$ that any techn l gy c uld d anything but add itsel$ n t )hat )e already are% Such ec n mists as R bert The bald! -% -% R st )! and 8 hn <enneth 1albraith ha#e been e("laining $ r years h ) it is that ,classical ec n mics, cann t e("lain change r gr )th% And the "arad ( $ mechani6ati n is that alth ugh it is itsel$ the cause $ ma(imal gr )th and change! the "rinci"le $ mechani6ati n e(cludes the #ery " ssibility $ gr )th r the understanding $ change% / r mechani6ati n is achie#ed by $ragmentati n $ any "r cess and by "utting the $ragmented "arts in a series% @et! as >a#id Hume sh )ed in the eighteenth century! there is n "rinci"le $ causality in mere se&uence% That ne things $ ll )s an ther acc unts $ r n thing% N thing $ ll )s $r m $ ll )ing! e(ce"t change% S the greatest $ all re#ersals ccurred )ith electricity! that ended se&uence by making things instant% -ith instant s"eed the causes $ things began t emerge t a)areness again! as they had n t d ne )ith things in se&uence and in c ncatenati n acc rdingly% Instead $ asking )hich came $irst! the chicken r the egg! it suddenly seemed that a chicken )as an egg=s idea $ r getting m re eggs% 8ust be$ re an air"lane breaks the s und barrier! s und )a#es bec me #isible n the )ings $ the "lane% The sudden #isibility $ s und *ust as s und ends is an a"t instance $ that great "attern $ being that re#eals ne) and "" site $ rms *ust as the earlier $ rms reach their "eak "er$ rmance% Mechani6ati n )as ne#er s #i#idly $ragmented r se&uential as in the birth $ the m #ies! the m ment that translated us bey nd mechanism int the ) rld $ gr )th and rganic interrelati n% The m #ie! by sheer s"eeding u" the mechanical! carried us $r m the ) rld $ se&uence and c nnecti ns int the ) rld $ creati#e c n$igurati n and structure% The message $ the m #ie medium is that $ transiti n $r m lineal c nnecti ns t c n$igurati ns% It is the transiti n that "r duced the n ) &uite c rrect bser#ati n9 ,I$ it ) rks! it=s bs lete%, -hen electric s"eed $urther takes #er $r m mechanical m #ie se&uences! then the lines $ $ rce in structures and in media bec me l ud and clear% -e return t the inclusi#e $ rm $ the ic n% T the highly literate and mechani6ed culture the m #ie a""eared as a ) rld $ trium"hant B

illusi ns and dreams that m ney c uld buy% It )as at this m ment $ the m #ie that cubism ccurred! and it has been described by 2% H% 1 mbrich 4Art and Illusi n5 as ,the m st radical attem"t t stam" ut ambiguity and t en$ rce ne reading $ the "icture'that $ a manCmade c nstructi n! a c l red can#as%, / r cubism substitutes all $acets $ an b*ect simultane usly $ r the ," int $ #ie), r $acet $ "ers"ecti#e illusi n% Instead $ the s"eciali6ed illusi n $ the third dimensi n n can#as! cubism sets u" an inter"lay $ "lanes and c ntradicti n r dramatic c n$lict $ "atterns! light! te(tures that ,dri#es h me the message, by in# l#ement% This is held by many t be an e(ercise in "ainting! n t in illusi n% In ther ) rds! cubism! by gi#ing the inside and utside! the t "! b tt m! back! and $r nt and the rest! in t) dimensi ns! dr "s the illusi n $ "ers"ecti#e in $a# r $ instant sens ry a)areness $ the )h le% Cubism! by sei6ing n instant t tal a)areness! suddenly ann unced that the medium is the message% Is it n t e#ident that the m ment that se&uence yields t the simultane us! ne is in the ) rld $ structure and $ c n$igurati n. Is that n t )hat has ha""ened in "hysics as in "ainting! " etry! and in c mmunicati n. S"eciali6ed segments $ attenti n ha#e shi$ted t t tal $ield! and )e can n ) say! ,The medium is the message, &uite naturally% 0e$ re the electric s"eed and t tal $ield! it )as n t b#i us that the medium is the message% The message! it seemed! )as the ,c ntent!, as "e "le used t ask )hat a "ainting )as ab ut% @et they ne#er th ught t ask )hat a mel dy )as ab ut! n r )hat a h use r a dress )as ab ut% In such matters! "e "le retained s me sense $ the )h le "atter! $ $ rm and $uncti n as a unity% 0ut in the electric age this integral idea $ structure and c n$igurati n has bec me s "re#alent that educati nal the ry has taken u" the matter% Instead $ ) rking )ith s"eciali6ed ,"r blems, in arithmetic! the structural a""r ach n ) $ ll )s the lines $ $ rce in the $ield $ number and has small children meditating ab ut number the ry and ,sets%, Cardinal Ne)man said $ Na" le n! ,He underst d the grammar $ gun" )der%, Na" le n had "aid s me attenti n t ther media as )ell! es"ecially the sema"h re telegra"h that ga#e him a great ad#antage #er his enemies% He is n rec rd $ r saying that ,Three h stile ne)s"a"ers are m re t be $eared than a th usand bay nets%, Ale(is de T c&ue#ille )as the $irst t master the grammar $ "rint and ty" gra"hy% He )as thus able t read $$ the message $ c ming change in /rance and America as i$ he )ere reading al ud $r m a te(t that had been handed t him% In $act! the nineteenth century in /rance and in America )as *ust such an "en b k t de T c&ue#ille because he had learned the grammar $ "rint% S he! als ! kne) )hen that grammar did n t a""ly% He )as asked )hy he did n t )rite a b k n 2ngland! since he kne) and admired 2ngland% He re"lied9 ;ne ) uld ha#e t ha#e an unusual degree $ "hil s "hical $ lly t belie#e nesel$ able t *udge 2ngland in si( m nths% A year al)ays seemed t me t sh rt a time in )hich t a""reciate the United States "r "erly! and it is much easier t ac&uire clear and "recise n ti ns ab ut the American Uni n than ab ut 1reat 0ritain% In America all la)s deri#e in a sense $r m a sim"le "rinci"le% ;ne c uld c m"are America t a $ rest "ierced by a multitude $ straight r ads all c n#erging n the same " int% ;ne has nly t $ind the center and e#erything is re#ealed at a glance% 0ut in 2ngland the "aths run crissCcr ss! and it is nly by tra#eling d )n each ne $ them that ne can build u" a "icture $ the )h le% >e T c&ue#ille! in earlier ) rk n the /rench Re# luti n! had e("lained h ) it )as the "rinted ) rd that! achie#ing cultural saturati n in the eighteenth century! had h m geni6ed the /rench nati n% /renchmen )ere the same kind $ "e "le $r m n rth t s uth% The ty" gra"hic "rinci"les $ uni$ rmity! c ntinuity! and lineality had #erlaid the c m"le(ities $ ancient $eudal and ral s ciety% The Re# luti n )as carried ut by the ne) literati and la)yers%

In 2ngland! h )e#er! such )as the " )er $ the ancient ral traditi ns $ c mm n la)! backed by the medie#al instituti n $ +arliament! that n uni$ rmity r c ntinuity $ the ne) #isual "rint culture c uld take c m"lete h ld% The result )as that the m st im" rtant e#en in 2nglish hist ry has ne#er taken "laceA namely! the 2nglish Re# luti n n the lines $ the /rench Re# luti n% The American Re# luti n had n medie#al legal instituti ns t discard r t r t ut! a"art $r m m narchy% And many ha#e held that the American +residency has bec me #ery much m re "ers nal and m narchical than any 2ur "ean m narch e#er c uld be% >e T c&ue#ille=s c ntrast bet)een 2ngland and America is clearly based n the $act $ ty" gra"hy and $ "rint culture creating uni$ rmity and c ntinuity% 2ngland! he says! has re*ected this "rinci"le and clung t the dynamic r ral c mm nCla) traditi n% Hence the disc ntinuity and un"redictable &uality $ 2nglish culture% The grammar $ "rint cann t hel" t c nstrue the message $ ral and n n)ritten culture and instituti ns% The 2nglish arist cracy )as "r "erly classi$ied as barbarian by Matthe) Arn ld because its " )er and status had n thing t d )ith literacy r )ith the cultural $ rms $ ty" gra"hy% Said the >uke $ 1l ucester t 2d)ard 1ibb n u" n the "ublicati n $ his >ecline and /all9 ,An ther damned $at b k! eh! Mr% 1ibb n. Scribble! scribble! scribble! eh! Mr% 1ibb n., >e T c&ue#ille )as a highly literate arist crat )h )as &uite able t be detached $r m the #alues and assum"ti ns $ ty" gra"hy% That is )hy he al ne underst d the grammar $ ty" gra"hy% And it is nly n th se terms! standing aside $r m any structure r medium! that its "rinci"les and lines $ $ rce can be discerned% / r any medium has the " )er $ im" sing its )n assum"ti n n the un)ary% +redicti n and c ntr l c nsist in a# iding this subliminal state $ Narcissus trance% 0ut the great aid t this end is sim"ly in kn )ing that the s"ell can ccur immediately u" n c ntact as in the $irst bars $ a mel dy% A +assage t India by 2% M% / rster is a dramatic study $ the inability $ ral and intuiti#e riental culture t meet )ith the rati nal! #isual 2ur "ean "atterns $ e("erience% ,Rati nal!, $ c urse! has $ r the -est l ng meant ,uni$ rm and c ntinu us and se&uential%, In ther ) rds! )e ha#e c n$used reas n )ith literacy! and rati nalism )ith a single techn l gy% Thus in the electric age man seems t the c n#enti nal -est t bec me irrati nal% In / rster=s n #el the m ment $ truth c mes in the Marabar Ca#e% Adela Euested=s reas ning " )ers cann t c "e )ith the t tal inclusi#e $ield $ res nance that is India% A$ter the Ca#es9 ,Li$e )ent n as usual! but had n c nse&uences! that is t say! s unds did n t ech n r th ught de#el "% 2#erything seemed cut $$ at its r t and there$ re in$ected )ith illusi n%, A +assage t India 4the "hrase is $r m -hitman! )h sa) America headed 2ast)ard5 is a "arable $ -estern man in the electric age! and it is nly incidentally related t 2ur "e r the ;rient% The ultimate c n$lict bet)een sight and s und! bet)een )ritten and ral kinds $ "erce"ti n and rgani6ati n $ e(istence is u" n us% Since understanding st "s acti n! as Niet6sche bser#ed! )e can m derate the $ierceness $ this c n$lict by understanding the media that e(tend us and raise these )ars )ithin and )ith ut us% >etribali6ati n by literacy and its traumatic e$$ects n tribal man is the theme $ a b k by the "sychiatrist 8% C% Car thers! The A$rican Mind in Health and >isease 4- rld Health ;rgani6ati n! 1ene#a! 1FGB5% Much $ his material a""eared in an article in +sychiatry maga6ine! N #ember! 1FGF9 ,The Culture! +sychiatry! and the -ritten - rd%, Again! it is electric s"eed that has re#ealed the lines $ $ rce "erating $r m -estern techn l gy in the rem test areas $ bush! sa#annah! and desert% ;ne e(am"le is the 0ed uin )ith his battery radi n b ard the camel% Submerging nati#es )ith $l ds $ c nce"ts $ r )hich n thing has "re"ared them is the n rmal acti n $ all ur techn l gy% 0ut )ith electric media -estern man himsel$ e("eriences e(actly the same inundati n as the rem te nati#e% -e are n m re "re"ared t enc unter radi and T7 in ur literate milieu than the nati#e $ 1hana is able t c "e )ith the literacy that takes him ut $ his c llecti#e tribal ) rld and beaches him in indi#idual is lati n% -e are as numb in ur ne) electric ) rld as the nati#e in# l#ed in ur literate and mechanical G

culture% 2lectric s"eed mingles the cultures $ "rehist ry )ith the dregs $ industrial marketeers! the n nliterate )ith semiliterate and the " stliterate% Mental breakd )n $ #arying degrees is the #ery c mm n result $ u"r ting and inundati n )ith ne) in$ rmati n and endless ne) "atterns $ in$ rmati n% -yndham Le)is made this a theme $ his gr u" $ n #els called The Human Age% The $irst $ these! The Childermass! is c ncerned "recisely )ith accelerated media change as a kind $ massacre $ the inn cents% In ur )n ) rld as )e bec me m re a)are $ the e$$ects $ techn l gy n "sychic $ rmati n and mani$estati n! )e are l sing all c n$idence in ur right t assign guilt% Ancient "rehist ric s cieties regard #i lent crime as "athetic% The killer is regarded as )e d a cancer #ictim% ,H ) terrible it must be t $eel like that!, they say% 8% M% Synge t k u" this idea #ery e$$ecti#ely in his +layb y $ the -estern - rld% I$ the criminal a""ears as a n nc n$ rmist )h is unable t meet the demand $ techn l gy that )e beha#e in uni$ rm and c ntinu us "atterns! literate man is &uite inclined t see thers )h cann t c n$ rm as s me)hat "athetic% 2s"ecially the child! the cri""le! the ) man! and the c l red "ers n a""ear in a ) rld $ #isual and ty" gra"hic techn l gy as #ictims $ in*ustice% ;n the ther hand! in a culture that assigns r les instead $ * bs t "e "le'the d)ar$! the ske)! the child create their )n s"aces% They are n t e("ected t $it int s me uni$ rm and re"eatable niche that is n t their si6e any)ay% C nsider the "hrase ,It=s a man=s ) rld%, As a &uantitati#e bser#ati n endlessly re"eated $r m )ithin a h m geni6ed culture! this "hrase re$ers t the men in such a culture )h ha#e t be h m geni6ed >ag) ds in rder t bel ng at all% It is in ur I%E% testing that )e ha#e "r duced the greatest $l d $ misbeg tten standards% Una)are $ ur ty" gra"hic cultural bias! ut tester assume that uni$ rm and c ntinu us habits are a sign $ intelligence! this eliminating the ear man and the tactile man% C% +% Sn )! re#ie)ing a b k $ A% L% R )se 4The Ne) @ rk Times 0 k re#ie)! >ecember ?D! 1FH15 n A""easement and the r ad t Munich! describes the t " le#el $ 0ritish brains and e("erience in the 1FBIs% ,Their I%E%=s )ere much higher than usual am ng " litical b sses% -hy )ere they such a disaster., The #ie) $ R )se! Sn ) a""r #es9 ,They ) uld n t listen t )arnings because they did n t )ish t hear%, 0eing antiCRed made it im" ssible $ r them t read the message Hitler% 0ut their $ailure )as n thing c m"ared t ur "resent ne% The American stake in literacy as a techn l gy r uni$ rmity a""lied t e#ery le#el $ educati n! g #ernment! industry! and s cial li$e is t tally threatened by the electric techn l gy% The threat $ Stalin r Hitler )as e(ternal% The electric techn l gy is )ithin the gates! and )e are numb! dea$! blind! and mute ab ut its enc unter )ith the 1utenberg techn l gy! n and thr ugh )hich the American )ay $ li$e )as $ rmed% It is! h )e#er! n time t suggest strategies )hen the threat has n t e#en been ackn )ledged t e(ist% I am in the " siti n $ L uis +asteur telling d ct rs that their greatest enemy )as &uite in#isible! and &uite unrec gni6ed by them% ;ur c n#enti nal res" nse t all media! namely that it is h ) they are used that c unts! is the numb stance $ the techn l gical idi t% / r the ,c ntent, $ a medium is like the *uicy "iece $ meat carried by the burglar t distract the )atchd g $ the mind% The e$$ect $ the medium is made str ng and intense *ust because it is gi#en an ther medium as ,c ntent%, The c ntent $ a m #ie is a n #el r a "lay r an "era% The e$$ect $ the m #ie $ rm is n t related t its "r gram c ntent% The ,c ntent, $ )riting r "rint is s"eech! but the reader is alm st entirely una)are either $ "rint r $ s"eech% Arn ld T ynbee is inn cent $ any understanding $ media as they ha#e sha"ed hist ry! but he is $ull $ e(am"les that the student $ media can use% At ne m ment he can seri usly suggest that adult educati n! such as the - rkers 2ducati nal Ass ciati n in 0ritain! is a use$ul c unter$ rce t the " "ular "ress% T ynbee c nsiders that alth ugh all $ the riental s cieties ha#e in ur time acce"ted the industrial techn l gy and its " litical c nse&uences9 ,;n the cultural "lane! h )e#er! there is n uni$ rm c rres" nding tendency%, 4S mer#ell! I% ?HJ5 This is like the # ice H

$ the literate man! $l undering in a milieu $ ads! )h b asts! ,+ers nally! I "ay n attenti n t ads%, The s"iritual and cultural reser#ati ns that the riental "e "les may ha#e t )ard ur techn l gy )ill a#ail them n t at all% The e$$ects $ techn l gy d n t ccur at the le#el $ "ini ns r c nce"ts! but alter sense rati s r "atterns $ "erce"ti n steadily and )ith ut any resistance% The seri us artist is the nly "ers n able t enc unter techn l gy )ith im"unity! *ust because he is an e("ert a)are $ the changes in sense "erce"ti n% The "erati n $ the m ney medium in se#enteenthCcentury 8a"an had e$$ects n t unlike the "erati n ty" gra"hy in the -est% The "enetrati n $ the m ney ec n my! )r te 1% 0% Sans m 4in 8a"an! Cresset +ress! L nd n! 1FB15 ,caused a sl ) but irresistible re# luti n! culminating in the breakd )n $ $eudal g #ernment and the resum"ti n $ interc urse )ith $ reign c untries a$ter m re than t) hundred years $ seclusi n%, M ney has re rgani6ed the sense li$e $ "e "les *ust because it is an e(tensi n $ ur sense li#es% This change d es n t de"end u" n a""r #al r disa""r #al $ th se li#ing in the s ciety% Arn ld T ynbee made ne a""r ach t the trans$ rming " )er $ media in his c nce"t $ ,etheriali6ati n!, )hich he h lds t be the "rinci"le $ "r gressi#e sim"li$icati n and e$$iciency in any rgani6ati n r techn l gy% Ty"ically! he is ign ring the e$$ect $ the challenge $ these $ rms u" n the res" nse $ ur senses% He imagines that it is the res" nse $ ur "ini ns that is rele#ant t the e$$ect $ media and techn l gy in s ciety! a ," int $ #ie), that is "lainly the result $ the ty" gra"hic s"ell% / r the man in a literate and h m geni6ed s ciety ceases t be sensiti#e t the di#erse and disc ntinu us li$e $ $ rms% He ac&uires the illusi n $ the third dimensi n and the ,"ri#ate " int $ #ie), as "art $ his Narcissus $i(ati n! and is &uite shut $$ $r m 0lake=s a)areness r that $ the +salmist! that )e bec me )hat )e beh ld% T day )hen )e )ant t get ur bearings in ur )n culture! and ha#e need t stand aside $r m the bias and "ressure e(erted by any technical $ rm $ human e("ressi n! )e ha#e nly t #isit a s ciety )here that "articular $ rm has n t been $elt! r a hist rical "eri d in )hich it )as unkn )n% +r $ess r -ilbur Schramm made such a tactical m #e in studying Tele#isi n in the Li#es $ ;ur Children% He $ und areas )here T7 had n t "enetrated at all and ran s me tests% Since he had made n study $ the "eculiar nature $ the T7 image! his tests )ere $ ,c ntent, "re$erences! #ie)ing time! and # cabulary c unts% In a ) rd! his a""r ach t the "r blem )as a literary ne! albeit unc nsci usly s % C nse&uently! he had n thing t re" rt% Had his meth ds been em"l yed in 1GII A%>% t disc #er the e$$ects $ the "rinted b k in the li#es $ children r adults! he c uld ha#e $ und ut n thing $ the changes in human and s cial "sych l gy resulting $r m ty" gra"hy% +rint created indi#idualism and nati nalism in the si(teenth century% +r gram and ,c ntent, analysis $$er n clues t the magic $ these media r t their subliminal charge% Le nard > b! in his re" rt C mmunicati n in A$rica! tells $ ne A$rican )h t k great "ains t listen each e#ening t the 00C ne)s! e#en th ugh he c uld understand n thing $ it% 8ust t be in the "resence $ th se s unds at J +%M% each day )as im" rtant $ r him% His attitude t s"eech )as like urs t mel dy'the res nant int nati n )as meaning en ugh% In the Se#enteenth century ur ancest rs still shared this nati#e=s attitude t the $ rms $ media! as is "lain in the $ ll )ing sentiment $ the /renchman 0ernard Lam e("ressed in The Art $ S"eaking 4L nd n! 1HFH59 =Tis an e$$ect $ the -isd m $ 1 d! )h created Man t be ha""y! that )hate#er is use$ul t his c n#ersati n 4)ay $ li$e5 is agreeable t him % % % because all #ictual that c nduces t n urishment is relishable! )hereas ther things that cann t be assimulated and be turned int ur substance are insi"id% A disc urse cann t be "leasant t the Hearer that is n t easie t the S"eakerA n r can it be easily "r n unced unless it be heard )ith delight%

Here is an e&uilibrium the ry $ human diet and e("ressi n such as e#en n ) )e are nly stri#ing t ) rk ut again $ r media a$ter centuries $ $ragmentati n and s"ecialism% + "e +ius KII )as dee"ly c ncerned that there be seri us study $ the media t day% ;n /ebruary 1J! 1FGI! he said9 It is n t an e(aggerati n t say that the $uture $ m dern s ciety and the stability $ its inner li$e de"end in large "art n the maintenance $ an e&uilibrium bet)een the strength $ the techni&ues $ c mmunicati n and the ca"acity $ the indi#idual=s )n reacti n% /ailure in this res"ect has $ r centuries been ty"ical and t tal $ r mankind% Subliminal and d cile acce"tance $ media im"act has made them "ris ns )ith ut )alls $ r their human users% As A% 8% Liebling remarked in his b k The +ress! a man is n t $ree i$ he cann t see )here he is g ing! e#en i$ he has a gun t hel" him get there% / r each $ the media is als a " )er$ul )ea" n )ith )hich t cl bber ther media and ther gr u"s% The result is that the "resent age has been ne $ multi"le ci#il )ars that are n t limited t the ) rld $ art and entertainment% In -ar and Human +r gress! +r $ess r 8% U% Ne$ declared9 ,The t tal )ars $ ur time ha#e been the result $ a series $ intellectual mistakes % % %, I$ the $ rmati#e " )er in the media are the media themsel#es! that raises a h st $ large matters that can nly be menti ned here! alth ugh they deser#e # lumes% Namely! that techn l gical media are sta"les r natural res urces! e(actly as are c al and c tt n and il% Anyb dy )ill c ncede that s ciety )h se ec n my is de"endent u" n ne r t) ma* r sta"les like c tt n! r grain! r lumber! r $ish! r cattle is g ing t ha#e s me b#i us s cial "atterns $ rgani6ati n as a result% Stress n a $e) ma* r sta"les creates e(treme instability in the ec n my $ limited sta"les% / r a s ciety c n$igured by reliance n a $e) c mm dities acce"ts them as a s cial b nd &uite as much as the metr " lis d es the "ress% C tt n and il! like radi and T7! bec me ,$i(ed charges, n the entire "sychic li$e $ the c mmunity% And this "er#asi#e $act creates the uni&ue cultural $la# r $ any s ciety% It "ays thr ugh the n se and all its ther senses $ r each sta"le that sha"es its li$e% That ur human senses! $ )hich all media are e(tensi ns! are als $i(ed charges n ur "ers nal energies! and that they als c n$igure the a)areness and e("erience $ each ne $ us! may be "ercei#ed in an ther c nnecti n menti ned by the "sych l gist C% 1% 8ung9 2#ery R man )as surr unded by sla#es% The sla#e and his "sych l gy $l ded ancient Italy! and e#ery R man became in)ardly! and $ c urse un)ittingly! a sla#e% 0ecause li#ing c nstantly in the atm s"here $ sla#es! he became in$ected thr ugh the unc nsci us )ith their "sych l gy% N ne can shield himsel$ $r m such an in$luence 4C ntributi ns t Analytical +sych l gy! L nd n! 1F?L5%

?I/The +h t gra"h
The Brothel Without Walls
A "h t gra"h $ ,St% +eter=s at a M ment $ Hist ry, )as the c #er $eature $ Li$e maga6ine $ r 8une 1D! 1FHB% It is ne $ the "eculiar characteristics $ the "h t that it is lates single m ments in time% The T7 camera d es n t% The c ntinu us scanning acti n $ the T7 camera "r #ides! n t the is lated m ment r as"ect! but the c nt ur! the ic nic "r $ile and the trans"arency% 2gy"tian art! like "rimiti#e scul"ture t day! "r #ided the signi$icant utline that had n thing t d )ith a m ment in time% Scul"ture tends t )ard the timeless% A)areness $ the trans$ rming " )er $ the "h t is $ten emb died in " "ular st ries like the ne ab ut the admiring $riend )h said! ,My! that=s a $ine child y u ha#e there:, M ther9 ,;h! that=s n thing% @ u sh uld see his "h t gra"h%, The " )er $ the camera t be e#ery)here and t interrelate things is )ell indicated in the 7 gue maga6ine b ast 4March 1G! 1FGB59 ,A ) man n )! and )ith ut ha#ing t lea#e the c untry! can ha#e the best $ $i#e 4 r m re5 nati ns hanging in her cl setCbeauti$ul and c m"atible as a statesman=s dream%, That is )hy! in the "h t gra"hic age! $ashi ns ha#e c me t be like the c llage style in "ainting% A century ag the 0ritish cra6e $ r the m n cle ga#e t the )earer the " )er $ the camera t $i( "e "le in a su"eri r stare! as i$ they )ere b*ects% 2rich # n Str heim did a great * b )ith the m n cle in creating the haughty +russian $$icer% 0 th m n cle and camera tend t turn "e "le int things! and the "h t gra"h e(tends and multi"lies the human image t the "r " rti ns $ massC"r duced merchandise% The m #ie stars and matinee id ls are "ut in the "ublic d main by "h t gra"hy% They bec me dreams that m ney can buy% They can be b ught and hugged and thumbed m re easily than "ublic "r stitutes% MassC"r duced merchandise has al)ays made s me "e "le uneasy in its "r stitute as"ect% 8ean 1enet=s The 0alc ny is a "lay n this theme $ s ciety as a br thel en#ir ned by #i lence and h rr r% The a#id desire $ mankind t "r stitute itsel$ stands u" against the cha s $ re# luti n% The br thel remains $irm and "ermanent amidst the m st $uri us changes% In a ) rd! "h t gra"hy has ins"ired 1enet )ith the theme $ the ) rld since "h t gra"hy as a 0r thelC)ith utC-alls% N b dy can c mmit "h t gra"hy al ne% It is " ssible t ha#e at least the illusi n $ reading and )riting in is lati n! but "h t gra"hy d es n t $ ster such attitudes% I$ there is any sense in de"l ring the gr )th $ c r" rate and c llecti#e art $ rms such as the $ilm and the "ress! it is surely in relati n t the "re#i us indi#idualist techn l gies that these ne) $ rms c rr de% @et i$ there had been n "rints r ) dcuts and engra#ings! there ) uld ne#er ha#e c me the "h t gra"h% / r centuries! the ) dcut and the engra#ing had delineated the ) rld by an arrangement $ lines and " ints that had synta( $ a #ery elab rate kind% Many hist rians $ this #isual synta(! like 2% H% 1 mbrich and -illiam M% I#ins! ha#e been at great "ains t e("lain h ) the art $ the handC)ritten manuscri"t had "ermeated the art $ the ) dcut and the engra#ing until! )ith the hal$t ne "r cess! the d ts and lines suddenly $ell bel ) the thresh ld $ n rmal #isi n% Synta(! the net $ rati nality! disa""eared $r m the later "rints! *ust as it tended t disa""ear $r m the telegra"h message and $r m the im"ressi nist "ainting% /inally! in the " intillisme $ Seurat! the ) rld suddenly a""eared thr ugh the "ainting% The directi n $ a syntactical " int $ #ie) $r m utside nt the "ainting ended as literary $ rm d)indled int headlines )ith the telegra"h% -ith the "h t gra"h! in the same )ay! men had disc #ered h ) t make #isual re" rts )ith ut synta(% It )as in 1LBF that -illiam Henry / ( Talb t read a "a"er t the R yal S ciety )hich had as title9 ,S me acc unt $ the Art $ +h t genic >ra)ing! r the "r cess by )hich Natural ;b*ects may be made t delineate themsel#es )ith ut the aid $ the artist=s "encil%, He )as &uite a)are $ "h t gra"hy as a kind $ aut mati n that eliminated the syntactical "r cedures $ "en and "encil% F

He )as "r bably less a)are that he had br ught the "ict rial ) rld int line )ith the ne) industrial "r cedures% / r "h t gra"hy mirr red the e(ternal ) rld aut matically! yielding an e(actly re"eatable #isual image% It )as this allCim" rtant &uality $ uni$ rmity and re"eatability that had made the 1utenberg break bet)een the Middle Ages and the Renaissance% +h t gra"hy )as alm st as decisi#e in making the break bet)een mere mechanical industrialism and the gra"hic age $ electr nic man% The ste" $r m the age $ Ty" gra"hic Man t the age $ 1ra"hic Man )as taken )ith the in#enti n $ "h t gra"hy% 0 th daguerre ty"es and "h t gra"hs intr duced light and chemistry int the making "r cess% Natural b*ects delineated themsel#es by an e(" sure intensi$ied by lens and $i(ed by chemicals% In the daguerre ty"e "r cess there )as the same sti""ling r "itting )ith minute d ts that )as ech ed later in Seurat=s " intillisme! and is still c ntinued in the ne)s"a"er mesh $ d ts that is called ,)ireC"h t %, -ithin a year $ >aguerre=s disc #ery! Samuel /% 0% M rse )as taking "h t gra"hs $ his )i$e and daughter in Ne) @ rk City% > ts $ r the eye 4"h t gra"h5 and d ts $ r the ear 4telegra"h5 thus met n t " $ a skyscra"er% A $urther cr ssC$ertili6ati n ccurred in Talb t=s in#enti n $ the "h t ! )hich he imagined as an e(tensi n $ the camera bscura! r "ictures in ,the little dark r m!, as the Italians had named the "icture "layCb ( $ the si(teenth century% 8ust at the time )hen mechanical )riting had been achie#ed by m #able ty"es! there gre) u" the "astime $ l king at m #ing images n the )all $ a dark r m% I$ there is sunshine utside and a "inh le in ne )all! then the images $ the uter ) rld )ill a""ear n the )all "" site% This ne) disc #ery )as #ery e(citing t "ainters! since it intensi$ied the ne) illusi n $ "ers"ecti#e and $ the third dimensi n that is s cl sely related t the "rinted ) rd% 0ut the early s"ectat rs $ the m #ing image in the si(teenth century sa) th se images u"side d )n% / r this reas n the lens )as intr ducedCin rder t turn the "icture right side u"% ;ur n rmal #isi n is als u"side d )n% +sychically! )e learn t turn ur #isual ) rld right side u" by translating the retinal im"ressi n $r m #isual int tactile and kinetic terms% Right side u" is a""arently s mething )e $eel but cann t see directly% T the student $ media! the $act that ,n rmal, rightCsideCu" #isi n is a translati n $r m ne sense int an ther is a hel"$ul hint ab ut the kinds $ acti#ity $ dist rti n and translati n that any language r culture induces in all $ us% N thing amuses the 2skim m re than $ r the )hite man t crane his neck t see the maga6ine "ictures stuck n the igl )alls% / r the 2skim n m re needs t l k at a "icture right side u" than d es a child be$ re he has learned his letters n a line% 8ust )hy -esterners sh uld be disturbed t $ind that nati#es ha#e t learn t read "ictures! as )e learn t read letters! is ) rth c nsiderati n% The e(treme bias and dist rti n $ ur senseC li#es by ur techn l gy ) uld seem t be a $act that )e "re$er t ign re in ur daily li#es% 2#idence that nati#es d n t "ercei#e in "ers"ecti#e r sense the third dimensi n seems t threaten the -estern eg Cimage and structure! as many ha#e $ und a$ter a tri" thr ugh the Ames +erce"ti n Lab rat ry at ;hi State Uni#ersity% This lab is arranged t re#eal the #ari us illusi ns )e create $ r ursel#es in )hat )e c nsider t be ,n rmal, #isual "erce"ti n% That )e ha#e acce"ted such bias and bli&uity in a subliminal )ay thr ugh m st $ human hist ry is clear en ugh% 8ust )hy )e are n l nger c ntent t lea#e ur e("erience in this subliminal state! and )hy many "e "le ha#e begun t get #ery c nsci us ab ut the unc nsci us! is a &uesti n )ell ) rth in#estigati n% +e "le are n )adays much c ncerned t set their h uses in rder! a "r cess $ sel$Cc nsci usness that has recei#ed large im"etus $r m "h t gra"hy% -illiam Henry / ( Talb t! delighting in S)iss scenery! began t re$lect n the camera bscura and that ,it )as during these th ughts that the idea ccurred t me % % % h ) charming it ) uld be i$ it )ere " ssible t cause these natural images t im"rint themsel#es durably! and remain $i(ed n "a"er:, The "rinting "ress had! in the Renaissance! ins"ired a similar desire t gi#e "ermanence t daily $eelings and e("erience%

1I

The meth d Talb t de#ised )as that $ "rinting " siti#es chemically $r m negati#es! t yield an e(actly re"eatable image% Thus the r adbl ck that had im"eded the 1reek b tanists and had de$eated their success rs )as rem #ed% M st $ the sciences had been! $r m their rigins! utterly handica""ed by the lack $ ade&uate n n#erbal means $ transmitting in$ rmati n% T day! e#en subat mic "hysics ) uld be unable t de#el " )ith ut the "h t gra"h% The Sunday Ne) @ rk Times $ r 8une 1G! 1FGL re" rted9 TINY CELLS "SEEN" BY NEW TECHNIQUE Microphoretic Method Spots Million-Billionth o !ra"# London $esi%ner Sa&s Sa"ples o su'stances (ei%hin% less than a "illion-'illionth o a %ra" can 'e anal&)ed '& a ne( British "icroscopic techni*ue+ This is the ""icrophoretic "ethod" '& Bernard M+ Turner# a London 'ioche"ical anal&st and instru"ents desi%ner+ It can 'e applied to the stud& o the cells o the 'rain and ner,ous s&ste"# cell duplication includin% that in cancerous tissue# and it (ill assist# it is 'elie,ed# in the anal&ses o at"ospheric pollution '& dust+ + + + In e ect# an electric current pulls or pushes the di erent constituents o the sa"ple into )ones (here the& (ould nor"all& 'e in,isi'le+ H )e#er! t say that ,the camera cann t lie, is merely t underline the multi"le deceits that are n ) "racticed in its name% Indeed! the ) rld $ the m #ie that )as "re"ared by the "h t gra"h has bec me syn nym us )ith illusi n and $antasy! turning s ciety int )hat 8 yce called an ,allnights ne)sery reel!, that substitutes a ,reel, ) rld $ r reality% 8 yce kne) m re ab ut the e$$ects $ the "h t gra"h n ur senses! ur language! and ur th ught "r cesses than anyb dy else% His #erdict n the ,aut matic )riting, that is "h t gra"hy )as the abnihili6ati n $ the etym% He sa) the "h t as at least a ri#al! and "erha"s a usur"er! $ the ) rd! )hether )ritten r s" ken% 0ut i$ etym 4etym l gy5 means the heart and c re and m ist substance $ th se beings that )e gras" in ) rds! then 8 yce may )ell ha#e meant that the "h t )as a ne) creati n $r m n thing 4abCnihil5! r e#en a reducti n $ creati n t a "h t gra"hic negati#e% I$ there is! indeed! a terrible nihilism in the "h t and a substituti n $ shad )s $ r substance! then )e are surely n t the ) rse $ r kn )ing it% The techn l gy $ the "h t is an e(tensi n $ ur )n being and can be )ithdra)n $r m circulati n like any ther techn l gy i$ )e decide that it is #irulent% 0ut am"utati n $ such e(tensi ns $ ur "hysical being call $ r as much kn )ledge and skill as are "rere&uisite t any ther "hysical am"utati n% I$ the "h netic al"habet )as a technical means $ se#ering the s" ken ) rd $r m its as"ects $ s und and gesture! the "h t gra"h and its de#el "ment in the m #ie rest red gesture t the human techn l gy $ rec rding e("erience% In $act! the sna"sh t $ arrested human " stures by "h t gra"hy directed m re attenti n t "hysical and "sychic " sture than e#er be$ re% The age $ the "h t gra"h has bec me the age $ gesture and mime and dance! as n ther age has e#er been% /reud and 8ung built their bser#ati ns n the inter"retati n $ the languages $ b th indi#idual and c llecti#e " stures $ e#eryday li$e% The "hysical and "sychic gestalts! r ,still, sh ts! )ith )hich they ) rked )ere much )ing t the " sture ) rld re#ealed by the "h t gra"h% The "h t gra"h is *ust as use$ul $ r c llecti#e! as $ r indi#idual! " stures and gestures! )hereas )ritten and "rinted language is biased t )ard the "ri#ate and indi#idual " sture% Thus! the traditi nal $igures $ rhet ric )ere indi#idual " stures $ mind $ the "ri#ate s"eaker in relati n t an audience! )hereas myth and 8ungian archety"es are c llecti#e " stures $ the mind )ith )hich the )ritten $ rm c uld n t c "e! any m re than it c uld c mmand mime and gesture% M re #er! that the "h t gra"h is &uite #ersatile in re#ealing and arresting " sture and structure )here#er it is used! ccurs in c untless e(am"les! such as the analysis $ birdC $light% It )as the "h t gra"h that re#ealed the secret $ birdC$light and enabled man t take $$% 11

The "h t ! in arresting birdC$light! sh )ed that it )as based n a "rinci"le $ )ing $i(ity% -ing m #ement )as seen t be $ r "r "ulsi n! n t $ r $light% +erha"s the great re# luti n "r duced by "h t gra"h )as in the traditi nal arts% The "ainter c uld n l nger de"ict a ) rld that had been much "h t gra"hed% He turned! instead! t re#eal the inner "r cess $ creati#ity in e("ressi nism and abstract art% Like)ise! the n #elist c uld n l nger describe b*ects r ha""enings $ r readers )h already kne) )hat )as ha""ening by "h t ! "ress! $ilm! and radi % The " et and n #elist turned t th se in)ard gestures $ the mind by )hich )e achie#e insight and by )hich )e make ursel#es and ur ) rld% Thus art m #ed $r m uter matching t inner making% Instead $ de"icting a ) rld that matched the ) rld )e already kne)! the artists turned t "resenting the creati#e "r cess $ r "ublic "artici"ati n% He has gi#en t us n ) the means $ bec ming in# l#ed in the makingC"r cess% 2ach de#el "ment $ the electric age attracts! and demands! a high degree $ "r ducerC rientati n% The age $ the c nsumer $ "r cessed and "ackaged g ds is! there$ re! n t the "resent electric age! but the mechanical age that "receded it% @et! ine#itably! the age $ the mechanical has had t #erla" )ith the electric! as in such b#i us instances as the internal c mbusti n engine that re&uires the electric s"ark t ignite the e("l si n that m #es its cylinders% The telegra"h is an electric $ rm that! )hen cr ssed )ith "rint and r tary "resses! yields the m dern ne)s"a"er% And the "h t gra"h is n t a machine! but a chemical and light "r cess that! cr ssed )ith the machine! yields the m #ie% @et there is a #ig r and #i lence in these hybrid $ rms that is sel$Cli&uidating! as it )ere% / r in radi and T7C"urely electric $ rms $r m )hich the mechanical "rinci"le has been e(cludedCthere is an alt gether ne) relati n $ the medium t its users% This is a relati n $ high "artici"ati n and in# l#ement that! $ r g d r ill! n mechanism had e#er e# ked% 2ducati n is ideally ci#il de$ense against media $allC ut% @et -estern man has had! s $ar! n educati n r e&ui"ment $ r meeting any $ the ne) media n their )n terms% Literate man is n t nly numb and #ague in the "resence $ $ilm r "h t ! but he intensi$ies his ine"tness by a de$ensi#e arr gance and c ndescensi n t ," " kulch, and ,mass entertainment%, It )as in this s"irit $ bulld g "acity that the sch lastic "hil s "hers $ailed t meet the challenge $ the "rinted b k in the si(teenth century% The #ested interests $ ac&uired kn )ledge and c n#enti nal )isd m ha#e al)ays been byC"assed and engul$ed by ne) media% The study $ this "r cess! h )e#er! )hether $ r the "ur" se $ $i(ity r $ change! has scarcely begun% The n ti n that sel$Cinterest c n$ers a keener eye $ r rec gni6ing and c ntr lling the "r cesses $ change is &uite )ith ut $ undati n! as )itness the m t rcar industry% Here is a ) rld $ bs lescence as surely d med t s)i$t er si n as )as the enter"rise $ the buggyC and )ag nCmakers in 1F1G% @et d es 1eneral M t rs! $ r e(am"le! kn )! r e#en sus"ect! anything ab ut the e$$ect $ the T7 image n the users $ m t rcars. The maga6ine enter"rises are similarly undermined by the T7 image and its e$$ect n the ad#ertising ic n% The meaning $ the ne) ad ic n has n t been gras"ed by th se )h stand t l se all% The same is true $ the m #ie industry in general% 2ach $ these enter"rises lacks any ,literacy, in any medium but its )n! and thus the startling changes resulting $r m ne) hybrid and cr ssings $ media catch them una)ares% T The student $ media structures! e#ery detail $ the t tal m saic $ the c ntem" rary ) rld is #i#id )ith meaning$ul li$e% As early as March 1G! 1FGB! 7 gue maga6ine ann unced a ne) hybrid! resulting $r m a cr ss bet)een "h t gra"h and air tra#el9 This $irst Internati nal /ashi n Issue $ 7 gue is t mark a ne) " int% -e c uldn=t ha#e d ne such an issue be$ re% /ashi n nly g t its internati nali6ati n "a"ers a sh rt time ag ! and $ r the $irst time in ne issue )e can re" rt n c uture c llecti ns in $i#e c untries% The ad#antages $ such ad c "y as highCgrade re in the lab $ the media analyst can be rec gni6ed nly by th se trained in the language $ #isi n and $ the "lastic arts in general% The c "y )riter has t be a stri"Ctease artist )h has entire em"athy )ith the immediate state $ mind 1?

$ the audience% Such! indeed! is als the a"titude $ the " "ular n #elist r s ng )riter% It $ ll )s that any )idely acce"ted )riter r entertainer emb dies and re#eals a current set $ attitudes that can be #erbali6ed by the analyst% ,> y u read me! Mac., 0ut )ere the ) rds $ the 7 gue )riter t be c nsidered merely n literary r edit rial gr unds! their meaning ) uld be missed! *ust as the c "y in a "ict rial ad is n t t be c nsidered as literary statement but as mime $ the "sych "ath l gy $ e#eryday li$e% In the age $ the "h t gra"h! language takes n a gra"hic r ic nic character! )h se ,meaning, bel ngs #ery little t the semantic uni#erse! and n t at all t the re"ublic $ letters% I$ )e "en a 1FBL c "y $ Li$e! the "ictures r " stures then seen as n rmal n ) gi#e a shar"er sense $ rem te time than d b*ects $ real anti&uity% Small children n ) attach the "hrase ,the lden days, t yesterday=s hats and #ersh es! s keenly are they attuned t the abru"t seas nal changes $ #isual " sture in the ) rld $ $ashi ns% 0ut the basic e("erience here is ne that m st "e "le $eel $ r yesterday=s ne)s"a"er! than )hich n thing c uld be m re drastically ut $ $ashi n% 8a66 musicians e("ress their distaste $ r rec rded *a66 by saying! ,It is as stale as yesterday=s ne)s"a"er%, +erha"s that is the readiest )ay t gras" the meaning $ the "h t gra"h in creating a ) rld $ accelerated transience% / r the relati n )e ha#e t ,t day=s ne)s"a"er!, r #erbal *a66! is the same that "e "le $eel $ r $ashi ns% /ashi n is n t a )ay $ being in$ rmed r a)are! but a )ay $ being )ith it% That! h )e#er! is merely t dra) attenti n t a negati#e as"ect $ the "h t gra"h% + siti#ely! the e$$ect $ s"eeding u" tem" ral se&uence is t ab lish time! much as the telegra"h and cable ab lished s"ace% ;$ c urse the "h t gra"h d es b th% It )i"es ut ur nati nal $r ntiers and cultural barriers! and in# l#es us in The /amily $ Man! regardless $ any "articular " int $ #ie)% A "icture $ a gr u" $ "ers ns $ any hue )hate#er is a "icture $ "e "le! n t $ ,c l red "e "le%, That is the l gic $ the "h t gra"h! " litically s"eaking% 0ut the l gic $ the "h t gra"h is neither #erbal r syntactical! a c nditi n )hich renders literary culture &uite hel"less t c "e )ith the "h t gra"h% 0y the same t ken! the c m"lete trans$ rmati n $ human senseCa)areness by this $ rm in# l#es a de#el "ment $ sel$Cc nsci usness that alters $acial e("ressi n and c smetic makeu" as immediately as it d es ur b dily stance! in "ublic r in "ri#ate% This $act can be gleaned $r m any maga6ine r m #ie $ $i$teen years back% It is n t t much t say! there$ re! that i$ uter " sture is a$$ected by the "h t gra"h! s )ith ur inner " stures and the dial gue )ith ursel#es% The age $ 8ung and /reud is! ab #e all! the age $ the "h t gra"h! the age $ the $ull gamut $ sel$Ccritical attitudes% This immense tidyingCu" $ ur inner li#es! m ti#ated by the ne) "icture gestalt culture! has had its b#i us "arallels in ur attem"ts t rearrange ur h mes and gardens and ur cities% T see a "h t gra"h $ the l cal slum makes the c nditi n unbearable% The mere matching $ the "icture )ith reality "r #ides a ne) m ti#e $ r change! as it d es a ne) m ti#e $ r tra#el% >aniel 0 rstin in The I"a%e- or What happened to the ."erican $rea" $$ers a c nducted literary t ur $ the ne) "h t gra"hic ) rld $ tra#el% ;ne has merely t l k at the ne) t urism in a literary "ers"ecti#e t disc #er that it makes n sense at all% T the literary man )h has read ab ut 2ur "e! in leisurely antici"ati n $ a #isit! an ad that )his"ers9 ,@ u are *ust $i$teen g urmet meals $r m 2ur "e n the ) rld=s $astest shi", is gr ss and re"ugnant% Ad#ertisements $ tra#el by "lane are ) rse9 ,>inner in Ne) @ rk! indigesti n in +aris%, M re #er! the "h t gra"h has re#ersed the "ur" se $ tra#el! )hich until n ) had been t enc unter the strange and un$amiliar% >escartes! in the early se#enteenth century! had bser#ed that tra#eling )as alm st like c n#ersing )ith men $ ther centuries! a " int $ #ie) &uite unkn )n be$ re his time% / r th se )h cherish such &uaint e("erience! it is necessary t day t g back #ery many centuries by the art and archae l gy r ute% +r $ess r 0 rstin seems unha""y that s many Americans tra#el s much and are changed by it s little% He $eels that the entire tra#el e("erience has bec me ,diluted! c ntri#ed! "re$abricated%, He is n t c ncerned t $ind ut )hy 1B

the "h t gra"h has d ne this t us% 0ut in the same )ay intelligent "e "le in the "ast al)ays de"l red the )ay in )hich the b k had bec me a substitute $ r in&uiry! c n#ersati n! and re$lecti n! and ne#er tr ubled t re$lect n the nature $ the "rinted b k% The b k reader has al)ays tended t be "assi#e! because that is the best )ay t read% T day! the tra#eler has bec me "assi#e% 1i#en tra#elers checks! a "ass" rt! and a t thbrush! the ) rld is y ur yster% The macadam r ad! the railr ad! and the steamshi" ha#e taken the tra#ail ut $ tra#el% +e "le m #ed by the silliest )hims n ) clutter the $ reign "laces! because tra#el di$$ers #ery little $r m g ing t a m #ie r turning the "ages $ a maga6ine% The ,1 N )! +ay Later!, $ rmula $ the tra#el agencies might as )ell read9 ,1 n )! arri#e later!, $ r it c uld be argued that such "e "le ne#er really lea#e their beaten "aths $ im"erci"ience! n r d they e#er arri#e at any ne) "lace% They can ha#e Shanghai r 0erlin r 7enice in a "ackage t ur that they need ne#er "en% In 1FH1! T-A began t "r #ide ne) m #ies $ r its transCAtlantic $lights s that y u c uld #isit + rtugal! Cali$ rnia! r any)here else! )hile en r ute t H lland! $ r e(am"le% Thus the ) rld itsel$ bec mes a s rt $ museum $ b*ects that ha#e been enc untered be$ re in s me ther medium% It is )ell kn )n that e#en museum curat rs $ten "re$er c l red "ictures t the riginals $ #ari us b*ects in their )n cases% In the same )ay! the t urist )h arri#es at the Leaning T )er $ +isa! r the 1rand Cany n $ Ari6 na! can n ) merely check his reacti ns t s mething )ith )hich he has l ng been $amiliar! and take his )n "ictures $ the same% T lament that the "ackaged t ur! like the "h t gra"h! chea"ens and degrades by making all "laces easy $ access! is t miss m st $ the game% It is t make #alue *udgments )ith $i(ed re$erence t the $ragmentary "ers"ecti#e $ literary culture% It is the same " siti n that c nsiders a literary landsca"e as su"eri r t a m #ie tra#el gue% / r the untrained a)areness! all reading and all m #ies! like all tra#el! are e&ually banal and unn urishing as e("erience% >i$$iculty $ access d es n t c n$er ade&uacy $ "erce"ti n! th ugh it may in# l#e an b*ect in an aura $ "sued C#alues! as )ith a gem! a m #ie star! r an ld master% This n ) brings us t the $actual c re $ the ,"seud e#ent!, a label a""lied t the ne) media! in general! because $ their " )er t gi#e ne) "atterns t ur li#es by accelerati n $ lder "atterns% It is necessary t re$lect that this same insidi us " )er )as nce $elt in the ld media! including languages% All media e(ist t in#est ur li#es )ith arti$icial "erce"ti n and arbitrary #alues% All meaning alters )ith accelerati n! because all "atterns $ "ers nal and " litical interde"endence change )ith any accelerati n $ in$ rmati n% S me $eel keenly that s"eedCu" has im" #erished the ) rld they kne) by changing its $ rms $ "ar chial "re$erence $ r th se "seud Ce#ents that ha""ened t enter int the c m" siti n $ s ciety *ust be$ re the electric re# luti n $ this century% The student $ media s n c mes t e("ect the ne) media $ any "eri d )hate#er t be classed as "seud by th se )h ha#e ac&uired the "atterns $ earlier media! )hate#er they may ha""en t be% This ) uld seem t a n rmal! and e#en amiable! trait ensuring a ma(imal degree $ s cial c ntinuity and "ermanence amidst change and inn #ati n% 0ut all the c nser#atism in the ) rld d es n t a$$ rd e#en a t ken resistance t the ec l gical s)ee" $ the ne) electric media% ;n a m #ing high)ay the #ehicle that backs u" is accelerating in relati n t the high)ay situati n% Such ) uld seem t be the ir nical status $ the cultural reacti nary% -hen the trend is ne )ay his resistance insures a greater s"eed $ change% C ntr l #er change ) uld seem t c nsist in m #ing n t )ith it but ahead $ it% Antici"ati n gi#es the " )er t de$lect and c ntr l $ rce% Thus )e may $eel like a man )h has been hustled a)ay $r m his $a# rite kn tCh le in the ball "ark by a $rantic r ut $ $ans eager t see the arri#al $ a m #ie star% -e are n s ner in " siti n t l k at ne kind $ e#ent than it is bliterated by an ther! *ust as ur -estern li#es seem t nati#e cultures t be ne l ng series $ "re"arati ns $ r li#ing% 0ut the $a# rite stance $ literary man has l ng been ,t #ie) )ith alarm, r ,t " int )ith "ride!, )hile scru"ul usly ign ring )hat=s g ing n% ;ne immense area $ "h t gra"hic in$luence that a$$ects ur li#es is the ) rld $ "ackaging and 1D

dis"lay and! in general! the rgani6ati n $ sh "s and st res $ e#ery kind% The ne)s"a"er that c uld ad#ertise e#ery s rt $ "r duct n ne "age &uickly ga#e rise t the de"artment st res that "r #ided e#ery kind $ "r duct under ne r $% T day the decentrali6ing $ such instituti ns int a multi"licity $ small sh "s in sh ""ing "la6as is "artly the creati n $ the car! "artly the result $ T7% 0ut the "h t gra"h still e(erts s me centralist "ressure in the mailC rder catal gue% @et the mailC rder h uses riginally $elt n t nly the centralist $ rces $ rail)ay and " stal ser#ices! but als ! and at the same time! the decentrali6ing " )er $ the telegra"h% The Sears R ebuck enter"rise )as directly )ing t stati nmaster use $ the telegra"h% These men sa) that the )aste $ g ds n rail)ay siding c uld be ended by the s"eed $ the telegra"h t rer ute and c ncentrate% The c m"le( net) rk $ media! ther than the "h t gra"h that a""ears in the ) rld $ merchandising! is easier t bser#e in the ) rld $ s" rts% In ne instance! the "ress camera c ntributed t radical changes in the game $ $ tball% A "ress "h t $ battered "layers in a 1FIG game bet)een +ennsyl#ania and S)arthm re came t the attenti n $ +resident Teddy R se#elt% He )as s angered at the "icture $ S)arthm re=s mangled 0 b Ma()ell that he issued an immediate ultimatumCthat i$ r ugh "lay c ntinued! he ) uld ab lish the game by e(ecuti#e edict% The e$$ect )as the same as that $ the harr )ing telegra"h re" rts $ Russell $r m the Crimea! )hich created the image and r le $ /l rence Nightingale% N less drastic )as the e$$ect $ the "ress "h t c #erage $ the li#es $ the rich% ,C ns"icu us c nsum"ti n, )ed less t the "hrase $ 7eblen than t the "ress "h t gra"her! )h began t in#ade the entertainment s" ts $ the #ery rich% The sights $ men rdering drinks $r m h rseback at the bars $ clubs &uickly caused a "ublic re#ulsi n that dr #e the rich int the )ays $ timid medi crity and bscurity in America! )hich they ha#e ne#er aband ned% The "h t gra"h made it &uite unsa$e t c me ut and "lay! $ r it betrayed such blatant dimensi ns $ " )er as t be sel$Cde$eating% ;n the ther hand! the m #ie "hase $ "h t gra"hy created a ne) arist cracy $ act rs and actresses! )h dramati6ed! n and $$ the screen! the $antasia $ c ns"icu us c nsum"ti n that the rich c uld ne#er achie#e% The m #ie dem nstrated the magic " )er $ the "h t by "r #iding a c nsumer "ackage $ "lut cratic dimensi n $ r all the Cinderellas in the ) rld% The 1utenberg 1ala(y "r #ides the necessary backgr und $ r studying the ra"id rise $ ne) #isual #alues a$ter the ad#ent $ "rinting $r m m #able ty"es% ,A "lace $ r e#erything and e#erything in its "lace, is a $eature n t nly $ the c m" sit r=s arrangement $ his ty"e $ nts! but $ the entire range $ human rgani6ati n $ kn )ledge and acti n $r m the si(teenth century n)ard% 2#en the inner li$e $ the $eelings and em ti ns began t be structured and rdered and analy6ed acc rding t se"arate "ict rial landsca"es! as Christ "her Hussey e("lained in his $ascinating study $ The +ictures&ue% M re than a century $ this "ict rial analysis $ the inner li$e "receded Talb t=s 1LBF disc #ery $ "h t gra"hy% +h t gra"hy! by carrying the "ict rial delineati n $ natural b*ects much $urther than "aint r language c uld d ! had a re#erse e$$ect% 0y c n$erring a means $ sel$Cdelineati n $ b*ects! $ ,statement )ith ut synta(!, "h t gra"hy ga#e the im"etus t a delineati n $ the inner ) rld% Statement )ith ut synta( r #erbali6ati n )as really statement by gesture! by mime! and by gestalt% This ne) dimensi n "ened $ r human ins"ecti n by " ets like 0audelaire and Rimbaud le "aysage intMrieur! r the c untries $ the mind% + ets and "ainters in#aded this inner landsca"e ) rld l ng be$ re /reud and 8ung br ught their cameras and n teb ks t ca"ture states $ mind% +erha"s the m st s"ectacular $ all )as Claude 0ernard! )h se Intr ducti n t the Study $ 2("erimental Medicine ushered science int le milieu intMrieur $ the b dy e(a(tly at the time )hen " ets did the same $ r the li$e $ "erce"ti n and $eeling% It is im" rtant t n te that this ultimate stage $ "ict riali6ati n )as a re#ersal $ "attern% The ) rld $ b dy and mind bser#ed by 0audelaire and 0ernard )as n t "h t gra"hical at all! but a 1G

n n#isual set $ relati ns such as the "hysicist! $ r e(am"le! had enc untered by means $ the ne) mathematics and statistics% The "h t gra"h might be said! als ! t ha#e br ught t human attenti n the sub#isual ) rld $ bacteria that caused L uis +asteur t be dri#en $r m the medical "r $essi n by his indignant c lleagues% 8ust as the "ainter Samuel M rse had unintenti nally "r *ected himsel$ int the n n#isual ) rld $ the telegra"h! s the "h t gra"h really transcends the "ict rial by ca"turing the inner gestures and " stures $ b th b dy and mind! yielding the ne) ) rlds $ end crin l gy and "sych "ath l gy% T understand the medium $ the "h t gra"h is &uite im" ssible! then! )ith ut gras"ing its relati ns t ther media! b th ld and ne)% / r media! as e(tensi ns $ ur "hysical and ner# us systems! c nstitute a ) rld $ bi chemical interacti ns that must e#er seek ne) e&uilibrium as ne) e(tensi ns ccur% In America! "e "le can t lerate their images in mirr r r "h t ! but they are made unc m$ rtable by the rec rded s und $ their )n # ices% The "h t and #isual ) rlds are secure areas $ anesthesia%

1H

?L/The +h n gra"h
The To& That Shran/ the National Chest
The "h n gra"h! )hich )es its rigin t the electrical telegra"h and the tele"h ne! had n t mani$ested its basically electric $ rm and $uncti n until the ta"e rec rder released it $r m its mechanical tra""ings% That the ) rld $ s und is essentially a uni$ied $ield $ instant relati nshi"s lends it a near resemblance t the ) rld $ electr magnetic )a#es% This $act br ught the "h n gra"h and radi int early ass ciati n% 8ust h ) bli&uely the "h n gra"h )as at $irst recei#ed is indicated in the bser#ati n $ 8 hn +hili" S usa! the brassCband direct r and c m" ser% He c mmented9 ,-ith the "h n gra"h # cal e(ercises )ill be ut $ # gue: Then )hat $ the nati nal thr at. -ill it n t )eaken. -hat $ the nati nal chest. -ill it n t shrink., ;ne $act S usa 1ras"ed9 The "h n gra"h is an e(tensi n and am"li$icati n $ the # ice that may )ell ha#e diminished indi#idual # cal acti#ity! much as the car had reduced "edestrian acti#ity% Like the radi that it still "r #ides )ith "r gram c ntent! the "h n gra"h is a h t medium% -ith ut it! the t)entieth century as the era $ tang ! ragtime! and *a66 ) uld ha#e had a di$$erent rhythm% 0ut the "h n gra"h )as in# l#ed in many misc nce"ti ns! as ne $ its early namesC gram "h neCim"lies% It )as c ncei#ed as a $ rm $ audit ry )riting 4grammaCletters5% It )as als called ,gra"h "h ne!, )ith the needle in the r le $ "en% The idea $ it as a ,talking machine, )as es"ecially " "ular% 2dis n )as delayed in his a""r ach t the s luti n $ its "r blems by c nsidering it at $irst as a ,tele"h ne re"eater,A that is! a st reh use $ data $r m the tele"h ne! enabling the tele"h ne t ,"r #ide in#aluable rec rds! instead $ being the reci"ient $ m mentary and $leeting c mmunicati n%, These ) rds $ 2dis n! "ublished in the N rth American Re#ie) $ 8une! 1LJL! illustrate h ) the then recent tele"h ne in#enti n already had the " )er t c l r thinking in ther $ields% S ! the rec rd "layer had t be seen as a kind $ "h netic rec rd $ tele"h ne c n#ersati n% Hence! the names ,"h n gra"h, and ,gram "h ne%, 0ehind The immediate " "ularity $ the "h n gra"h )as the entire electric im"l si n that ga#e such ne) stress and im"rtance t actual s"eech rhythms in music! " etry! and dance alike% @et the "h n gra"h )as a machine merely% It did n t at $irst use an electric m t r r circuit% 0ut in "r #iding a mechanical e(tensi n $ the human # ice and ne) ragtime mel dies! the "h n gra"h )as "r "elled int a central "lace by s me $ the ma* r currents $ the age% The $act $ acce"tance $ a ne) "hrase! r a s"eech $ rm! r a dance rhythm is already direct e#idence $ s me actual de#el "ment t )hich it is signi$icantly related% Take! $ r e(am"le! the shi$t $ 2nglish int an interr gati#e m d! since the arri#al $ ,H ) ab ut that., N thing c uld induce "e "le t begin suddenly t use such a "hrase #er and #er! unless there )ere s me ne) stress! rhythm! r nuance in inter"ers nal realati ns that ga#e it rele#ance% It )as )hile handling "a"er ta"e! im"ressed by M rse C de d ts and dashes! that 2dis n n ticed the s und gi#en $$ )hen the ta"e m #ed at high s"eed resembled ,human talk heard indistinctly%, It then ccurred t him that indented ta"e c uld rec rd a tele"h ne message% 2dis n became a)are $ the limits $ lineality and the sterility $ s"ecialism as s n as he entered the electric $ield% ,L k!, he said! ,it=s like this% I start here )ith the intenti n $ reaching here in an e("eriment! say! t increase the s"eed $ the Atlantic cableA but )hen I=#e arri#ed "art )ay in my straight line! meet )ith a "hen men n! and it leads me $$ in an ther directi n and de#el "s int a "h n gra"h%, N thing c uld m re dramatically e("ress the turning " int $r m mechanical e("l si n t electrical im"l si n% 2dis n=s )n career emb died that #ery change in ur ) rld! and he himsel$ )as $ten caught in the c n$usi n bet)een the t) $ rms $ "r cedure% It )as *ust at the end $ the nineteenth century that the "sych l gist Li""s re#ealed by a kind $ 1J

electric audi gra"h that the single clang $ a bell )as an intensi#e mani$ ld c ntaining all " ssible sym"h nies% It )as s me)hat n the same lines that 2dis n a""r ached his "r blems% +ractical e("erience had taught him that embry nically all "r blems c ntained all ans)ers )hen ne c uld disc #er a means $ rendering them e("licit% In his )n case! his determinati n t gi#e the "h n gra"h! like the tele"h ne! a direct "ractical use in business "r cedures led t his neglect $ the instrument as a means $ entertainment% /ailure t $ resee the "h n gra"h as a means $ entertainment )as really a $ailure t gras" the meaning $ the electric re# luti n in general% In ur time )e are rec nciled t the "h n gra"h as a t y and a s laceA but "ress! radi ! and T7 ha#e als ac&uired the same dimensi n $ entertainment% Meantime! entertainment "ushed t an e(treme bec mes the main $ rm $ business and " litics% 2lectric media! because $ their t tal ,$ield, character! tend t eliminate the $ragmented s"ecialities $ $ rm and $uncti n that )e ha#e l ng acce"ted as the heritage $ al"habet! "rinting! and mechani6ati n% The brie$ and c m"ressed hist ry $ the "h n gra"h includes all "hases $ the )ritten! the "rinted! and the mechani6ed ) rd% It )as the ad#ent $ the electric ta"e rec rder that nly a $e) years ag released the "h n gra"h $r m its tem" rary in# l#ement in mechanical culture% Ta"e and the l%"% rec rd suddenly made the "h n gra"h a means $ access t all the music and s"eech $ the ) rld% 0e$ re turning t the l%"% and ta"eCrec rding re# luti n! )e sh uld n te that the earlier "eri d $ mechanical rec rding and s und re"r ducti n had ne large $act r in c mm n )ith the silent "icture% The early "h n gra"h "r duced a brisk and rauc us e("erience n t unlike that $ a Mack Sennett m #ie% 0ut the undercurrent $ mechanical music is strangely sad% It )as the genius $ Charles Cha"lin t ha#e ca"tured $ r $ilm this sagging &uality $ a dee" blues! and t ha#e #erlaid it )ith *aunty *i#e and b unce% The " ets and "ainters and musicians $ the later nineteenth century all insist n a s rt $ meta"hysical melanch ly as latent in the great industrial ) rld $ the metr " lis% The +ierr t $igure is as crucial in the " etry $ La$ rgue as it is in the art $ +icass r the music $ Satie% Is n t the mechanical at its best a remarkable a""r (imati n t the rganic. And is n t a great industrial ci#ili6ati n able t "r duce anything in abundance $ r e#eryb dy. The ans)er is ,@es%, 0ut Cha"lin and the +ierr t " ets and "ainters and musicians "ushed this l gic all the )ay t reach the image $ Cyran de 0ergerac! )h )as the greatest l #er $ all! but )h )as ne#er "ermitted the return $ his l #e% This )eird image $ Cyran ! the unl #ed and unl #able l #er! )as caught u" in the "h n gra"h cult $ the blues% +erha"s it is misleading t try t deri#e the rigin $ the blues $r m Negr $ lk musicA h )e#er! C nstant Lambert! 2nglish c nduct rCc m" ser! in his Music H :! "r #ides an acc unt $ the blues that "receded the *a66 $ the " stC- rld -ar I% He c ncludes that the great $l )ering $ *a66 in the t)enties )as a " "ular res" nse t the highbr ) richness and rchestral subtlety $ the >ebussyC >elius "eri d% 8a66 ) uld seem t be an e$$ecti#e bridge bet)een highbr ) and l )br ) music! much as Cha"lin made a similar bridge $ r "ict rial art% Literary "e "le eagerly acce"ted these bridges! and 8 yce g t Cha"lin int Ulysses as 0l m! *ust as 2li t g t *a66 int the rhythms $ his early " ems% Cha"lin=s cl )nCCyran is as much a "art $ a dee" melanch ly as La$ rgue=s r Satie=s +ierr t art% Is it n t inherent in the #ery trium"h $ the mechanical and its missi n $ the human. C uld the mechanical reach a higher le#el than the talking machine )ith its mime $ # ice and dance. > n t T% S% 2li t=s $am us lines ab ut the ty"ist $ the *a66 age ca"ture the entire "ath s $ the age $ Cha"lin and the ragtime blues. When lo,el& (o"an stoops to oll& and 0aces a'out her roo" a%ain# alone# She s"oothes her hair (ith auto"atic hand# .nd puts a record on the %ra"ophone+ Read as a Cha"linClike c medy! 2li t=s +ru$r ck makes ready sense% +ru$r ck is the c m"lete 1L

+ierr t! the little "u""et $ the mechanical ci#ili6ati n that )as ab ut t d a $li" int its electric "hase% It ) uld be di$$icult t e(aggerate the im" rtance $ c m"le( mechanical $ rms such as $ilm and "h n gra"h as the "relude t the aut mati n $ human s ng and dance% As this aut mati n $ human # ice and gesture had a""r ached "er$ecti n! s the human ) rk $ rce a""r ached aut mati n% N ) in the electric age the assembly line )ith its human hands disa""ears! and electric aut mati n brings ab ut a )ithdra)al $ the ) rk $ rce $r m industry% Instead $ being aut mated themsel#esC$ragmented in task and $uncti nCas had been the tendency under mechani6ati n! men in the electric age m #e increasingly t in# l#ement in di#erse * bs simultane usly! and t the ) rk $ learning! and t the "r gramming $ c m"uters% This re# luti nary l gic inherent in the electric age )as made $airly clear in the early electric $ rms $ telegra"h and tele"h ne that ins"ired the ,talking machine%, These ne) $ rms that did s much t rec #er the # cal! audit ry! and mimetic ) rld that had been re"ressed by the "rinted ) rd! als ins"ired the strange ne) rhythms $ the ,the *a66 age!, the #ari us $ rms $ sync "ati n and symb list disc ntinuity that! like relati#ity and &uantum "hysics! heralded the end $ the 1utenberg era )ith its sm th! uni$ rm lines $ ty"e and rgani6ati n% The ) rd ,*a66, c mes $r m the /rench *aser! t chatter% 8a66 is! indeed! a $ rm $ dial gue am ng instrumentalists and dancers alike% Thus it seemed t make an abru"t break )ith the h m gene us and re"etiti#e rhythms $ the sm th )alt6% In the age $ Na" le n and L rd 0yr n! )hen the )alt6 )as a ne) $ rm! it )as greeted as a barbaric $ul$illment $ the R usseauistic dream $ the n ble sa#age% 1r tes&ue as this idea n ) a""ears! it is really a m st #aluable clue t the da)ning mechanical age% The im"ers nal ch ralCdancing $ the lder! c urtly "attern )as aband ned )hen the )alt6ers held each ther in a "ers nal embrace% The )alt6 is "recise! mechanical! and military! as its hist ry mani$ests% / r a )alt6 t yield its $ull meaning! there must be military dress% ,There )as a s und $ re#elry by night, )as h ) L rd 0yr n re$erred t the )alt6ing be$ re -aterl % T the eighteenth century and t the age $ Na" le n! the citi6en armies seemed t be an indi#idualistic release $r m the $eudal $rame) rk $ c urtly hierarchies% Hence the ass ciati n $ )alt6 )ith hierarchic de$erence% The )alt6ers )ere all uni$ rm and e&ual! ha#ing $ree m #ement in any "art $ the hall% That this )as the R mantic idea $ the li$e $ the n ble sa#age n ) seems dd! but the R mantics kne) as little ab ut real sa#ages as they did ab ut assembly lines% In ur )n century the arri#al $ *a66 and ragtime )as als heralded as the in#asi n $ the b tt mC)agging nati#e% The indignant tended t a""eal $r m *a66 t the beauty $ the mechanical and re"etiti#e )alt6 that had nce been greeted as "ure nati#e dancing% I$ *a66 is c nsidered as a break )ith mechanism in the directi n $ the disc ntinu us! the "artici"ant! the s" ntane us and im"r #isati nal! it can als be seen as a return t a s rt $ ral " etry in )hich "er$ rmance is b th creati n and c m" siti n% It is a truism am ng *a66 "er$ rmers that rec rded *a66 is ,as stale as yesterday=s ne)s"a"er%, 8a66 is ali#e! like c n#ersati nA and like c n#ersati n it de"ends u" n a re"ert ry $ a#ailable themes% 0ut "er$ rmance is c m" siti n% Such "er$ rmance insures ma(imal "artici"ati n am ng "layers and dancers alike% +ut in this )ay! it bec mes b#i us at nce that *a66 bel ngs in that $amily $ m saic structures that rea""eared in the -estern ) rld )ith the )ire ser#ices% It bel ngs )ith symb lism in " etry! and )ith the many allied $ rms in "ainting and in music% The b nd bet)een the "h n gra"h and s ng and dance is n less dee" than its earlier relati n t telegra"h and tele"h ne% -ith the $irst "rinting $ musical sc res in the si(teenth century! ) rds and music dri$ted a"art% The se"arate #irtu sity $ # ice and instruments became the basis $ the great musical de#el "ments $ the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries% The same kind $ $ragmentati n and s"ecialism in the arts and sciences made " ssible mamm th results in industry 1F

and in military enter"rise! and in massi#e c "erati#e enter"rises such as the ne)s"a"er and the sym"h ny rchestra% Certainly the "h n gra"h as a "r duct $ industrial! assemblyCline rgani6ati n and distributi n sh )ed little $ the electric &ualities that had ins"ired its gr )th in the mind $ 2dis n% There )ere "r "hets )h c uld $ resee the great day )hen the "h n gra"h ) uld aid medicine by "r #iding a medical means $ discriminati n bet)een ,the s b $ hysteria and the sigh $ melanch lia % % % the ring $ )h "ing c ugh and the hack $ the c nsum"ti#e% It )ill be an e("ert in insanity! distinguishing bet)een the laugh $ the maniac and dri#el $ the idi t% % % % It )ill acc m"lish this $eat in the anter m! )hile the "hysician is busying himsel$ )ith his last "atient%, In "ractice! h )e#er! the "h n gra"h stayed )ith the # ices $ the Sign ri / gh rnis! the bass Cten res! r bust C"r $und s% Rec rding $acilities did n t "resume t t uch anything s subtle as an rchestra until a$ter the /irst -ar% L ng be$ re this! ne enthusiast l ked t the rec rd t ri#al the "h t gra"h album and t hasten the ha""y day )hen ,$uture generati ns )ill be able t c ndense )ithin the s"ace $ t)enty minutes a t neC"icture $ a single li$etime9 $i#e minutes $ a chile=s "rattle! $i#e $ the b y=s e(ultati ns! $i#e $ the man=s re$lecti ns! and $i#e $r m the $eeble utterance $ the deathbed%, 8ames 8 yce! s me)hat later! did better% He made 1inne%ans Wa/e a t ne " em that c ndensed in a single sentence all the "rattlings! e(ultati ns! bser#ati ns! and rem rse $ the entire human race% He c uld n t ha#e c ncei#ed this ) rk any in ther age than the ne that "r duced the "h n gra"h and the radi % It )as radi that $inally in*ected a $ull electric charge int the ) rld $ the "h t gra"h% The radi recei#er $ 1F?D )as already su"eri r in s und &uality! and s n began t de"ress the "h n gra"h and rec rd business% 2#entually! radi rest red the rec rd business by e(tending " "ular taste in the directi n $ the classics% The real break came a$ter the Sec nd -ar )ith the a#ailability $ the ta"e rec rder% This meant the end $ the incisi n rec rding and its attendant sur$ace n ise% In 1FDF the era $ electric hiC$i )as an ther rescuer $ the "h n gra"h business% The hiC$i &uest $ r ,realistic s und, s n merged )ith the T7 image as "art $ the rec #ery $ tactile e("erience% / r the sensati n $ ha#ing the "er$ rming instruments ,right in the r m )ith y u, is a stri#ing t )ard the uni n $ the audile and tactile in a $inesse $ $iddle that is in large degree the scul"tural e("erience% T be in the "resence $ "er$ rming musicians is t e("erience their t uch and handling $ instruments as tactile and kenetic! n t *ust as res nant% S it can be said that hiC$i is n t any &uest $ r abstract e$$ects $ s und in se"arati n $r m the ther senses% -ith hiC$i! the "h n gra"h meets the T7 tactile challenge% Stere s und! a $urther de#el "ment! is ,allCar und, r ,)ra"Car und, s und% +re#i usly s und had emanated $r m a single " int in acc rdance )ith the bias $ #isual culture )ith its $i(ed " int $ #ie)% The hiC$i change #er )as really $ r music )hat cubism had been $ r "ainting! and )hat symb lism had been $ r literatureA namely! the acce"tance $ multi"le $acets and "lanes in a single e("erience% An ther )ay t "ut is t say that stere is s und in de"th! as T7 is the #isual in de"th% +erha"s it is n t #ery c ntradict ry that )hen a medium bec mes a means $ de"th e("erience the ld categ ries $ ,classical, and ," "ular, r $ ,highbr ), and ,l )br ), n l nger btain% -atching a blueCbaby heart "erati n n T7 is an e("erience that )ill $it n ne $ the categ ries% -hen l%"% and hiC$i and stere arri#ed! a de"th a""r ach t musical e("erience als came in% 2#eryb dy l st his inhibiti ns ab ut ,highbr )!, and the seri us "e "le l st their &ualms ab ut " "ular music and culture% Anything that is a""r ached in de"th ac&uires as much interest as the great matters% 0ecause ,de"th, means ,in interrelati n!, n t ,in is lati n%, >e"th means insight! n t " int $$ #ie)A and insight is a kind $ mental in# l#ement in "r cess that makes the c ntent ?I

$ the item seem &uite sec ndary% C nsci usness itsel$ i$ an inclusi#e "r cess n t at all de"endent n c ntent% C nsci usness d es n t " stulate c nsci usness $ anything in "articular% -ith regard t *a66! l%"% br ught many changes! such as the cult $ ,real c l dr l!, because the greatly increased length $ a single side $ a disk meant that the *a66 band c uld really ha#e a l ng and casual chat am ng its instruments% The re"ert ry $ the 1F?Is )as re#i#ed and gi#en ne) de"th and c m"le(ity by this ne) means% 0ut the ta"e rec rder in c mbinati n )ith l%"% re# luti ni6ed the re"ert ry $ classical music% 8ust as ta"e meant the ne) study $ s" ken rather than )ritten languages! s it br ught in the entire musical culture $ many centuries and c untries% -here be$ re there had been a narr ) selecti n $r m "eri ds and c m" ser! the ta"e rec rder! c mbined )ith l%"%! ga#e a $ull musical s"ectrum that made the si(teenth centure as a#ailable as the nineteenth! and Chinese $ lk s ng as accessible as the Hungarian% A brie$ summary $ techn l gical e#ents relating t the "h n gra"h might g this )ay9 The telegra"h translated )riting int s und! a $act directly related t the rigin $ b th the tele"h ne and "h n gra"h% -ith the telegra"h! the nly )alls le$t are the #ernacular )alls that the "h t gra"h and m #ie and )ire"h t #erlea" s easily% The electric$icati n $ )riting )as alm st as big a ste" int the n n#isual and audit ry s"ace as the later ste"s s n taken by tele"h ne! radi ! and T7% The tele"h ne9 s"eech )ith ut )alls% The "h n gra"h9 music hall )ith ut )alls% The "h t gra"h9 museum )ith ut )alls% The electric light9 s"ace )ith ut )alls% The m #ie! radi ! and T79 classr m )ith ut )alls% Man the $ dCgatherer rea""ears inc ngru usly as in$ rmati nCgatherer% In this r le! elecr nic man is n less a n mad than his "ale lithic ancest rs%

?1

An Ancient Euarrel in M dern America

Hutchins and .dler--So phists# !ra""arians and $ialecticians--Cicero ,s+ 2ohn $e(e&-South ,s+ North--.thens to Chica%o TH2 0ATTL2 ;/ the b ks has br ken ut again% The s"lenetic interchanges $ educat rs and sch lars! beside )hich the )rath $ Achilles r the ire $ Re"ublicans against the Ne) >eal is a "uerile business! are shrieking acr ss the n Cman=s land $ the curriculum% Hutchins! Adler! and 7an > ran ha#e made c mmand raids dee" int enemy territ ry! and the rage $ the imm bili6ed battali ns $ standard and "r gressi#e educati n is uttering itsel$ in h )ls against them as ,reacti nary!, , bscurantist!, ,meta"hysical!, ,unscienti$ic%, Hutchins and Adler are ne)s% 2ducati n is ne)s% The great b ks are talked ab ut! and the ,great man=s $at b k club, 4eu"hemism $ r ,the $at man=s great b k club,5 numbers s me "r minent Chicag milli naires in the adult educati n di#isi n $ the Uni#ersity $ Chicag % 2#en the m st inn cent $ bystanders might su"" se that Hutchins has ,g t s mething, )hen he sees Midas and Cr esus arri#ing $ r class )ith n teb k in hand% The ancient S "hists "r mised t teach men h ) they c uld ac&uire )ealth% -hat d es Mr% Hutchins tell th se )h ha#e already ac&uired it. 7ie)ed as an e"is de in a dis"ute )hich began in ancient Athens! the "resent &uarrel #er the Chicag +r gram bec mes n t nly m re interesting but m re intelligible% I shall state brie$ly )hat seems t me t be the rigin and hist ry $ this &uarrel be$ re "r ceeding t $ill in the utline )ith a $e) $acts )hich )ill enable the reader t in#estigate the business m re c m"letely than it can be sh )n here% The end $ educati n as described by Hutchins is the making $ the citi6en% The citi6en is rati nal man e&ui""ed $ r s cial and " litical li$e by means $ encycl "edic 4n nCs"eciali6ed5 training in the arts and sciences 4the great b ks "r gram5% S"ecial skill in the arts $ reading and )riting are "aram unt% The citi6en must be $luent! e#en el &uent! n all sub*ects% The citi6en must kn ) all things )hich c ncern the )el$are $ the gr u"% The "" nents $ Hutchins! )hether scientists! "r gressi#e educati nalists! " siti#ists! r e("erimentalists! 415 are all agreed in a s"ecialist n ti n $ human acti#ity% Scienti$ic kn )ledge and meth d are the ultimate bases $ s cial and " litical auth rity $ r men like +r $ess r >e)ey% 4?5 Liberals like Ale(ander Meikle* hn ) rking )ith R usseau=s basic assum"ti n that the state is a m ral "ers n c nclude that ,Teacher and "u"il are n t is lated indi#iduals% They are b th agents $ the state%, 4B5 2ducati n as c ncei#ed by the liberal "" nents $ Hutchins is m re c ncerned )ith making the indi#idual use$ul t the state than )ith making the indi#idual " tentially a ruler $ himsel$ and $ the state% -hereas Hutchins= "r gram ) uld make e#ery citi6en a " tential ruler! the ,liberals, c ncei#e rather $ the indi#idual as a techn l gically $uncti nal unit in the state% Meikle* hn em"l ys the anal gy $ the indi#idual as a n te in the musical sc re $ s ciety! )hereas Hutchins thinks $ each "ers n as a c m"lete musical ) rk% Again! Hutchins ad "ts the classical #ie) $ man as a rati nal animal and hence a " litical animal% The state $r m this " int $ #ie) is an ass ciati n $ aut n m us "ers ns% ;"" sed t this! a c n#enti nal re"resentati#e $ nineteenthC century s cial th ught! such as >e)ey r Meikle* hn! regards the c llecti#ity as the basic thing% The indi#idual has n nature )hich is n t c n$erred n him by the c llecti#ity% Man is n t a rati nal animal% 0ehind this c ntrast in basic " stulates bet)een Hutchins and his "" nents there is a l ng hist ry% -hat make the e("lanati n $ the c n$lict rather di$$icult is the $act that )hile the " siti n $ Hutchins is rec gni6ably that $ Is crates and Cicer ! the " siti n $ men like >e)y is n t like that $ +lat and Arist tle% Ne#ertheless! I think it can be sh )n that >e)ey and the ??

e("erimentalists are lineally descended $r m +lat and Arist tle #ia -illiam $ ;ckham and +eter Ramus% My e("lanati n $ the m dern &uarrel is in terms $ the ld &uarrel bet)een the grammarians and rhet ricians n the ne hand and the dialecticians n the ther hand% It is the &uarrel begun by S crates against the S "hists! $r m )h se ranks he came% H )e#er! the Church /athers! n tably St% 8er me and St% Augustine! made Cicer nian humanism basic training $ r the e(egetist $ Scri"ture% +atristic humanism sub rdinated dialectics t grammar and rhet ric until this same &uarrel br ke ut a$resh in the t)el$th century )hen +eter Abelard set u" dialectics as the su"reme meth d in the l gical discussi n% Abelard=s "arty )as "" sed by the great Cicer nian humanist 8 hn $ Salisbury! )h se Metal gicus! as the name im"lies! )as aimed against the l gicians! )h )ere called the Sch lmen! r m derni% 4D5 A$ter $ ur centuries $ trium"hant dialectics! the traditi nal "atristic reacti n! heralded by +etrarch! had gathered su$$icient head under 2rasmus t su""lant a sch lasticism )eakened $r m )ithin by bitter dis"utes% 0ut by many channels mathematical! "hil s "hical! the l gical! and scienti$ic dialectics has "ersisted% +articularly str ng )as the sch lastic current in Ne) 2ngland in the se#enteenth and eighteenth centuries )here the in$luence $ dialectics thr ugh Cal#inistic the l gy made $ Har#ard a little S rb nne% Meantime! the s uthern states had recei#ed a class $ small 2nglish gentry )hich had been reared in the Cicer nian encycl "edism that )as then standard training in all the seculari6ed sch ls and c lleges $ 2ngland% Humanistic! legalistic! $ rensic! s uthern educati n has $ ll )ed Cicer nian lines t this day! as the case $ an eminent <entuckian such as R bert Hutchins illustrates% ;n the ther hand! the N rth has $ ll )ed sch lastic lines! sh )ing m re c ncern $ r abstract meth d and techn l gy than $ r the res "ublica% It is n accident that nearly all American " litical th ught is S uthern% In sh rt! the cultural clea#age $ N rth and S uth re$lects the br ad di#isi ns $ the ageC ld &uarrel bet)een S crates and the S "hists in the "ast and bet)een science and ,the great b ks "r gram, in the "resent% 4G5 Re$erring t +lat =s acc unt $ Hi""ias $ 2lis! M% R bin bser#es9 ,He )as an encycl "aedic #irtu s $ the "ictures&ue ty"e "r duced by the Italian Renaissance%, 4H 5 My "r blem is t sketch in the hist rical $acts )hich made it " ssible $ r a 1reek S "hist t bec me the ideal $ Renaissance humanist educati n% 0y s d ing it is " ssible t highlight the signi$icance $! and the "" siti n t ! the great b ks "r gram% The S "hists ad#ertised $ r "u"ils by "r mising )ealth and " )er! and they dem nstrated their #erbal and dialectical skill at great $esti#als% They ga#e rat rical dis"lays n all the themes $ art! science! and "hil s "hy% T mani"ulate this encycl "edic kn )ledge it became necessary t rgani6e it ar und basic ,c mm n"laces, r l ci $ argumentA and in rder t retain this kn )ledge ,Hi""ias= system $ mnem nics )as $ great im" rtance%, 4J5 Naturally! the S "hists made l gic sub rdinate t rhet ric r "ersuasi n! since their end )as " litical% And this it )as )hich raised against them the "" siti n $ S crates! +lat ! and Arist tle! )h )ere all agreed that dialectics sh uld c ntr l rhet ric! that kn )ledge )as su"eri r e#en t "rudential acti n% 4L5 It is un$air t su"" se that the S "hists )ere merely cynical " )er and m ney glutt ns% They claimed als t teach the means t )isd mA $ r )isd m! as )ell as el &uence! )as th ught by them! as by Cicer ! t be the byC"r duct $ eruditi n% It )as this claim )hich m st ann yed +lat and against )hich he directs his dialectical re$utati ns in the 1 rgias and else)here% 4F5 4I think that this is admittedly the claim $ the Chicag "r gram als %5 0ut +lat and Arist tle )ere $ar $r m success$ul in se#ering rhet ric $r m )isd m% Is crates "r #ed a m st $ rmidable e(" nent $ the d ctrine that el &uence and )isd m are ne! and he c m"elled +lat and Arist tle t make "ractical c m"r mises% 41I5 It is necessary t s"end s me time in sh )ing h ) this identity $ el &uence and )isd m enters int the ) rk $ Cicer ! since he! m re than any ther indi#idual! )as res" nsible $ r the c nce"ts $ humanism )hich "re#ailed in the t)el$th! the si(teenth! r the t)entieth centuries% ?B

He )h ) uld understand h ) in the th ught $ 8e$$ers n! - dr ) -ils n! r in the great b ks "r gram! all kn )ledge is sub rdinated t the de#el "ment $ " litical "rudence! must understand the nature and in$luence $ Cicer % -hen this is seen it is easy t de$ine the "" siti n )hich al)ays rises against the Cicer nian "r gram $r m the cam"s $ techn l gy! science! r "hil s "hy% The rigin $ this im" rtant claim $ r the inse"arable character $ el &uence and )isd m ) uld seem t lie in the $amiliar d ctrine $ the L g s! )hich may be su"" sed t ha#e arisen )ith Heraclitus% 4115 S ciety is a mirr r r s"eculum $ the L g s! as! indeed! are the e(ternal ) rld! the mind $ man and! ab #e all! human s"eech% S ciety! ideally the c sm " lis r "er$ect ) rld state! claimed the de# ti n $ e#ery #irtu us man% And *ust as Nen c nsidered )isd m r "rudence ,n t nly as the $irst $ the #irtues! but as the $ undati n $ all!, s " litical "rudence is the n blest s"here in )hich t e(ercise this #irtue% 41?5 The St ics deduced $r m this d ctrine the c r llary that ,The b nd $ the state is the L g s 4rati at&ue rati 5%, 41B5 7ie)ed $r m the stand" int $ the d ctrine $ the L g s! man is distinguished $r m the brutes by s"eech! and as he bec mes m re el &uent he bec mes less brutish% 41D5 As he bec mes less brutish he bec mes m re )ise% There is thus n c n$lict bet)een el &uence and )isd mA and since el &uence is the means t " litical " )er! the great rat r! the great statesman! and the great "hil s "her are ne and the same% 41G5 0 ccacci c uld hail +etrarch as ,him )h se heart )as the ab de $ the Muses! and the sanctuary $ "hil s "hy and el &uence%, 41H5 I$ there is ne ) rd )hich is $tener used by Cicer ! r ne )hich better describes his " siti n than an ther! it is humanitas% 41J5 -hen )e s"eak $ the humanities t day as "" sed t techn l gy! the "hysical sciences! r highly s"eciali6ed disci"lines such as l gic! )e mean )hat Cicer and Sci"i meant9 ,Sci"i % % % intr duced int R man s ciety the atm s"here $ St icism! kn )n as humanitas9 this included an a#ersi n t )ar and ci#il stri$e! an eagerness t a""reciate the art and literature $ 1reece! and an admirati n $ r the ideals de"icted by Ken "h n! $ the ruler in Cyrus! and $ the citi6en in S crates%, 41L5 / r Cicer the c m"lete rat r! the d ctus rat r! is the ideal "hil s "her! ruler! citi6en% 41F5 M re #er! ,)hate#er the theme! $r m )hate#er art $ )hate#er branch $ kn )ledge it be taken! the rat r! *ust as i$ he had g t u" the case $ r a client! )ill state it better and m re grace$ully than the actual disc #erer and the s"ecialist%, 4?I5 8ust "recisely )hat is im"lied in this last statement can best be $ und in the "i neer in#estigati n d ne by M% Marr u n the educati n and ) rk $ St% Augustine% 4?15 2#en earlier! de Labri lle had sh )n h ) the encycl "edic e&ui"ment $ the classical grammarian )h )as c m"etent t gi#e an e("licati n $ a " et 4??5 )as like)ise re&uired by the e(egetist $ Scri"ture% 4?B5 C n$r nted )ith the ine(haustible riches $ a "assage $ Scri"ture! St% Augustine )ishes $ r an ideal the l gian )h c mbines all the #irtues $ Euintilian=s grammarian and Cicer =s rat r9 ; utinam d ctissimum ali&uem! ne&ue id tantum! sed etiam el &uentissimum % % % de h c amb 4de #i et " tentia animae5 interr gare " ssemus: 4?D5 St% Augustine! )h )as the educat r $ the entire Middle Ages! )as himsel$ *ust this s rt $ )riter% He )r te treatises n the liberal arts% He had bec me ac&uainted )ith the beauty $ "hil s "hy by reading the H rtensius! the l st treatise $ Cicer % There )as n el &uence )ith ut "hil s "hy in St% Augustine% He als became an hist rian in the best traditi n in his >e Ci#itate >eiA and his >e > ctrina Christiana is the charter $ Christian educati n! laying d )n a Cicer nian basis $ r all teaching in the ne(t centuries% 4?G5 A$ter this brie$ indicati n $ the "" siti n $ +lat and Arist tle t the ideal $ kn )ledge sub rdinated t the ser#ice $ acti n r " litical "rudence! $ ll )ed by a re$erence t Cicer =s c ns lidati n $ the " litical ideal! and the )ay in )hich Cicer =s "r gram became the basis $ "atristic humanism! it remains t sketch &uickly the subse&uent stages $ this de#el "ment% ?D

The culti#ati n $ rhet ric and el &uence in the Middle Ages )as "rimarily $ r e(egesis and h miletics! but increasingly it became ass ciated )ith the la) $aculties% 4?H5 The auth ritati#e statement $ L% 8% +aet ) )ill clari$y the c n$used n ti ns )hich are generally held n these sub*ects9 ,There is abr ad a generally err ne us n ti n ab ut religi us instructi n in the Middle Ages% Any cl se ins"ecti n $ the ) rk $ medie#al sch ls re#eals the rather startling $act that they $$ered e(tremely little religi us instructi n% It is e&ually sur"rising t $ind that the l gy )as taught in c m"arati#ely $e) uni#ersities $ the Middle Ages! )hereas a $aculty $ la) )as lacking in n t a single ne $ them%, 4?J5 An im" rtant $act $ r the hist ry $ the Cicer nian traditi n is that grammar and rhet ric 4e#erything )e t day kn ) as ,humanism,5 )ere n t su""lanted by dialectics in Italy as they )ere in /rance! 1ermany! and 2ngland% Italy=s great legal traditi n ke"t grammar and rhet ric in the $ regr und! s that there is n thing strange in the $act that +etrarch g t his literary training at the 0 l gna la) sch l% 4?L5 H )e#er! m st $ the Italian m nks )h ) uld rdinarily ha#e been studying Cicer and Euintilian at M nte Cassin and such "laces! had g ne $$ t +aris t study l gic% Thus +etrarch=s c m"laint ab ut the state $ classical studies in Italy at this time )as )ell $ unded% 4?F5 Thus the 1 ths and Huns $ learning 4 $ )h m +etrarch and 2rasmus ne#er tire t s"eak5 )ere the l gicians $ the S rb nne and ;($ rd% The l gicians )ere the m derni% The humanists called themsel#es the anti&ui the l gi! because they )ere s" ns ring the re#i#al $ the ld "atristic meth ds in e(egesis against the ne) s"eculati#e and systematic the l gy% 4BI5 In tra#ersing s many centuries )ith a #ie) t setting u" $inger" sts $ r th se interested in the ancient &uarrel $ rhet ric and dialectics! nly the sketchiest meth ds are $easible% I must n ) assume that the e(istence! at least! $ this &uarrel bet)een humanism and s mething )hich has been #ari usly designated as ,sch lastic "hil s "hy!, ,dialectics!, and the ,scienti$ic s"irit!, has been indicated% / r the "ur" se $ r unding $$ the "a"er it is necessary t bser#e that stage $ the battle )hich ccurred in the si(teenth century! since e#ery hist rian $ m dern literature and th ught is accust med t take his bearings $r m that century% N m re im"ressi#e e#idence $ the c ntinuity $ the ,Cicer nian, traditi n c uld be gi#en here than that $ L% <% 0 rn in his "re$ace t 2rasmus= 2ducati n $ a Christian +rince% >iscussing the numer us manuals $ this class! he says9 ,That there is a c ntinu us line $ successi n at least $r m the time $ Is crates )ith his Ad Nic clem t the t)entieth century is bey nd &uesti n%, 4B15 The 1argantua $ Rabelais is like)ise a treatise n humanistic educati n $ r the "rince *ust as much as M re=s Ut "ia! Castigli ne=s C urtier! Aschams=s Sch lemaster! and S"enser=s /aerie Eueene% 4B?5 As ne reads the early eighteenthCcentury 0yrd $ -est #er 4BB5 ne is in c ntact )ith a Cicer nian humanist )h began e#ery day )ith reading in 1reek and Latin! a man )h se training )as legalistic and )h se interests )ere " litical% ,/ r s me reas n!, says L% 0% -right! ,S uthern c l nists )ere less intr s"ecti#e % % % than their c ntem" raries in Ne) 2ngland%, 4BD5 The reas n $ r this dich t my lies in the di#ergent educati n $ the t) secti ns $ America% -hereas the S utherner "ursued the linguistic and legalistic learning $ si(teenthCcentury humanism! the Ne) 2nglander )as n urished n l gic and s"eculati#e r systematic the l gy% 4BG5 -hereas the S utherner had the "ractical " litical and s cial bias $ the Renaissance gentleman and tended t study letters and la)! the Ne) 2ngland )as abs rbed in the m st rec ndite the l gical "r blems $ human de"ra#ity! grace! $ rekn )ledge! and $ree )ill% The stages by )hich he made the transiti n $r m high the l gy t high $inance ha#e analy6ed in R% H% Ta)ney=s classic Religi n and the Rise $ Ca"italism% 4BH5 -ith ut "r ceeding int the kind $ detail " ssible nly in a b k! I ha#e d ne )hat I c uld t suggest that behind the immediate c ntr #ersy ab ut the great b ks "r gram lies n t nly the basic clea#age $ American culture but a &uarrel )h se r ts are in ancient 1reece% 0et)een the ?G

s"eculati#e dialectician and scientist )h says that ,the gl ry $ man is t kn ) the truth by my meth ds!, and the el &uent m ralist )h says that ,the bliss $ man is g d g #ernment carried n by c "i usly el &uent and )ise citi6ens!, there need be n c n$lict% C n$lict! h )e#er! )ill ine#itably arise bet)een these "arties )hen either attem"ts t ca"ture the entire educati n $ an age r a c untry% It ) uld seem t be a matter $ distributing time $ r these studies% The Cicer nian! "articularly in a dem cracy! c uld reas nably ha#e charge $ all educati n until graduati n $r m c llege 4)hether that ccurs at eighteen r t)entyC ne5% Intimate ass ciati n )ith the scienti$ic s"irit! )hether inculcated by l gic and dialectics r by the "hysical sciences! can #ery )ell a$$ rd t be " st" ned t the stage $ graduate study% It ) uld seem! h )e#er! that s me kn )ledge $ the hist ry $ the "resent dis"ute ) uld ser#e t diminish the $ g and the "assi ns ar used at "resent! and ) uld substitute s me light $ r much heat% ;$ c urse! n human di$$iculties e#er seem ine#itable t the hist rical ga6e% Reas nable in&uiry ) uld de"ri#e us $ that ma* r distracti n $r m b red m )hich is in#ariably s ught in hasty accusati n and )arm re* inder )here b th "arties raise c n#enient inc nse&uence t the le#el $ an intellectual #irtue% N;T2S 1 The attack $ Sidney H k n the HutchinsC7an > ren "r gram "uts the b*ecti ns $ the e("erimentalist cam" in the c n#enti nal )ay% 4,1 d! 1e metry! and the 1 d S ciety%, +artisan Re#ie) OS"ring! 1FDDP 1H1C1HJ5% ? Sidney H k9 8 hn >e)ey 4Ne) @ rk! 1FBF5! 1GG! 1JG! ??I% ,The "r cess and meth d $ c nstructing g ds is the nly thing that can be called the g d%, 41LI5 B 2ducati n 0et)een T) - rlds 4Ne) @ rk! 1FD?5! ?JF% ;n "% LD Meikle* hn sh )s that n t the indi#idual but the state is "ers nal% Hence all men ha#e their $reed m n t in their )n natures but in and $r m and by the state% D 0asic $ r an understanding $ h ) the classical disci"lines )ere $ cused $ r subse&uent centuries is Saint Augustin et la /in de la Culture Anti&ue by H% I% Marr ) 4+aris! 1FBI5% Lectures gi#en by 2tienne 1ils n at the Uni#ersity $ T r nt 41FBFCDI5 traced the Cicer nian traditi n t the time $ 2rasmus! e("laining the "recise nature $ the &uarrel bet)een the rhet ricians and dialecticians $r m the t)el$th century n)ards% The &uarrel bet)een Abelard and St% 0ernard! bet)een +etrarch and the Huns $ the S rb nne! bet)een 2rasmus and the Sch lmen! bet)een S)i$t and the ,m derns!, is basically the &uarrel% G The curi us )ay in )hich this dich t my illuminates the ) rk $ + e in c ntrast t the ) rk $ the Ne) 2ngland literati I ha#e tried t sh ) in ,2dgar + e=s Traditi n, 4Se)anee Re#ie)! -inter 1FDD! ?DCBB5% H Le n R bin! 1reek Th ught and the ;rigins $ the Scienti$ic S"irit 4L nd n! 1F?L5! 1BH% C/% -erner 8aeger=s +aideia 4Ne) @ rk! 1FBF5! ?FD% J R bin! "% cit% 4see n t H5! 1BF% L R bin! 1DB% Since e#eryb dy is $amiliar )ith the claims $ S crates and +lat $ r dialectics! I gi#e here the less )ellCkn )n te(t $ Arist tle $r m the T "ics 41I1a5% >ialectics ,has a $urther use in relati n t the ultimate bases $ the "rinci"les used in the se#eral sciences% / r it is im" ssible t discuss them at all $r m the "rinci"les "r "er t the "articular science in hand! seeing that the "rinci"les are the "rius $ e#erything else9 % % % dialectics is a "r cess $ criticism )herein lies the "ath t the "rinci"les $ all in&uiries%, 4Trans% $ -% A% +ickardCCambridge%5 F Richard R bins n! +lat =s 2arlier >ialectic 4Ne) @ rk! 1FD15! JBCJD% 1I -% Rhys R berts! 1reek Rhet ric and Literary Criticism 4Ne) @ rk! 1F?L5! DH% C$% Cicer =s ?H

>e ;rat re B%BG! and ;rat r G1%1J?% 11The best acc unt is that $ 2% 7% Arn ld in R man St icism 4Cambridge! 1F115! BJ et "assim% 1? Ibid%! ?JG% 1B Ibid%! BIH% C$% 8aeger! "% cit% 4see n te H5! ?JD! B1L! B?B% 1D >e ;rat re 1%L% 1G It )as n t until the time $ Seneca that the St ics turned their back n the ) rld and aband ned the burdens $ " litical $$ice! Arn ld! "% cit% 4see n te 115! 11H% 1H T% Cam"bell! Li$e $ +etrarch 4sec nd ed%! L nd n! 1LDB5! # l% II! B1G% 1J >e ;rat re ?%BJ% ;ne $ the m st interesting things in the >e ;rat re is Cicer =s hist ry $ "hil s "hy 4B%1GC?B5% His aim is t sh ) h ) it came ab ut that S crates and the rest c uld e#er ha#e claimed that there )as any se"arati n bet)een el &uence and )isd m% Cicer says this began as a di#isi n $ the heart and head% /rancis 0ac n re"eats these arguments $r m Cicer in his N #um ;rganum 41%HBCLL5% 0 th Cicer and 0ac n e#aluate arts and kn )ledge in utilitarian r " litical terms% 1L Arn ld! "% cit% 4see n te 115! BL1 1F >e ;rat re B%?G% ?I Ibid%! 1%1?% Euintilian 4?%?15 gi#es a lengthy de#el "ment and illustrati n $ this " siti n% This ideal d minated the humanism $ the Renaissance as can be seen in Castigli ne=s C urtier! 2ly t=s 1 #ern ur! and in such Shakes"earean " rtraits as Hamlet and Henry the /i$th% See es"ecially the latter "lay! Act I! sc% i% 2arly Christi n "iety scul"turally re"resented Christus rat r! 4Christ "her >a)s n! The Making $ 2ur "e ONe) @ rk! 1FBLP! HD%5 ?1 H% I% Marr )! "% cit% 4see n te D5! 11$$% ?? Euintilian 1%D%HA ?%1%DCJ ?B +ierre de Labri lle! Hist ry and Literature $ Christianity 4Ne) @ rk! 1F?G5! H% ?D >e Euantitate Animi! Migne! +atr l gia Latina! 7 l% (((ii! c% 1IJG% 0 k #i $ Clement $ Ale(andria=s Miscellanies c ntains a discussi n $ the true gn stic=s need $ r encycl "edic learning in a""r aching the Scri"tures% ?G ;$ its $ ur b ks! three are gi#en #er t the linguistic and liberal arts necessary t the inter"reter $ Scri"ture% The $ urth b k is de# ted t "ersuasi n! rhet ric! and style% He &u tes 4D%1?5 Cicer =s dictum that the el &uent man must teach! delight! and "ersuade% 4;rat re ?1%5 See als 2% <% Rand=s / unders $ the Middle Ages 4Cambridge! Mass%! 1F?L5! DFCHD! 1I?C1BD5% ?H R% +% Mc<e n=s ,Rhet ic in the Middle Ages!, S"eculum 1J%1CB?% This highly c m"ressed study su""lants C% S% 0ald)in=s ) rk% ?J The 0attle $ the Se#en Arts 40erkeley! 1F1D5! 1FC?I% +aet )=s "re$ace t this remarkable " em is as basic $ r these matters as his Arts C urse at Medie#al Uni#ersities 4UrbanaCCham"aign! 1F1I5% Henri >=Andeli=s /rench " em ab ut the battle $ the arts at +aris in the t)el$th century describes the )ar bet)een the l gicians and the humanists that is! bet)een the Sch lmen and the grammarians and rhet ricians% It is the same &uarrel )hich ccurred in $i$thCcentury Athens! se#enteenthCcentury /rance! and t)entiethC century America% ?L +resident Hutchins c m"lains that the nly "lace in America )here ne can get a humanistic training in the arts $ s"eech is a la) sch l! 2ducati n $ r /reed m 40at n R uge! 1FDB5% It is true that in the "ast century the abstract cadres $ 1erman sch lasticism ha#e c m"letely dis riented American sch l and c llege rgani6ati n a)ay $r m humanistic ends! bringing ur ?J

educati n int line )ith industrial techn l gy% All industrialist rgani6ati n $ s ciety is necessarily techn l gical and abstract% Ne) 2ngland and the n rthern states embraced abstracti ns readily% The s uthern traditi n! h )e#er! is resistant )ith legalistic humanism% ?F +aet )! "% cit% 4see n te ?J5! 1?9 ,N ) the l )est ebb in the study $ ancient classical literature ccurred in the century )hich "receded +etrarch% S l ) it )as that he and his c ntem" raries belie#ed that the dry and barren "eri d n )hich they had $allen must ha#e e(tended back $ r centuries t the last days $ classic Latin literature%, BI 2rasmus re$ers t C let! his ins"irer! as ,the #indicat r and assert r $ the ld the l gy, against ,this m dern sch l $ the l gians )h s"end all their time in mere &uibbling%, 8% 8% Mangan! Li$e $ >esiderius 2rasmus 4Ne) @ rk! t) # ls%! 1F?J5! 1%1IF! 11DC11G%% B1 2ducati n $ a Christian +rince 4Ne) @ rk! 1FBD5! FF% See als the Italian treatises "ublished by -% H% - d)ard in 7itt rin da /eltre and ;ther Humanist 2ducat rs 4Cambridge! 1F?15% B? C$% Ruth <els =s > ctrine $ the 2nglish 1entleman in the Si(teenth Century 4Urbana! 1F?F5% This ) rk gi#es a c m"lete "icture $ the "rimarily " litical aims $ humanistic educati n )hich s str ngly in$luenced 2nglish educati n and als s uthern educati n in America% Th mas 8e$$ers n is the #irtu s $ the Italian Renaissance in eighteenthCcentury dress% He is Cicer nian in all res"ects% BB The Secret >iary $ -illiam 0yrd $ -est #er! 1JIFC1? 4Richm nd! 1FD15! ed% L% 0% -right and Mari n Tinling% BD Ibid%! "%#% BG +erry Miller=s The Ne) 2ngland Mind 4Ne) @ rk! 1FBF5 is the b k )hich $ully re#eals the sch lastic and dialectical bias $ Cal#inist the l gy as "ursued in 2ngland! /rance! and Ne) 2ngland% BH +erha"s e#en m re im" rtant as sh )ing the clea#age bet)een N rth and S uth is the )ellCkn ca"italism% He deri#es b th industrial techn l sch lastic e$$ rt $ abstracti n during the t)el$th t basis $ the ec n mic as )ell as the cultural )n ) rk $ -erner S mbart in the hist ry $ gy and the ca"italist s"irit $r m the great the si(teenth centuries%

?L

The S uthern Euality 4The Se)anee Re#ie)! Summer! 1FDG5

TH2R2 IS A sense in )hich at least literary and artistic discussi n may bene$it $r m the ad#ent $ the at m b mb% A great many tri#ial issues can n )! )ith a blush! retire $r m guerrilla duty and literary "artisans can )ell a$$ rd t culti#ate an urbane cand r )here "re#i usly n ne had been c nsidered " ssible% +erha"s Malc lm C )ley=s recent a""raisal $ -illiam /aulkner may be #ie)ed as a min r " rtent $ e#en ha""ier e#ents t c me% La trahison des clercs may c me t an end since the at m b mb has laid $ re#er the illusi n that )riters and artists )ere s meh ) c nstituti#e and directi#e $ the h ly 6eitgeist% In c l ssal skyletters the b mb has s"elt ut $ r the childlike re# luti nary mind the $act $ the abdicati n $ all "ers n and indi#idual character $r m the " litical and ec n mic s"heres% In $act! nly the drab and deluded am ng men )ill n ) seek t "arade their $utility and insigni$icance in "ublic "laces% This is m re than the #ery #ig r us and #ery human eg tism $ artists and )riters is "re"ared t s)all )% It )as ne thing t indulge in the lyrical megal mania $ being a ,re# luti nary, )riter )hen mere " litical a$$iliati n abs l#ed ne $r m a t strenu us artistic disci"line and assured re"utati n and audience% H ) easy it )as then t c nc ct r t a""laud a "lastic r " etic b mb designed t "erturb the unyielding b #ines! and! at the same time! t $eel that the meta"hysics $ human )el$are )ere being energetically "ursued% It is &uite an ther thing t l k ar und t day% The destructi#e energy " stulated by the re# luti naries is here! and it is #astly in e(cess $ any a#ailable human )isd m r " litical ingenuity t acc mm date it% ;$ c urse! Mar( had al)ays " inted t the re# luti nary "r cess as techn l gical rather than " litical r literary% His austere c nce"t $ ,man, and the uni#erse )as rig r usly m nistic and techn l gical a "er$ect e("ressi n $ the cynical sentimentality $ an era% Like the a$$irmati ns $ Cal#in and R usseau th se $ Mar( are r ted in the negati n $ the human "ers n% 0ut techn l gy hath n ) "r duced its master"iece% The 0rick 0rad$ rd brains $ m dern lab rat ry technicians! the 6anies $ big business! $ed n the ad#entures $ Tar6an and detecti#e thrillers! ha#e $inally gi#en ade&uate "hysical $ rm t the r mantic nihilism $ nineteenthCcentury art and re# luti n% 2#ery human cause has n ) the r mantic charm $ a ,l st cause!, and the irrele#ance $ "r " sed human ends is nly e&ualed by the likelih d $ the annihilati n $ human begins% 2#en the ,l st, cause $ the S uth begins t assume intelligible and attracti#e $eatures $ r a great many )h $ rmerly assumed that it )as m re $un t be n the side $ the big battali ns% In $act! the ,S uthern cause, is n m re l st than that $ the "resentC day le$tC)ingers! )h se literary "r ducti n! $ r that matter! has been de"endent n the creati#e e$$ rts $ men like H "kins! 2li t! and @eats! )h se )n allegiance )as in turn gi#en t the seemingly m st $ rl rn $ causes% +erha"s the " int $ this can best be illustrated by the case $ Henry 8ames! )h se current # gue is by n means related t a c mmensurate im"r #ement in the general le#el $ literary discriminati n% A "rimary " stulate $ 8ames= ) rld is that it en* ys an en rm us material ascendancy )ith its c nse&uent eu"h ria% C rrelati#e )ith the elab rate and tenu us sensibility $ his created ) rld there is the e#en m re elab rate structure $ abstract $inance! and the ethereal techn l gy )hich that $inance called int being% -here#er this abstract structure e(ists and trium"hs 8ames can mani"ulate his "u""ets! $ r b th are c m"letely interCanimated% It is n accident! $ c urse! that in this area $eminine li$e sh uld be d minant and lu(uriant! and masculine beings timid and meager% It is a big! sa$e nursery ) rld n its material side% There are n $inancial ) rries% 4Alm st e#eryb dy in his n #els is a t urist! $ re#er engaged in a "ilgrimage n t $r m this ) rld t the ne(t but $r m ne "art $ the ;ld - rld t the ne(t%5 0ut the m ment 8ames ste"s bey nd the c n$ines $ this abstract materialism! as he did nce! he is hel"less% The eye $ the ,restless analyst, gr )s dull and e#asi#e% It sees n thing% g ne are all $amiliar and! t him! indis"ensable gr u"s $ human m ti#es and energies% It d es 8ames n harm t smile at his cha"ters n the S uth in The American Scene% They $ rce him t sh ) his ?F

hand! a #ery str ng hand! th ugh n t s str ng as he th ught it% Henry 8ames bel nged t a s ciety su$$ering $r m the last stages $ ele"hantiasis $ the )ill% In $act! he c uld bear t c ntem"late nly its "eri"heral "r ducts d minant ) men and e$$ete men% The "i# tal $igures $ the 8amesian eth s are ne#er btruded in his ) rk the m rbid tyc ns )h se em"ty and aimless )ills ser#ed a " )erCa""etite as l #ely as a ta"e) rm=s% This is n t $ r a m ment t suggest that 8ames is c m"lacent ab ut these rem te $igures% His c m" sure in the "resence $ the diab lical! his ,&uiet des"erati n!, "r duces the ma(imum tensi n in his ) rk its c rdinates are clearly the l gical! delicacy $ ner# us c nstituti n being b th the means and sign $ grace% 4The eighteenth century had earlier substituted lachrym se sensiti#ity $ r sectarian religi us enthusiasm%5 And yet! that s ciety )as riddled )ith negati n and timidity% A "hil s "hy $ acti n is al)ays bankru"t $ th ught and "assi n! and ,n thing is m re timid than a milli n d llars%, Against the lurid backgr und $ such an eth s there is bath s rather than "ath s emergent in Lambert Strether=s e(h rtati n in The Ambassad rs ,% % % it d esn=t much matter )hat y u d in "articular! s l ng as y u ha#e y ur li$e% I$ y u ha#en=t had that )hat ha#e y u had. % % % % Li#e! li#e:, A s ciety held t gether by a tense )ill and e#asi#e bustle can ne#er "r duce a li$eC style )ith all that im"lies $ "assi n% It can and d es "r duce abundant t urists! museums! and h uses like museums% And )ith these 8ames is c m"letely at h me% / r! a$ter all! a ,business ci#ili6ati n, 4a c ntradicti n in terms5! )ith its elab rate subter$uges and legal $icti ns! "r duces e&ually intricate and subtly aimless characters% Such a s ciety re&uires endless acti n and hence m ti#ati n $ its members% And character is strictly c nstituted by m ti#e% +assi n c nstitutes character nly negati#ely% The ,l #er the madman and the " et, nly bec me characters in the degree t )hich the ruling "assi n c n$licts )ith an ther "assi n! r )ith s me rati nal end% Like)ise! "assi n makes $ r the tragic in art and li$e *ust as character tends t )ard satire! c medy! and the "lay $ manners% The shar" di#isi n bet)een these t) ) rlds is! $ r e(am"le! the heart $ -uthering Heights the 2arnsha)CLint n clash being an anal gue $ the m dern ) rld=s int lerance $ "assi n! thus $ rcing "assi n int the m nstr us utla) $ rms )hich ccur in /aulkner! as )ell as in the 0r ntQs% As L ck) d symb lically says t Mrs% >ean! )h is the narrat r $ -uthering Heights! )hen she tries t "ut him int the st ry9 ,I=m $ the busy ) rld and t its arms I must return% 1 n% -as Catherine bedient t her $ather=s c mmands., +assi nate li$e d es n t "r duce subtle characters% Heathcli$$ is less c m"le( than 2dgar Lint n% And the nature $ sim"ly agrarian s ciety! $ r e(am"le! is such as t "r duce men )h are "rimarily "assi nate in the strict sense% They understand the se#ere limits $ mere human m ti#es and habitually $eel the $atality $ the larger $ rces $ the li$e that is in them as )ell as utside them% A sense $ the ineluctable d minates the mem ries and l yalties $ such a "e "le% Character in "assi nate s cieties is c nse&uently sim"le! m n lithic! and! )hen ccasi n re&uires! her ic% There is unc nsci us ir ny! there$ re! in 8ames= stricture9 ,I caught the )ideC eyed smile $ the S uth! that e("ressi n $ tem"eramental $elicity in )hich shades $ character! &uesti ns $ real $eature! thers marks and meanings! tend al)ays t l se themsel#es%, This hardly e(hausts the "assi ns $ the S uth! but it "r #ides a c mment n 8ames= )n characters% Had they ch sen t li#e "assi nately! the restless analyst ) uld n t ha#e been interested in them% -hen 8ames= ) rld did try! )ith its head! t g "assi nate and dithyrambic! >% H% La)rence t k #er% 0ut n t e#en La)rence c uld make a Heathcli$$ $ 2dgar Lint n% +assi n bliterates di$$erences rather than makes them! as the Ci#il -ar illustrates% -itness the rem #al $ dee" ec n mic and class di#isi ns! b th secti nal and " litical! as a result $ that c n$lict% And the "rimarily n nCintr s"ecti#e and "assi nate character $ S uthern li$e s"eaks $r m e#ery "r duct $ S uthern )riters% At the same time that this "assi n de$ines the S uthern )riter it ba$$les the N rthern critic! )h is $ "ur" se all c m"act% 0ut this is t arri#e t &uickly at the "r blem% T the merely rati nalist and re# luti nary mind $ the s cial ,"lanner, r engineer there is ne#er BI

any )ay $ gras"ing the nature $ " litics r $ art% Rilke makes the same " int as 2li t in ,Traditi n and the Indi#idual Talent,9 ,Add t this that neither can I in any res"ect imagine the artist! bedient! "atient! $itted $ r sl ) de#el "ment as he is! am ng the insurrecti nists%, H )e#er! the true traditi nalist )ill al)ays agree )ith the re# luti nary n the $acts% 0ut nly the traditi nalist can be radical% He isn=t c ntent merely t cut the shrubbery int ne) sha"es% The essential im"atience and rebelli n $ the Ne) 2ngland mind dis&uali$ies it $ r " litical and artistic $uncti ns! s that the de$ecti n $ Henry 8ames and T% S% 2li t )as a trauma necessary t the "reser#ati n $ their talents% It )as n t "rimarily the meager te(ture $ the American scene )hich attached them t the 2nglish arist cracy and the Anglican Church% ;n the ther hand! it is ) rthy $ "rime c nsiderati n that the S uthern man $ letters! )hile al)ays $eeling a c nsiderable a$$inity $ r 2nglish and 2ur "ean traditi n! has ne#er $elt any need t e("atriate himsel$ either in the nineteenth r t)entieth century% -hereas the N rthern )riter in the t)enties )as engaged! as Malc lm C )ley says! in disc #ering that ,"e "le in >i* n and Lei"6ig and 2denburgh )ere n t #ery di$$erent $r m "e "le in Nenith and 1 "her +rairie,A and )hile he )as s"ending his main energies in de$ying the ld lady $r m >ubu&ue! the S uthern )riter n the ther hand )as n t t rtured by this need $ r re# lt% ;ne reas n $ r this striking di#ergence $ attitude may be indicated by an bser#ati n $ -% 0% @eats% The &uality )hich he is lates and c ntem"lates in his )n e("erience is #ari usly "resent in all S uthern )riting $ the "resent day! *ust as clearly as it is absent in the ) rld $ Henry Adams and Henry 8ames9
C nsidering that Mary 0attle recei#ed ur th ughts in slee"! th ugh c arsened r turned t caricature! d n t the th ughts $ the sch lar r hermit! th ugh they s"eak n ) rd! r s mething $ their sha"e and im"ulse! "ass int the general mind. > es n t the em ti n $ s me ) man $ $ashi n! "ass d )n! alth ugh she s"eak n ) rd! t 8 an )ith her + t! 8ill )ith her +ail and! it may be! )ith ne kn )s n t )hat nightmare melanch ly t T m the / l. % % % -as n t a nati n! as distinguished $r m a cr )d $ chance c mers! b und t gether by this interchange am ng streams r shad )sA that Unity $ Image! )hich I s ught in nati nal literature! being but an riginating symb l. /r m the m ment )hen these s"eculati ns gre) #i#id! I had created $ r mysel$ an intellectual s litude! m st arguments that c uld in$luence acti n had l st s mething $ their meaning% H ) c uld I *udge any scheme $ educati n! r $ s cial re$ rm! )hen I c uld n t measure )hat the di$$erent classes and ccu"ati ns c ntributed t that in#isible c mmerce $ re#erie and $ slee"! and )hat is lu(ury and )hat necessity )hen a $ragment $ ld braid r a $l )er in the )all "a"er may be an riginating im"ulse t re# luti n r t "hil s "hy.

It ) uld be easy t sh ) an identical a)areness )ith this $ @eats in The /athers! S Red the R se! Night Rider! r a d 6en m re n #els% It is the theme $ > nald >a#ids n=s Attack n Le#iathan! and it is the "r duct $ a "r $ und " litical and s cial "assi n'a c mm n attitude t a c mm n e("erience% 0ehind this "assi nate #isi n there is! $ c urse! a ma* r human traditi n )hich did n t riginate in the S uth! any m re than the t tally n nC" litical and ,the l gical, s litude $ the characters $ Henry 8ames is r ted in a traditi n that riginated in Ne) 2ngland% T gras" the im"licati ns $ this "assage $r m @eats! as $ the "receding ne $r m Rilke! is t see the s"eci$ic disease $ m dern ," litics%, -hereas @eats "assi nately and humbly sets himsel$ t )atch and listen $ r the hints and "r m"tings $ a c r" rate )isd m $ar richer than his merely indi#idual "erce"ti n can in#ent! the s cial "lanner arr gantly identi$ies his )n im"ulses and "erce"ti ns )ith s cial g d% C ntrast )ith @eats= a)areness $ the nature $ culture the ad h c n te $ 7an -yck 0r ks )hen he says that )e need ,a race $ artists "r $ und and sincere, )h )ill bring us ,$ace t $ace )ith ur )n e("erience and set ) rking in that e("erience the lea#en $ the highest culture%, That <altenb rn t ne ) uld be rec gni6ed any)here as that $ a "edag gic engineer% M ral $er# r is made a substitute $ r "atient th ught and "erce"ti n! and g d intenti ns bec me the e(cuse $ r ensla#ing men $ r their )n g d% +er$ectly anal g us )ith 0r ks= engineerCculture is Sinclair Le)is= "r clamati n in his N bel +ri6e s"eech9 The aim $ the American )riter sh uld be ,t gi#e t the America that has m untains and endless "rairies! en rm us cities and l st $ar cabins! a literature ) rthy $ her #astness%, The "ul"s ha#e taken B1

care $ that rder% As 1ui6 t "ut it9 ,2#en the best re# luti naries ha#e a #ain c n$idence in themsel#es! and in all they think and all they desire! )hich urges them t rush head $ rem st al ng the "ath they nce ha#e ch sen% % % % M desty is a great lightA it kee"s the mind "en and the heart ready t listen t the teachings $ truth%, And it is "recisely this kind $ intellectual m desty )hich is t be $ und disseminated thr ugh ut the s cial c mments $ S uthern men $ letters! a $reed m $r m that n te $ " litical rectitude and abs lutist c ntem"t $ r the "ers n )hich is inherent in the ,"r gressi#e!, $ r )h m things and "ers ns are *ust s much energy t be harnessed $ r #irtu us "ur" ses% 8ust h ) much $ the latent insurrecti nist and m ral aggressi n $ the s cial "lanner lurked in the makeCu" $ Henry 8ames emerges amusingly in his c ntact )ith the S uth% In his t ur he has ne#er nce t make his "er"etual N rthern c m"laint ab ut ,the air $ hard "r s"erity! the ruthlessly "ushedCu" and "r m ted l k ) rn by men! ) men and children alike%, ;n the c ntrary9 ,I )as t $ind mysel$ liking! in the S uth and in the m st m nstr us $ashi n! it a""eared! th se as"ects in )hich the c nse&uences $ the great $ lly )ere! $ r e(tent and gra#ity! still traceable%, In ther ) rds 8ames senses s me danger us de"ra#ity in his )n admirati n $ r the cultural #estiges $ an alien and de$eated nati n'the ,great $ lly, being the "resum"ti n $ a "e "le in ha#ing established a m de $ li$e distinct $r m the N rth% It is as th ugh a t success$ul missi nary )ere $ r a m ment t see a c mmerciali6ed China thr ugh the eyes $ a C maras)amy% 0ut c m"lacency s n returns% 8ames had a basic res"ect $ r success )hich c uld ne#er $ rgi#e $ailure% The S uthern cause )as in his eyes "redestined t $ail% There$ re it )as damned% S mething must be said at this " int t "lace the di#ergent traditi ns $ N rth and S uth in a )ider hist rical $rame! i$ nly t rela( s me $ the $acti nal tensi ns )hich de#el " )hene#er re"resentati#es $ these dissenting "arties begin discussi n% S mething $ the sc "e $ the human issue is $inely caught in Tate=s " em ,Aeneas at -ashingt n%, The Ci#il -ar and the Tr *an -ar merge9 Stuck in the )et mire / ur th usand leagues $r m the ninth buried city I th ught $ Tr y! )hat )e had built her $ r% It is n mere attem"t t glam ri6e the de$eated S uth by hinting that Negr sla#ery )as like the ra"e $ Helen! a )r ng a#enged by an army backed by su"eri r $ rce and calculating guile% It is rather Tate=s #ery S uthern $eeling $ r the mysteri us unity $ hist ry and art alike! )hich blends these e#ents% H mer=s 1reeks are actually end )ed )ith the "r saic #irtues and #ices $ the acti#e li$e% The Tr *ans are gi#en all the sym"athetic &ualities $ dignity! "ath s! and r mance% The )rath $ Achilles is a "assi n )hich is $irst turned against the 1reeks and then against the Tr *ans This "assi n )hich is the decisi#e $ rce and the dramatic "i# t $ the " em! )hen mitted alike by the medie#al #ersi ns and by Shakes"eare in Tr ilus and Cressida! "r #ides a remarkable anal gue $ Ci#il -ar itsel$% 0ut )hat is im" rtant! $ r the m ment! is Tate=s sense $ the hist rical dimensi ns $ the S uthern attitude% 4It ccurs e&ually in 8 hn +eale 0ish "=s ,The 0urning -heel%,5 A merely c mmercial s ciety 4like Carthage5 has n hist rical sense and lea#es $e) traces $ itsel$% 4In his research int the rigins $ American techn l gy Sig$ried 1iedi n )as ast nished t enc unter an alm st t tal absence $ rec rds r m dels $ early acti#ity in ma* r industries% / rd! $ r e(am"le! )hile s"ending milli ns n his museum! had n rec rds $ the initial "r ducti n "r cess $ his $irm%5 8e$$ers n! n the ther hand! sh )s! like Arist tle! a str ng hist rical sense c ncerning the material and intellectual $act rs )hich g #ern the de#el "ment $ s cieties% B?

-illiam 1ilm re Simms! )ell in ad#ance $ the Ci#il -ar! dis"lays an hist rical "ers"ecti#e and e#en n stalgia $ r the early S uth Car lina! that S uth )hich $rankly and $ten t b ast$ully claimed $ r itsel$ the gl ry that )as 1reece and the grandeur that )as R me% A "er$ectly *usti$ied insistence! h )e#er! n direct c nnecti n )ith the ta"r t $ classical humanism and Cicer nian humanitas and el &uence ccurs in e#ery kind $ S uthern )riting $r m the time $ -illiam 0yrd $ -est #er t the "resent% N ) these claims )ere ne#er made in the N rth% M re #er! the reas n )hy Ne) 2ngland ne#er laid claim t Cicer nian and 2rasmian humanism is abundantly clear $r m the e#idence gathered by +erry Miller in The Ne) 2ngland Mind% The auth r $ 8urgen $eels hist rical a$$inities $ li$eC style )hich enable him t m #e easily and unchallenged am ng classical myths and medie#al legends )ith a sense $ c ntinuity and c ntem" raneity )hich is marred nly by a sel$C"r tecti#e )himsy% 0ut Henry Adams= gr "ing ar und Chartres! ,stirring the c ld breasts $ anti&uity, )ith ) rshi"$ul a)e! "r #ide merely the s"ectacle $ arti$icial res"irati n% H )e#er! this is a sight entirely acce"table t the academic mind )hen it ) uld simulate a "assi nate "erce"ti n )hich it cann t $eel% In a ) rd! +erry Miller=s research "resents us )ith a dialectical mind in se#enteenthC century Ne) 2ngland! *ust as 8 hn >e)ey re"resents the same mind t day% T) things m st im" rtant $ r an understanding $ the &uarrel bet)een N rth and S uth are n t sh )n by Miller9 $irst! the #i lent 2ur "ean "" siti n $ the humanist t the dialectical mind in the si(teenth and se#enteenth centuriesA and! sec nd! the ageC ld &uarrel bet)een these minds in $i$thCcentury Athens! t)el$thCcentury /rance! and $ urteenthCcentury Italy% This is n t the "lace t "r #ide such an hist rical "icture% 0ut )ere the Ne) 2ngland mind as ca"able $ "ercei#ing its )n r ts in the dialectics $ Abelard and ;ckham 4stri#ing t settle the "r blems $ meta"hysics! the l gy! and " litics as th ugh they )ere "r blems in l gic5 as the S uth has been able t $eel and t $ cus its )n $ rensic traditi n $ Cicer nian humanism! then s me &uali$ying m desty might ha#e g t int the dis"ute a great deal earlier% In sh rt! the tr uble )ith the Ne) 2ngland mind has al)ays been its ign rance $ its )n hist ry% It has al)ays assumed that it )as Mind "er se rather than the $racti us s"linter $ sch lastic traditi n that it is% ;nce Ramus had )elded ;ckham=s the ries int a t l $ a""lied the l gical c ntr #ersy! he and his $ ll )ers laid ab ut them heartily% Ramus )as strictly interested in the $ray! n t the )ea" n% H )e#er! that dubi us )ea" n )as the main intellectual e&ui"ment that the Cambridge di#ines br ught t Har#ard during the time )hen 8ames I and Charles I had made li$e int lerable $ r them by $a# ring the "atristic r humanist "arty at Cambridge% The t l $ Ramistic scri"tural e(egesis "r #ed #ery destructi#e $ Scri"ture! naturallyA $ r it )as rati nalistic and n minalistic% That is! it made all "r blems l gical "r blems and at the same time destr yed nt l gy and any " ssibility $ meta"hysics! a $act )hich acc unts $ r the n t ri us anemia! the "araly6ing ske"ticism $ Ne) 2ngland s"eculati n% Already in the se#enteenth century Har#ard had designated techn l gia as the true success r $ meta"hysics'an absurdity! )ith all the "ractical c nse&uences! )hich is "i usly "er"etuated at this h ur by >e)ey and his disci"les% / r this mind there is n thing )hich cann t be settled by meth d% It is the mind )hich )ea#es the intricacies $ e$$icient "r ducti n! ,scienti$ic, sch larshi"! and business administrati n% It d esn=t "ermit itsel$ an inkling $ )hat c nstitutes a s cial r " litical "r blem 4in the 0urke r @eats sense5 sim"ly because there is n meth d $ r tackling such "r blems% That is als )hy the #ery c nsiderable creati#e " litical th ught $ America has c me nly $r m the S uth'$r m 8e$$ers n t -ils n% / r the Cicer nian "r gram $ educati n! as utlined in the >e ;rat re $ Cicer 4and n less in the C urtier $ Castigli ne5! l ks "rimarily t man in his s cial and " litical as"ect% In $i$thC century 1reece this had been the aim $ the S "hists! )h se ) rk )e kn ) thr ugh the h stile medium $ +lat % Cicer recei#ed it #ia the great St ic traditi n! and ha#ing c ns lidated and e(em"li$ied it! "r #ided the Church /athers )ith their charter $ Christian educati n )hich held BB

the $ield undis"utedly until the time $ Anselm and Abelard in the ele#enth and t)el$th centuries% 4It is nly recently that 1ils n has sh )n that until the t)el$th century the traditi n $ classical humanism is unbr ken! unabridged! and unchallenged in the Church%5 Sch lastic the l gy )as the an mal us inn #ati n! n t the characteristic m de $ Christian the l gy% Against this backgr und! the humanistic reacti n $ a 8 hn $ Salisbury r a +etrarch against )hat they called the barbaric dialectics 4the 1 ths and Huns $ the S rb nne5 is! like the similar reacti n $ 2rasmus! C let! M re! the reasserti n $ the central classical and Christian humanism against an u"start "arty $ #ermiculate dis"utati nists% Un$ rtunately $ r sim"licity $ subse&uent retr s"ect! the t) intellectual "arties in the l gy 4the humanists r "atrists and the sch lmen5 )ere n t s"lit in acc rdance )ith the +r testantCCath lic di#isi ns% 0 th +r testant and Cath lic cam"s )ere in turn di#ided% 2ach had its "artisans $ "atristic and sch lastic the l gy% 4The rati studi rum $ the 8esuits attem"ted t c mbine b th m des%5 The great dis"ute )ithin the Anglican Church under 2li6abeth )as #er this &uesti n% And it )as $ the greatest " ssible signi$icance $ r the cultural and " litical $uture $ N rth America that the "atristic "arty $inally ) n ut in the Church $ 2ngland'a #ict ry celebrated by the sudden $l urishing under r yal "atr nage $ "atristic el &uence in Andre)es! > nne! Crasha)! Tayl r! and <ing% This #ict ry $inally settled 2nglish +ublic Sch l educati n in the Classical gr #es $ linguistics! hist ry! and manners! and *ust at the time )hen the 2"isc "al Church early gained s cial and " litical "red minance am ng the "lanters% The Cicer nian "r gram $ educati n! because $ its s cial "restige and utility! )as readily acce"ted by all'e#en by the +resbyterians )h in the N rth "ursued #ery di$$erent m des% -here#er this classical and $ rensic educati n s"read! it carried )ith it the $ull gentlemanly c de $ h n r! dignity! and c urtesy! since that )as inse"arable $r m the rec nstituted "r gram as it )as "r "agated by Castigli ne! Sidney! and S"enser% It )as n mere arche l gical re#i#al% It had the $ull #itality $ medie#al chi#alry and c urtly l #e in e#ery "art $ it% H )e#er! se#enteenthC and eighteenthCcentury 2ngland sa) such a " )er$ul u"surge $ the trading s"irit that its gentlemanly c de )as s)i$tly m di$ied% >ueling! b#i usly! is n t c m"atible )ith c mmercial e&ui" ise! n r middleCclass c m$ rt% In the S uth there )as #ery little $ the trader=s sel$C abnegati n ab ut "ers nal h n r! and n curtailment $ the $ull Renaissance $la# r $ the gentlemanly c de% In $act! )ith the str ng Celtic c m"le(i n $ S uthern immigrati n 4Sc tchC Irish5 there )as! i$ anything! an intensi$icati n $ the cult $ "ers nal h n r and l yalty t $amily and "atriarch% In such a s ciety! uni$ rmly agrarian! " ssessing h m geneity $ educati n and " "ulati n! the arist cratic idea )as dem cratic% It is b#i us! $ r e(am"le! that 8e$$ers n=s c nce"t $ dem cracy ) uld ha#e e#ery man an arist crat% The "re#alence in all classes and "laces $ the arist cratic idea )as! $ c urse! ut $ all "r " rti n t the number $ "lanters )h c uld incarnate it )ith any degree $ e$$ecti#eness% It certainly g t int -hitman% 0ut there need be n mystery ab ut h ) a small ye man $armer c uld #ernight! alm st! bl ss m ut as an arist cratic "lanter% It )as alt gether less su"er$icial and c mic than the )ay in )hich Th mas Arn ld $ Rugby "lausibly transm gri$ied the s ns $ gr cers! mechanics! and "atent medicine &uacks int haughty y ung bl ds% The #ig r $ the arist cratic idea in the nineteenthCcentury S uth "r bably e("lains h ) + e! al ne $ his age! $ recast the e$$ect $ the machine n the $ rms $ human li$e! n the #ery n ti n $ the "ers n% ;ne main c nditi n $ arist cratic li$e )as "resent in the S uth and n t in the N rth'"ers nal res" nsibility t ther human beings $ r educati n and material )el$are% 4A Carnegie r a / rd! like a bureaucracy! m lds the li#es $ milli ns )ith ut taking any res" nsibility%5 +erha"s e#en m re decisi#e! at any time r "lace! in the creati n $ the arist crat is absence $ "ri#ate li$e% T li#e al)ays in the "resence $ $amily and $amily ser#ants subtly changes the m st a#erage $ BD

beings% / rmality bec mes a c nditi n $ sur#i#al% M re #er! t re"resent ne=s $amily $irst and nesel$ sec nd in all s cial interc urse c n$ers a s"ecial im"ers nal character n human manners and acti ns% A s cial c de )ill al)ays emerge #ery s)i$tly under such c nditi ns% And )here there is a c de! all classes )ill share and inter"ret it $ r themsel#es in the )ay in )hich @eats has sh )n in the "assage &u ted earlier% Striking e#idence $ this ccurs in /aulkner=s Light in August% 8 e Christmas the ct r n li#es and dies by a c de )hich is ne#er menti ned but )hich is "er$ectly de$ined by his tenue as )ell as by his relati ns )ith the ther characters in the n #el% Clearly an , utla), nly because he li#es am ng la)less $ lk that is! am ng men and ) men $ endless c nni#ing! a#erage c n$usi n! rdinary eg tism! and a# cati n he ac&uires by his detachment and su$$ering a )eird dignity in his $ull acce"tance $ $atality% N shad ) $ medi crity! #ulgarity! r sel$C"ity e#er $alls n him% He *udges n b dy! but all the rest are *udged by his "r (imity% He n thing c mm n did r mean U" n that mem rable scene% In a ) rld $ "ri#ate li#es! ske"tical ambiti ns ! and cynical eg tisms! the arist crat r the man $ "assi n is hel"less% In a ) rld $ merely material a""etites his r le is t su$$er% That is )hy the ) rld " rtrayed in the n #els $ the S uth is ne $ #i lence! "assi n! and death% 8 e Christmas is a genuine symb l in the "r "er sense $ being ccasi ned by an actual and "articular s"iritual c nditi n n t *ust a S uthern but a uni#ersal human c nditi n t day% And this " )er $ symb lC making is n t " ssible $ r th se )h c ncei#e $ the inner li$e as being in a "er"etual state $ $lu(% / r they are inca"able $ se"arating s"iritual $r m "hysical b*ects% 0y a rig r us c ntem"lati n $ his )n l cal e("erience! /aulkner has m #ed steadily t )ards uni#ersals statements% +r bably n m re discriminating e# cati n $ all the $acts $ such a s ciety has e#er a""eared than The /athers $ Allen Tate% In that n #el the d minant character $ 1e rge + sey 4"eri"heral S utherner $ unstable " ise5! )h had ,the heightened #itality " ssessed by a man )h kne) n b unds!, e("lains m re than a library $ s ci l gical in#estigati ns9
I sh uld say that the + seys )ere m re re$ined than the 0uchans! but less ci#ili6ed% I ne#er sa) a letter )ritten by 1e rge + seyA he must ha#e )ritten letters! but I cann t imagine them% In the sense $ t day n b dy )r te "ers nal letters in ur time9 Letters c n#eyed the sensibility in s ciety! the rdered li$e $ $amilies and neighb rh ds% 1e rge + sey )as a man )ith ut "e "le r "laceA he had str ng relati nshi"s! and he )as ca"able $ "assi nate $eeling! but it )as all "ers nal and dis rdered! and it )as curi us t see them t gether9 the big " )er$ul man $ acti n remained the m ther=s b y% -hat else c uld he ha#e been. -hat li$e )as there $ r him in the ca#erns $ the + sey h use. -hat li$e )as there $ r him utside it. That )as )hat! as I see it! he )as trying t $ind ut%

The Cicer nian ideal reaches it $l )er in the sch larCstatesman $ encycl "edic kn )ledge! "r $ und "ractical e("erience! and # luble s cial and "ublic el &uence% That this ideal )as "er$ectly ada"ted t agrarian estateCli$e )ith its multi"le legal "r blems and its need $ r direct 4re"ublican5 " litical re"resentati n is b#i us t anyb dy )h has c nsidered the S uth% M re #er! )ithin such a s ciety! literary ability is &uite naturally drained $$ int legal and " litical channels! t say n thing $ highly de#el "ed s cial c n#ersati n% S that in assessing the intellectual &uality $ such a li$e ne is bliged t turn t semiC"ublic d cuments and the c rres" ndence $ "e "le like -ashingt n and 8e$$ers n% 0ut since the de$eat $ the S uth it may be asked )hether the Cicer nian "r gram has any $urther rele#ance% That &uesti n is usually "ut in a h stile manner by "e "le )h regard Cicer nian humanism as inse"arable $r m $eudalism r sla#ery% ;ne abru"t )ay t ans)er it ) uld be t say that )hereas the Cicer nian humanism $ the S uth re"resented the main current $ 2ur "ean and -estern culture! the techn l gy $ the N rth 4)ith its e"i"hen menal art and belles lettres5 BG

)as built n the m st destructi#e aberrati n $ the -estern mind aut n m us dialectics and nt l gical n minalism% The $act $ the matter is that ne "hase $ the Ci#il -ar is being $ ught #er again in the N rth t day% +resident Hutchins is merely the m st # ci$er us member $ a large "arty )hich is embattled against the dialectics and educati nal techn l gy $ 8 hn >e)ey and Sidney H k% All the ld $eatures $ the &uarrel ha#e reCemerged% Hutchins )ants educati n $ r citi6enshi" in a limited s ciety! )hereas >e)ey )ants educati n $ r a $uncti nal abs lutist s ciety abs lutist because the s ciety rather than the "ers n is c nstituti#e $ #alue% Hutchins )ants encycl "edic trainingA >e)ey )ants training in meth ds and techni&ues kn ) )hat #s% kn ) h )% That the ,cause $ the S uth, is &uite inde"endent $ ge gra"hy needs n urging% An ans)er t the &uesti n ab ut the #alue $ traditi nal S uthern li$e and educati n c uld! h )e#er! t s me e(tent be based n a scrutiny $ "resentCday letters in the S uth% I$ s me &uality r characteristic e(cellence has emerged in current S uthern letters n t t be du"licated else)here! s me testim ny r e("l rati n $ human e("erience n t attem"ted by thers! then s me s rt $ ,ans)er, t the h stile critic )ill ha#e been gi#en% / r the hist rian=s &uesti n)hat the S uth )as is included in the &uesti n9 )hat is S uthern literature t day. Mean)hile! it is ) rth " ndering the "light $ many S uthern )riters )h se ) rks are h ted! r admired $ r the )r ng reas ns! in N rthern * urnals% In this res"ect the " siti n $ the S uthern )riter is n t unlike that $ an Irish )riter $ rty years ag % -hen a 1al)ay c untry edit r sa) in a L nd n "a"er that an Irishman had *ust "r duced a b k ab ut the "e "le $ 1al)ay in )hich at last e#en the Irish might see the irremediable i$ "ictures&ue de"ra#ity $ their stubb rn race! )ith its im"ractical and m rbid br ding #er the )r ngs d ne by Cr m)ell! then the 1al)ay edit r ) uld den unce the Irish trait r t his readers% All Irish )riters )ere s n hated in Ireland as )retches )h had s ld the misery and " #erty $ "e "le $ r a "rice in the Sassenach market% It )as "artly this )hich made 8 yce s bitter ab ut the ld s ) that eats her )n $arr )% 0ut in the "resent c nditi n $ the centrali6ed "ublishing and marketing $ b ks in Ne) @ rk and L nd n there is n esca"e $r m this stulti$ying situati n% -hat is m re natural than that "r #incial ne)s"a"er edit rs sh uld be m re c ncerned ab ut )hat a N rthern critic says than )hat he himsel$ thinks ab ut a S uthern b k. The N rthern critic h lds in abeyance his habitual m ral aggressi n *ust as l ng as he $eels sure a - l$e! a Cald)ell! r a /aulkner is ri""ing u" the S uth in manner )hich s&uares )ith N rthern c n#icti ns% It has already been suggested that the S uthern )riter d es n t $eel im"elled t technical e("eriment as ther )riters sim"ly because he d esn=t think $ art as a means t 3pater les 'our%eois% / r g d r ill he has ne#er been $ the ardent <reymb rgs and Millays )h lust unc m$ rted T kiss the naked "hrase &uite una)are% The S uth! n the ther hand! may be said t ha#e c n$r nted +hilistia in 1LH1% Again! letters in the S uth en* y a degree $ aut n my n t en#isaged by th se )h ha#e "itched their )ares int the cause $ re# lt% Literature is n t there c ncei#ed $ as ,an in$eri r kind $ s cial )ill, as in A(el=s Castle% In $act! it may be ne )eakness $ S uthern )riters as )riters that they are s c ncerned )ith li#ing their )n li#es that they resist that abs r"ti n and annihilati n )hich is e("ected $ the m dern )riter% The gentlemanly c de in a 0yr n ) rks als in a Th mas - l$e t "r duce a rebelli us man but a c n#enti nal artist% M re #er! the S uthern )riter shares m st $ his e("erience )ith the ma* rity $ S utherners! )h ne#er ha#e heard $ him'there is n t the s"lit bet)een educated and ,uneducated, )hich ccurs in an at mi6ed industrial c mmunity% In c n#ersati n! the S utherner delights t re" rt! )ith ut c ndescensi n! the $ine remarks and shre)d "erce"ti ns $ &uite illiterate $ lk% 0ut the main reas n $ r this s lidarity is the uni#ersal acce"tance $ a "assi nate #ie) $ li$e% N t nly is there n $atal BH

di#isi n bet)een educated and uneducated! but there is n t the $amiliar headCheart s"lit $ the N rth! )hich became glaring in 2ur "e and 2ngland in the eighteenth century% The S uth esca"ed that because it had n si6able urban trading class until a$ter the Ci#il -ar% S it has been able t "reser#e t a degree the integrity $ th ught and $eeling much as )e $ind it in C nrad and the Russi n n #elists $ the nineteenth century! )ith )h m recent S uthern n #elists ha#e a str ng a$$inity% The "assi nate and tragic sense $ li$e as "" sed t the li$e $ multi"le and di#ergent "ur" ses is already discernible as a basic li$eCstyle l ng be$ re the Ci#il -ar! as the ) rk $ + e str ngly testi$ies% The min us sense $ $atality )hich )as already haunting that li$e c mes ut in all his ) rk! and n )here m re strangely than in ,The Man -h -as Used U"!, )hich may ha#e ins"ired Rans m=s ,Ca"tain Car"enter%, And t day the m ral aggressi n $ Uncle T me=s Cabin has been m re than canceled by the great " "ularity $ 1 ne -ith the -ind in the N rth% 2#en s crude a ) rk as Margaret Mitchell=s caught s mething $ the style and "assi n $ the S uth in a )ay )hich c m"elled a )ide res" nse% The " )er $ a li$eCstyle t m ld $uture imaginati n and li$e is incalculable )here the s"ectacle $ mere brute " )er is stu"e$ying% The chi#alric S uth! it has been said! )anted the )h le h rse! )hereas the N rth )anted nly t abstract the h rse" )er $r m the h rse% 0ut the huge material achie#ement $ a 0 ulder >am e# kes an ther kind $ ,"assi n, )hich it may be )ell t l k at here% There is the "assi n $ a ci#ili6ed "ers n $ r )h m acti n is re"ugnant r unthinkable unless the )h le man is in# l#edA and there is the "assi n r su$$ering $ the little subCmen! H ll ) Men! $ > s +ass s! /it6gerald! and Heming)ay% In all the Ci#il -ar n #els! )hether @ ung=s! Tate=s! Stribling=s! r /aulkner=s! the characters are $ullCsi6e! s cial beings! because in 1LHI men still c unted% N t nly )ar but the causes $ )ar! and the "r blem $ e#il! b th in indi#iduals and s cieties! are $rankly $aced% S the S uth met "hysical destructi n but ne#er $elt s"iritual de$eat at all% H )e#er! s"iritual de$eat came t the N rth )ithin a $e) decades% The characters $ Heming)ay are men $ "ath s in the limited sense nly'they are "itiable! cl )nlike d)ar$s% Their acti ns ha#e n c nte(t% They g t )ars they d n=t understand% Their l #e is des"air% Their s"eech is little m re than a grunt r a haussement des M"aules% There is n "r blem $ e#il and tragedy in this ) rld because there is n human dignity n r res" nsibility% It is the same in /it6gerald% -e are n t gi#en any ) rkaday m ti#es r acti ns in The 1reat 1atsby because it is! in its )ay! a n #el $ "assi n% There is n intr s"ecti#e analysis% 0ut the $igures are HanselCandC1retelClike% +athetic! irres" nsible )ai$s! sub*ect $ the 2m"er r $ Ice Cream! )h se little interlude $ li$e is "layed ut n the 1reat R ckCCandy M untain% ;ne thinks $ 1ersh)in=s ,> ! d ! d )hat y u d neC d neC d ne be$ re! baby, as being at the same le#el as /it6gerald=s ,g ldChatted! highCb uncing l #er%, Ir nically! the little subCmen $ the great cities best e("ress their )n sense $ hel"lessness by means $ Negr music% -hile stensibly setting ab ut the $reeing $ the sla#es! they became ensla#ed! and $ und in the )ailing sel$C"ity and cr ning $ the Negr the substitute $ r any li$eCstyle $ their )n% They destr yed r re*ected the best things in the S uth and t k the ) rst% 2#en the characters $ 2rskine Cald)ell are $ree at least $r m sel$C"ity% C ntrast the "seud Cinn cence $ the "e "le $ Heming)ay and /it6gerald )ith the $rank "erce"ti n $ /aulkner9
She )as a )aitress % % % she )as slight! alm st childlike% 0ut the adult l k sa) that the smallness )as n t due t any natural slenderness but t s me inner c rru"ti n $ the s"irit itsel$9 A slenderness )hich had ne#er been y ung% % % %

;ne $ the m st "ersistent naR#etMs $ N rthern criticism $ the S uth has c ncerned the S uthern re"resentati n $ genuine human e#il and tragic #i lence% It has been su"" sed again and again that this $eature $ S uthern literature )as n t a #isi n $ human li$e but *ust the BJ

natural result $ a bad c nscience ab ut im"enitent Negr Cbaiting r general " litical back)ardness% That is "art $ the legacy $ R usseau in the d ctrinaire N rth% As +hili" Rah# says $ Henry 8ames! he ,)as al)ays identi$ying his nati#e land )ith inn cence and =sim"le human nature!= an idea )hich his 2ur "ean critics ha#e n t $ und it easy t s)all )%, There is ne#er any hist ric sense any m re than there is any inn cence! )here this illusi n $ inn cence "re#ails% A "assage $r m /aulkner=s Absal m! Absal m: may hel" us t see the c ntrast9
It )as a summer $ )istaria% The t)ilight )as $ull $ it and $ the smell $ his $ather=s cigar as they sat n the $r nt gallery a$ter su""er until it ) uld be time $ r Euentin t start! )hile in the dee" shaggy la)n bel ) the #eranda the $ire$lies ble) and dri$ted in s $t rand m'the d r! the scent! )hich $i#e m nths later Mr% C m"s n=s letter ) uld carry u" $r m Mississi""i and #er the l ng ir n Ne) 2ngland sn ) and int Euentin=s sittingCr m at Har#ard! 4It )as a day $ listening5 t 'the listening! the hearing in 1FIF m stly ab ut that )hich he already kne)! since he had been b rn in and still breathed the same air in )hich the church bells had rung n that Sunday m rning in 1LBB and! n Sundays! heard e#en ne $ the riginal three bells in the stee"le )here descendants $ the same "ige ns strutted and cr ned r )heeled in sh rt c urses resembling s $t $luid "ainCsmears n the s $t summer sky%

T this as e(egesis ne may a""end Tate=s remark9 ,The S utherner can alm st )ish $ r his ease the N rthern c ntem"t $ r his kind $ hist ryA he ) uld like t belie#e that hist ry is n t a #ast b dy $ c ncrete $act t )hich he must be l yal! but nly a s urce $ mechanical $ rmulas%, / r the "ragmatist there can be n &uesti n $ a "assi nate and l yal c ntem"lati n $ hist ry% / r him it is e("licitly an arm ry $r m )hich he dra)s the )ea" ns t ad#ance )hate#er c n#icti n he may! at the m ment! entertain% -hy has it ne#er ccurred t anyb dy t c nsider the reas n )hy e#ery S uthern n #elist is a teller $ tales. This is true n t nly $ + e! Simms! and $ e#en Mark T)ain! but $ <atherine Anne + rter! Mildred Haun! Andre) Lytle! 2llen 1lasg )! 8 hn +eale 0ish "! R bert +enn -arren! -illiam /aulkner! Car line 1 rd n! T% S% Stribling! Stark @ ung! and 8ames 0ranch Cabell% The tale is the $ rm m st natural t a "e "le )ith a "assi nate hist rical sense $ li$e% / r in the tale! e#ents march n! "assing s metimes #er and s metimes ar und human li#es% Indi#idual character is inter) #en )ith the e#ents but is sub rdinate% That is )hy the S uthern n #el is! at $irst glance! s #ery de$icient in the " rtrayal $ human character% As Lacy 0uchan! the narrat r $ The /athers! says9 ,I ha#e a st ry t tell but I cann t e("lain the st ry% I cann t say9 i$ Susan had n t married 1e rge + sey then Susan ) uld n t ha#e kn )n 8ane + sey and in$luenced her%, This sense $ the $atality and im"ers nality $ e#ents ) uld be u"set at nce by elab rate character analysis% Instead $ shar"ly de$ined m ti#es! there$ re! and clearCcut $rames ar und "e "le! their indi#idual " tential! the charge $ s"iritual energy that is in them! is indicated $r m time t time as the narrati#e "r ceeds% ,He )as a hatchetC$aced! im"assi#e y ung man! &uite h nest'said my $ather' $ the smallC$arming class $ r generati ns9 i$ he ne#er entered ur $r nt d r! )e ne#er entered his sim"ly because )e )ere n t )anted%, The im"ers nal s cial c de )hich "ermits a $ rmal e("ressi n $ in)ard em ti n makes it &uite " intless $ r "e "le t inter"ret ne an ther c nstantly! as they d in m st ,realistic, n #els% There is thus in the S uthern n #el a #acuum )here )e might e("ect intr s"ecti n% 4It is &uite "r n unced e#en in Huckleberry /inn%5 The stress $alls entirely n slight human gestures! e(ternal e#ents )hich are bli&uely slanted t $lash light r shade n character% Thus 8 hn 2rskine n tes that a shar" di$$erence bet)een the sc uts $ C "er and Simms is that C "er insists that the success $ his sc uts is de"endent n skill and character )hereas Simms makes the success $ his a matter $ ha""y circumstances! irresistible as Cuchullain=s luck% There is a ) rld $ di$$erence in li$eCstyle here )hich h lds $ r all S uthern )riters% The ) rk $ Th mas - l$e! $ r e(am"le! "artakes $ully $ this character! e(ce"t that in his e("erience the im"ers nal attitude b rn $ $ rmali6ed s cial symb ls! )hich $inally le$t each "ers n entirely l cked u" in his )n "assi nate s litude! )as int lerable9 BL

He underst d that men )ere $ re#er strangers t ne an ther! that n ne e#er c mes really t kn ) any ne! that im"ris ned in the dark ) mb $ ur m ther! )e c me t li$e )ith ut ha#ing seen her $ace! that )e are gi#en t her arms a stranger! and that! caught in the ins luble "ris n $ being! )e esca"e it ne#er! n matter )hat arms may clas" us! )hat m uth may kiss us! )hat heart may )arm us% Ne#er! ne#er! ne#er! ne#er! ne#er%

- l$e has all the "assi n )ith ut any $ the $ rmal means $ c nstraint and c mmunicati n )hich make it t lerable% He )as a S utherner by attitude but n t by traditi n% Thus he stretches himsel$ dramatically #er that abyss $ "ers nalism )hich is the negati n $ e#ery ci#ili6ed agreement and e$$ rt% The same can be said $ the $rantic "u""yism $ the early 0yr n% 0ut 0yr n had the energy and luck t achie#e a &uite im"ers nal " ise! $inallyA and - l$e might #ery )ell ha#e d ne the same! in time% 0y c ntrast! in Stark @ ung! em ti nal intensity $ cuses shar"ly in the sha"e $ a h use! a r m! r the m #ement $ hands% ,They )ere l ng hands! )hite and shining % % % % As a child I used t )atch her hands and used t think she lit the candles my merely t uching them%, There is n thing here $ r the analytical mind t sei6e n% Here is rather ,skill $ the interi r mind t $ashi n dignity )ith sha"es $ air%, ;nce the s cial symb l $ an interi r rder $ intense "ers nal li$e has been e# ked $ r c ntem"lati n! the )riter "asses n )ith ut c mment% Mr% @ ung=s dee" sym"athy )ith Italian s ciety 4 ne recalls his $ine a""reciati n $ >use5 is as natural as 0ish "=s $ r /rance r Andre) Lytle=s $ r S"ain% It is clear that >e S t ! the C n&uistad r in At the M n=s Inn! is n mere hist rical $igure but the symb l $ s me "ers nal and c ntem" rary "ressure9 ,-e )ent $ r days and )eeks at a time lacking any s ciety! and )hat )e had )as $ men $ ur )n calling! silent and c ntem"lati#e men gi#en at m ments t "assi nate acti n%, The teller $ tales like these may "r #ide a great deal $ c n#enti nal descri"ti n! as a Lytle r a /aulkner d es% >escri"ti n $ "hysical en#ir nment is a$ter all $ "rime im" rtance t the auth r $ "assi nate narrati#e )hether Sc tt r + e! - rds) rth in ,Michael!, r T)ain in Huckleberry /inn% It is a ma* r means $ c ntr lling em ti n res" nse! as the $irst "age $ A /are)ell t Arms illustrates% In S uthern )riting e(ternal nature is usually a ma* r act r r "layer in the narrati#e! as $ r e(am"le the heath in Hardy! the sea In C nrad! r the ri#er itsel$ in Huckleberry /inn% 0ut $ r all that! the S uthern st ryCteller takes a great deal $ r granted in his readers% He assumes a large st ck $ c mm n e("erience and a set $ basic attitudes )hich make the sur$ace sim"licity $ S uthern $icti n rather dece"ti#e% The sur$ace c m"le(ity $ Henry 8ames is less di$$icult in a )ay! because 8ames is $ re#er e("laining e#erything% ;ne has merely t be "atient% That is because his "e "le are elab rately m ti#ated characters! n t men $ "assi n% There is really n "arad ( in the $act that intensely sel$Canalytical and intr s"ecti#e "e "le are the nes $ r )h m endless acti n is the nly catharsis! "assi nate natures are n t at all sel$Canalytical yet seem t be br dingly c ntem"lati#e and la6y% In The 0east in the 8ungle 8ames has $inally this t say $ the li$eCl ng esthetic calculati ns $ 8 hn Marcher9 ,N "assi n had e#er t uched him % % % % He had seen utside $ his li$e! n t learned it )ithin! the )ay a ) man )as m urned )hen she had been l #ed $ r hersel$A % % % he had been the man $ his time! the man! t )h m n thing n earth )as t ha#e ha""ened%, In c ntrast! Car line 1 rd n=s Aleck Maury! S" rtsman says at the end $ his li$e9
,I sat there until nearly midnight and during th se $ ur r $i#e h urs I engaged! I imagine! in m re intr s"ecti n than in all the rest $ my li$e "ut t gether% I kne) suddenly )hat it )as I had li#ed by % % % % I had kn )n $r m the $irst that it )as all luckA I had g ne ab ut seeking it! )ith! as it )ere! the a#erted eyes $ a sa#age "raying t his g d % % % % >elight % % % I had li#ed by it $ r si(ty years% I kne) n ) )hat it )as I had al)ays $eared9 that this elati n! this delight by )hich I li#ed might g $r m me % % % % -ell! it had g ne and it might ne#er c me again % % % % -hen I a) ke in the m rning'and I belie#e this is the strangest thing that has e#er ha""ened t me'I had a "lan % % % % I ) uld set mysel$ de$inite "r blems % % % %,

BF

+assi n at an end! Aleck! as it )ere! bec mes a ,@ankee, #ernight% Tate re$ers t this s rt $ "lanned! l st li$e9 Think $ t m rr )% Make a $irm " stulate ;$ sim"licity in desire and act / unded n the best hy" thesesA >esire t eat secretly! al ne! lest Ritual c rru"t ur charity% The )h le hist ry $ this N rthern c n$usi n is in a line r s $ Anders n=s ,The 2gg,9 ,She )as a tall silent ) man )ith a l ng n se and tr ubled grey eyes% / r hersel$ she )anted n thing% / r /ather and mysel$ she )as incurably ambiti us%, A m re #ici usly disintegrating $ rmula is unimaginable% -hat has been said s $ar may ser#e as a means t get a reader int s me intelligible relati n t S uthern literature% H )e#er! it cann t "r "erly be said t be an intr ducti n t the numer us )riters themsel#es% The reas n $ r stressing )hat all S uthern )riters ha#e in c mm n! rather than the indi#idual n tes an idi ms! has been t dra) attenti n t the nature $ that ci#ili6ed traditi n in )hich they all share% That is )hy it may n t be amiss t c nclude these bser#ati ns by " inting ut s me $urther interests shared by S uthern )riters as result $ their "assi nate attitude t li$e% In n ne $ them is there any discernible e$$ rt t e#ade the #ery un"leasant limits and c nditi ns $ human li$e'ne#er any burking $ the $act $ e#il% +erha"s - l$e is! in this res"ect! least satis$act ry al all9
Health )as t be $ und in the steady stare $ the cats and d gs! r in the sm th #acant ch "s $ the "easant% 0ut he l ked n the $aces $ the l rds $ the earth'and he sa) them )asted and de# ured by the beauti$ul disease $ th ught and "assi n % % % % The creatures $ r mantic $icti n! the #ici us d ll $aces $ the m #ie ) men! the brutal idi t regularity $ the $aces in the ad#ertisements! and $aces $ the y ung c llege men and ) men! )ere stam"ed in a m uld $ enamelled #acancy! and became unclean t him%

The sense $ bel nging t a great chain $ "ers n and e#ents! "assi#e yet res" nsible! is e#ery)here in /aulkner9 ,I seem t ha#e been b rn int this ) rld )ith s $e) $athers that I ha#e t many br thers t utrage and shame )hile ali#e and hence t many descendants t be&ueath my little " rti n $ lust and harm t at death % % % %, Like)ise in 8 hn +eale 0ish "9 This is my bl d! my bl d that beats In blithe b ys= b dies And shall yet run 4; death:5 U" n a bright inhabited star% 2&ually in T% S% Stribling9 ,Thr ugh )hat bscure channels his bl d had $l )ed since that distant h ur in his $ather=s barn % % % % It )as like strangling a "yth n at night % % % the chain $ )r ngs and #i lences ut $ )hich his li$e had been m lded % % % %, ,0l d, is! $ c urse! a symb l as )ell as a $act in S uthern )riting% It is intensely related t the l yalty t hist rical $act! traditi n! $amily! name% As Cabell says9 ,% % % ne trait at least the children $ Lich$ield share in c mm n% -e are l yal% -e gi#e but nceA and )hen )e gi#e! )e gi#e all that )e ha#e%, Symb lically ass ciated )ith this "assi nate bl d l yalty in all S uthern $icti n g es its disease'the shad ) $ incest! the a#arice $ the a$$ecti ns! as St% Th mas calls it% -hile it may suggest great +h%>% " ssibilities! it is actually #ery c m"le( and! artistically! symb lical% In n instance is it sentimentally e("l ited! as in / rd! the dramatist% Rather! in Tate! Stribling! and /aulkner! it is incidental t the tragic $atality $ the larger theme% DI

Inse"arable $r m the "r $ und acce"tance $ the destiny $ ne=s bl d and kin g es a c ntem"lati n $ death )hich "er#ades all S uthern )riting% It g es al)ays )ith the "assi nate c ntem"lati n $ transient beauty! as in the light " ise $ Rans m=s ,0lue 1irls,9 / r I c uld tell y u a st ry )hich is trueA I kn ) a lady )ith a terrible t ngue! 0lear eyes $allen $r m blue! All her "er$ecti ns tarnished'and yet it is n t l ng Since she )as l #elier than any $ y u% The c n&uer r ) rm haunts Cabell=s 8urgen9
Nessus ta""ed )ith a $ re$inger u" n the back $ 8urgen=s hand% ,- rm=sCmeat: this is the destined $ d! d )hat y u )ill! $ small )hite ) rms% This by and by )ill be a struggling "ale c rru"ti n! like seething milk% That t is a hard saying! 8urgen% 0ut is a true saying%,

/inally! there is basic in any traditi n $ intellectual and s cial "assi n a cult $ $eminine beauty and elegance% A $eeling $ r the $ rmal! ci#ili6ing " )er $ the "assi nate a""rehensi n $ a styli6ed $eminine elegance! s b#i us in S uthern li$e and letters! stems $r m +lat ! bl ss ms in the tr ubad urs! >ante! and the Renaissance +lat nists! and is inse"arable $r m the c urtly c nce"t $ li$e% There is a str ng secular #ein in this traditi n! des"ite its a$$inity )ith s me $ rms $ Christian mystical e("ressi n! )hich )as e(cluded entirely $r m that branch $ sch lastic s"eculati n )hich $l urished in Ne) 2ngland% +erha"s n $urther e("lanati n $ the bearings $ this matter need be gi#en than t say that in this! as in s many things! S uthern )riters are at ne )ith @eats in his #isi n $ things9 The cl udC"ale unic rns! the eyes $ a&uamarine! The &ui#ering hal$Ccl sed eyelids! the rags $ cl ud r $ lace! ;r eyes that rage has brightened! arms it has made lean! 1i#e "lace t an indi$$erent multitude! gi#e "lace T bra6en ha)ks% N r sel$Cdelighting re#erie! N r hate $ )hat=s t c me! n r "ity $ r )hat=s g ne! N thing but the gri" $ cla)! and the eye=s c m"lacency! The innumerable clanging )ings that ha#e "ut ut the m n%

D1

2dgar + e=s Traditi n

+;2 IS MUCH in need $ an e#aluati n )hich )ill relate him t the American culture and " litics $ his day! $ r + e )as the nly American man $ letters in the nineteenth century )h dis"layed! une&ui# cally! a m de $ a)areness at nce American and c sm " litan% That is t say! + e $elt his time! but n ne the less )r te )ith a sense $ the "ast in his b nes% He b*ecti$ied the "athetic clea#ages and "ressures $ the age in a )h lly un"r #incial )ay% -hen he died in 1LDF there )as n )riter in 2ngland r America )h )as n t! in c m"aris n )ith him! e("l iting a merely l cal a)areness and a merely l cal res" nse t the "sych l gical tensi ns $ the time% H )e#er! the rgani6ati n $ his sensibility! )ith its disl cati ns and inade&uacies! is ne#er deri#ati#e but authentic and $irsthand% Thus he and 0yr n are in the same traditi n! but he is n t 0yr nic% The "r blem here is n t t e#aluate + e=s ) rk in relati n t the $ten #ital! but al)ays "r #incial! Ne) 2ngland "r ducts% 0ut it is e#ident that + e=s )riting had a $itness! an immediacy $ im"act! and a rele#ance t 2ur "ean c nsci usness )h lly unlike that $ 2mers n! Ha)th rne! r e#en Henry 8ames% Indeed! e#erything ab ut + e 4including his strikingly symb lic "ri#ate li$e5 )as strictly rele#ant t the "r blems $ his age% And this $aculty $ r rele#ance c n$ers n him that air $ in$allible aesthetic e$$iciency )hich makes integral the man and the )riter% He has n l se ends% He le$t n un$inished e("eriments% He uttered himsel$% The eruditi n $ L )ell and L ng$ell ) )as n t his! but neither did he "artake $ their #agueness and uneasy "r $ess rial eclecticism% They read and ruminated )hile he )as sei6ing )ith the gust $ "reC rdained certitude n $acts! symb ls! images! and ideas )hich became the #ehicles $ his sensibility% H )e#er! + e=s e&ui"ment )as $ar $r m $limsy% He read )idely! and )ith the intensity $ the cra$tsman% M re #er! he had the cra$tsman=s c ntem"t $ r #erbiage mas&uerading as e("ressi n% + e=s literary criticism )as the best $ his time in America! sim"ly because his )n artistic disci"line had gi#en him an in$allible eye and ear $ r )hate#er had been b rn $ a sincere and #ital sensibility in immediate c ntact )ith its )n age% Mr% Her#ey Allen says that time has c n$irmed all $ + e=s *udgments sa#e his c ndemnati n $ Carlyle% N thing! h )e#er! c uld be m re t + e=s credit 4and in this ne can see the nature $ the su"eri rity he en* yed #er 2mers n5 than his easy "enetrati n int the "r #incial c n$usi ns and #erC em"hasis $ the great Cal#inistic mystag gue% 0eside + e! 2mers n is in many )ays a mere l cal sage% / r + e=s t nes and accents are th se $ a man c nsci us $ " ssessing a 2ur "ean and c sm " litan heritage% + e cann t be underst d a"art $r m the great 0yr nic traditi n 4)hich e(tends at least back t Cer#antes5 $ the arist cratic rebel $ighting $ r human #alues in a subChuman cha s $ indiscriminate a""etite% It is n mere accident that + e! like 0yr n! ) n a 2ur "ean rec gniti n denied t such a great but aut chth n us sensibility as - rds) rth=s% I "r " se here t suggest h ) + e=s achie#ements are t be underst d in the light $ a great traditi n $ li$e and letters )hich he deri#ed $r m the S uth $ his day% This traditi n has been a c ntinu us $ rce in 2ur "ean la)! letters! and " litics $r m the time $ the 1reek s "hists% It is m st c n#eniently re$erred t as the Cier nian ideal! since Cicer ga#e it t St% Augustine and St% 8er me! )h in turn sa) t it that it has ne#er ceased t in$luence -estern s ciety% The Cicer nian ideals as e("ressed in the >e ;rat re r in St% Augustine=s >e > ctrina Christiana is the ideal $ rati nal man reaching his n blest attainment in the e("ressi n $ an el &uent )isd m% Necessary ste"s in the attainment $ this ideal are care$ul drill in the " ets $ ll )ed by a "r gram $ encycl "edic sc "e directed t the $ rensic end $ " litical " )er% Thus! the d ctus rat r is! e("licitly! Cicer =s s "histic #ersi n $ +lat =s "hil s "herCking% This ideal became the basis $ r hundreds $ manuals )ritten by el &uent sch lars $ r the educati n $ m narchs $r m the $i$th century thr ugh 8 hn $ Salisbury and 7incent $ 0eau#ais! t the $am us treatises $ D?

2rasmus and Castigli ne% 4The +rince $ Machia#elli stems $r m a t tally distinct traditi n $ sch lastic s"eculati n! th ugh it still tends t be c n$used )ith Cicer nian traditi n%5 The encycl "edic ideal $ ,Renaissance man, )as c nsci usly and e("licitly that $ Cicer =s rat r! )hether e(em"li$ied in a $ urteenthCcentury Italian humanist! r a si(teenthCcentury S"enser! Sidney! r in Shakes"eare=s Hamlet r Henry 7% This meant that the ne) gentry )ere educated al ng the arist craticC$ rensic lines $ Cicer =s >e ;rat re! as anyb dy can determine $r m c nsidering the ingredients $ gentlemanly educati n in any 2ur "ean c untry $ the si(teenth century% S $ar as America is c ncerned! this )as a $act $ decisi#e im" rtance! since 7irginia! and the S uth in general! )as t recei#e the "ermanent stam" $ this Cicer nian ideal% This is the highly "ractical and gentlemanly ideal in )hich kn )ledge and acti n are sub rdinated t a " litical g d% It is thus n accident that the creati#e " litical $igures $ American li$e ha#e been m lded in the S uth% -hether ne c nsiders 8e$$ers n r Linc ln! ne is c n$r nted )ith a mind arist cratic! legalistic! encycl "edic! $ rensic! habitually e("ressing itsel$ in the m de $ an el &uent )isd m% This is a $act $ the utm st rele#ance t the understanding $ + e! as )e shall see% T $ cus the $acts ab ut + e! it is necessary t understand a traditi n )h lly alien and re"ugnant t him! namely that $ Ne) 2ngland% The reader $ Mr% +erry Miller=s The Ne) 2ngland Mind )ill kn ) )hat is meant )hen it is said that Ne) 2ngland is in the sch lastic traditi n! and "r $ undly "" sed t ,humanism%, 0rie$ly! the the cratic $ unders $ Har#ard and rulers $ Ne) 2ngland )ere Cal#inist di#ines! $ully trained in the s"eculati#e the l gy )hich had arisen $ r the $irst time in the t)el$th century the "r duct $ that dialectical meth d in the l gy )hich is rightly ass ciated )ith +eter Abelard% Unlike Luther and many 2nglish +r testants! Cal#in and his $ ll )ers )ere sch lmen! "" sed t the ld the l gy $ the /athers )hich 2rasmus and humanistCCicer nians had br ught back t general attenti n a$ter the c ntinu us "red minance $ sch lastic the l gy since the t)el$th century% T the humanists n b dy c uld be a true inter"reter $ Scri"ture! a true e(" nent $ the "hil s "hi Christi! )h had n t had a $ull classical training% S Cath lic and +r testant sch lmen alike )ere! $ r these men! the ,barbarians!, the ,1 ths $ the S rb nne!, c rru"ting )ith ,m dernistic, trash 4the sch lmen )ere called m derni $r m the $irst5 the el &uent "iety and )isd m $ the /athers% 4The /athers )ere called the ,ancients, r anti&ui the l gi%51 It need hardly be said that this alignment $ traditi n thr )s a startlingly #i#id light n the relati ns bet)een learning and religi n in the si(teenth century! )hich subse&uent stages $ the riginal &uarrel ha#e bscured% In $act! it means n thing less than this9 that $r m +etrarch t Ramus the #i lent &uarrels ab ut the relati#e claim $ di$$erent s rts $ learning riginated in the c n$licting claims $ grammar and dialectic t be the e(clusi#e meth d in the l gy% The sectarian $ gs )hich! $r m the beginning! in# l#ed the basic intellectual struggles $ the Renaissance! ha#e like)ise "re#ented American hist rians $r m seeing clearly the m st im" rtant intellectual $act ab ut America the $act that! ge gra"hically se"arated $ r the $irst time in their ageC ld struggle! there e(ist! "r $ undly entrenched in this c untry! the t) radically "" sed intellectual traditi ns )hich ha#e been )arring since S crates turned dialectics against the rhet ric $ his S "hist teachers% S crates turned $r m rhet ric t dialectics! $r m $ rensics t s"eculati n and de$initi n! raising the issue )hich "itted +lat and Arist tle against their $ rmidable ri#al Is crates! and )hich "itted the $ rensic Cicer against Carneades and the St ics% The same &uarrel as t )hether grammar and rhet ric! n the ne hand! r dialectics! n the ther! sh uld ha#e "recedence in rgani6ing the hierarchy $ kn )ledge is the key t understanding the Renaissance $r m the t)el$th t the se#enteenth centuries% 8ust )hen the &uarrel! b th )ithin the Cath lic Church and utside it! )as reaching its term! re"resentati#es $ b th "arties in the &uarrel migrated t America% The sch lmen )ent t Ne) 2ngland! the &uasiChumanist gentry t 7irginia% 4At this time! m re #er! the Anglican Church had! )ith the accessi n $ the "atristic DB

and Cicer nian 8ames I! suddenly thr )n its )eight against the Cal#inist "arty! in $a# r $ the el &uent di#ines $ humanist bent% That is )hy Andre)es and > nne )ere able t get r yal a""r #al $ r their "atristic rhet ric and grammatical the l gy% Anyh )! this $act c ntributed indirectly t directing S uthern educati n al ng classicalCCicer nian lines%5 Har#ard! then! riginated as a little S rb nne! )here in 1HGI the sch lastic meth ds $ ;ckham and Cal#in! as streamlined by +etrus Ramus! )ere the sta"le $ educati n% L gic a dialectics )ere the basis $ the l gical meth d! as $ e#erything else at Har#ard% Here rhet ric )as taught! n t $ r el &uence! but in rder t teach the y ung seminarian h ) t rub $$ the c smetic tr "es $ Scri"ture be$ re g ing t ) rk n the d ctrine )ith dialectical dich t mies% Ramus taught a utilitarian l gic $ r )hich he mad the same claims as "ragmatists d $ r ,scienti$ic meth d%, In $act! +eirce! 8ames and >e)ey c uld ne#er ha#e been heard $ had they n t been nurtured in the S"eculati#e traditi n $ the sch lastic the l gians Cal#in and Ramus%? This hel"s greatly t e("lain a m st "u66ling $act namely! that Ne) 2nglanders ha#e $elt a "erennial c ngeniality $ r ne strand $ /rench culture% 4This is als true $ Sc tsmen! and $ r the same reas ns%5 /rench uni#ersities! that is t say! sa) t it that "art $ /rance remained sch lastic% And >escartes is unthinkable )ith ut the Sch lmen 4es"ecially the ;ckhamists5! as +ierre >uhem and 2tienne 1ils n ha#e dem nstrated% Thus! n t in s"ite $ Cal#inism but because $ it! the Ne) 2nglander $inds himsel$ able t c mmunicate )ith "art $ 2ur "ean culture% It is n t ther)ise that )e can acc unt $ r that rich cr ssC$ertili6ati n $ seemingly distinct cultures! )hich ccurred )hen Henry 8ames and T% S% 2li t came int c ntact )ith /rance% Su"er$icially! h )e#er! there c uld be n greater an maly than that $ t) "r #incial +uritans returning 2nglish letters t the main channels $ 2ur "ean culture% 0ut )hat $ + e=s a$$inities )ith /rance. I$ the Cal#inistic! sch lastic! and academic Ne) 2nglander has natural r ts in the Cartesian traditi ns $ academic /rance! s has the Cicer nian S uth maintained relati ns )ith Cicer nian and encycl "edist /rance% / r ne main current $ /rench letters in the se#enteenth century is that $ Cicer an el &uent )isd m " litically ins"ired! and based n uni#ersal learning% -hether it is 0 ssuet and C rneille r 7 ltaire and >ider t! ne has t deal )ith the $ rensic! " litical el &uence $ a great traditi n )h se )ellC de$ined r ts can easily be e(amined in the sch ls $ that age% Thus! the American S uth naturally $inds a c ngenial milieu in /rance $ the eighteenth century the /rance $ the encycl "edists )h rebelled against >escartes% These men "r claimed the Cicer nian rigins $ their arist cratic re"ublicanism in the #ery name they bear% And 2rasmus! M re! 0ac n! S)i$t! 0 lingbr ke! 0urke! r 7 ltaire ) uld ha#e alike a""r #ed the linguistic and $ rensic "r gram )hich 8e$$ers n dre) u" $ r his uni#ersity% + e must h ) be $ cused in relati n t this dich t my $ 2ur "ean and American culture% Thus! merely t menti n The Aut crat at the 0reak$ast Table is t summ n u" a ty"e $ man and a ty"e $ )riting )hich are antithetical t + e=s m de $ being% The Ne) 2ngland eth se naturally $inds its highest le#el $ e("ressi n in the sch lastic man! and the result is that the Ne) 2ngland "r $ess r is aut cratic% There is n s cial li$e c Ce(tensi#e )ith him! n r ne able t emb dy and critici6e his th ught and acti ns% 0r ught u" amidst this s cial nudity and "edag gical earnestness! T% S% 2li t c n$r nted the situati n directly in ,Traditi n and the Indi#idual Talent%, Here it )as that he e("l ded the heresy $ ,sel$Ce("ressi n!, $ ,message!, and $ artistic is lati n and $utility! )hich had $ und such c ngenial s il in Ne) 2ngland% ;n the ther hand! #i#idly a)are $ the de$ects $ his immediate s cial en#ir nment! + e is yet naturally and una$$ectedly c sm " litan% 0ecause he underst d "r $ undly the nature $ his artistic de"endence n that s ciety! he )as its #ig r us and unremitting critic! scrutini6ing its dress! its manners! its reading! its $urniture and scienceA and he utili6ed these things as the basic materials $ his "r se% / r he is the master $ a "r se )h se lucidity and resilience are unmistakably )ing t s ciety in )hich g d talk is c mm n% DD

All his li$e + e $ ught )ith el &uence and #ersatility $ learning t maintain seri us standards in current literature! t e(tend the sc "e $ American letters! and t banish "ar chial habits $ mind% T the end he maintained the need and "racticality $ a critical re#ie) )hich ) uld trans$ rm the taste $ s ciety at large% Thus! unlike the Ne) 2ngland academicians and recluses! + e )as the man $ letters in s ciety% He )as n t "r $ess rial but "r $essi nal in the $ rensic traditi n $ >r% 8 hns n and Macaulay% This is n t the "lace in )hich t "r ceed t a care$ul study $ + e=s )ritings in relati n t his traditi n% H )e#er! the kind $ im" rtance )hich essentially s cial and " litical "r blems ha#e in an understanding $ his ) rk must be indicated brie$ly% / r it )as $r m the e("erience $ the 7irginia $ his day + e )as able t "r *ect th se symb ls $ alienati n and inner c n$lict )hich ) n the immediate assent $ 0audelaire himsel$% 40audelaire )as als an arist cratic dandy! and his de# ti n t Sil#er Age and "atristic rhet ric has im"licati ns )hich relate him decisi#ely t the Cicer nian traditi n )hich has been described%5 That 0audelaire sh uld ha#e hailed + e as he did has a meaning t tally unlike that )hich bel ngs t the rec gniti n $ 2mers n by Carlyle% T a""reciate the $ull signi$icance $ this e#ent remained $ r us t disc #er t dayA $ r 2nglish " etry had t )ait an ther se#enty years $ r T% S% 2li t $inally t inc r" rate 0audelaire=s sensibility and el &uence% N m re striking testim ny c uld be asked $ r + e=s central l cati n 2ur "ean traditi n% And yet he ) n that "lace by the unc m"r mising integrity )ith )hich he dealt )ith his l cal American e("erience% -hile the Ne) 2ngland d ns "rimly turned the "ages $ +lat and 0uddha beside a teaCc 6y! and )hile 0r )ning and Tennys n )ere creating a "ar chial $ g $ r the 2nglish mind t rela( in! + e ne#er l st c ntact )ith the terrible "ath s $ his time% C e#ally )ith 0audelaire! and l ng be$ re C nrad and 2li t! he e("l red the heart $ darkness% -ithin this "ers"ecti#e $ dee"Clying cultural dich t my it bec mes " ssible $ r the critic t sh ) that ,the heart $ darkness, $ r 0yr n! 0audelaire! and + e is &uite distinct $r m )hat it is $ r Ha)th rne and Mel#ille% 2#il is a $act! "erha"s the m st im" rtant $act! in the Ne) 2ngland c nsci usness% 0ut the e#il )hich + e and 0audelaire e("erienced had #ery di$$erent r ts $r m that $ the N rth% It is the e#il )hich led 0yr n t e# ke endless Satanic her es as b*ecti#e c rrelati#es in his " ems! the e#il! n t $ Cal#inistic de"ra#ity! but $ the s"lit man and the s"lit ci#ili6ati n% The "sych l gical e("l rati n $ uneasy c nscience as carried n by Ha)th rne r Mel#ille c uld nly regain c ntact )ith 2ur "ean c nsci usness a$ter 8ames and 2li t had #isited the $ unts $ /rench Culture% 0ut + e li#ed in a c mmunity )hich had ne#er breached its relati n )ith the riginal traditi ns $ its culture% And let us remember that these traditi ns )ere! l ng be$ re the si(teenth century! str ngly anti"athetic t th se )hich )ere br ught t Ne) 2ngland% C nsidering this cultural dich t my n ) in a ne) "ers"ecti#e! it is " ssible t a""r ach e#en cl ser t a s luti n $ a ma* r + e "r blem9 -hy is + e essentially "re ccu"ied )ith symb ls and situati ns $ h rr r and alienati n. ;r it can be "ut this )ay9 -hy did the s"lit c nsci usness $ an arist craticCseigneurial s ciety e("ress itsel$ in symb ls $ Satanism! sadistic h rr r! $ $ear! #i lence! and des lati n. 0yr n! 0audelaire! and + e are here t gether in a literary traditi n )hich stretches back at least t Cer#antes! and )hich is much ali#e t day! e#en in such degenerate $ rms as crime $icti n )ith its! signi$icantly! dandi$ied sleuths% -ith ut c nsidering C rneille and Racine! the matter is b#i us en ugh in Milt n=s Satan! and e#en m re in the cult $ literary diab lism ass ciated )ith that Satan in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries% The issues are strikingly de$ined by Mar#ell in his H ratian ;de! )here he e("lains h ) the arist cratic ideals $ n ble being ha#e been s)e"t aside by the #ulgar Cr m)ell! )h se genius is $ r destructi#e acti n rather than $ r harm ny $ th ught and $eeling% Tradesman Richards n $$ers an b#i us incarnati n $ the same c n$lict in his Clarissa Harl )e% This time it is $r m the ,Cr m)ellian, " int $ #ie)% Thus L #elace! the "r t ty"e $ the arist cratic #illain! "r #ides us )ith the "attern $ the 0yr nic her and the #illain $ DG

7ict rian mel drama! t say n thing $ >u"in! Sherl ck H lmes! L rd +eter -imsey! Rhett 0utler! and the H lly) d "anthe n% The characteristic " se is that $ the man ,beauti$ul but damned!, the man )h sc rns the ign ble c n#enti ns and "etty! calculating bustle $ c mmercial s ciety% This man is )h lly alienated $r m s ciety! n ne hand! and $eared and admired by the c mmercial members $ s ciety! n the ther hand% The entire c n$lict is "er$ectly dramati6ed in the relati ns bet)een 2dgar + e and his guardian! 8 hn Allan% 8 hn Allan secretly admired + e &uite as much as Richards n re#ered L #elace% Allan des"ised himsel$ in the "resence $ + e! and + e in turn "itied and sc rned him% A $igure $ great interest! )h can best be seen in relati n t )hat has here been said $ + e! is -hitman% Many "e "le ha#e mistaken him $ r an ther #ariety $ Th reau r the n ble sa#age $ the $r ntier% Actually! as Sidney Lanier #ery clearly sa) and e("lained l ng ag ! -hitman is an in#erted 0yr nic dandy% His traditi n is that $ the arist cratic and " litical S uth% He has n thing in c mm n )ith the d ns $ Ne) 2ngland% The in#erted 0yr nic dandyism $ -hitman is e#ident en ugh as s n as ne a""lies the ci"her $ re#ersal% +ut uncritical embrace $ all s cial $acts in "lace $ $astidi us sc rn and )ithdra)al% +ut " se $ n ble and mni# r us y kel $ r " se $ satiated aestheticism $ the ) rldling% +ut t nes $ ,barbaric ya)" #er the r $s $ the ) rld, $ r the elegant sc rn $ a 0yr nic her e(c riating mankind $r m a midnight crag% +ut b ister us ad lescent athleticism $ r the ) rldC)eary $laneur! and the "attern is c m"lete% That is )hy -hitman )as s eagerly acce"ted by the aesthetes )h had nly t make ne sim"le ad*ustment that $ re#ersal in rder t $raterni6e )ith him% +erha"s this als e("lains his #ery c nsiderable $ailure t c n#ince us $ his )n sincerity% He is $au( nai$% He is $ten like a man $la""ing his arms and stam"ing his $eet t rest re circulati n% M re im" rtant than this im"lied #aluati n is the $act that America=s " litical " et bel ngs t the arist cratic S uthern traditi n! a re"resentati#e $ the Cicer nian and $ rensic ideal $ el &uent )isd m% -ith ut at "resent "ursuing this theme $urther! it can be maintained that )hereas + e=s art is " litical! in that its #ehicle and dramatic rgani6ati n c ncern th se symb ls )hich e("ress a basic s"lit in s ciety and "ers nality! the art $ Ha)th rne! Mel#ille! and 8ames is )h lly n nC " litical in its c ncern )ith the lacerati n $ merely indi#idual c nscience e#en )hen this c nscience is ty"ical $ a certain ty"e $ c mmunity% / r the $act )hich c n$r nts this indi#idual c nscience is! $inally! n t " litical disl cati n but the the l gical "r blem $ m ral de"ri#ati n% >istinct $r m this ty"e! and )ithin the c rdinates $ a th r ughly rati nal sensibility! + e br ught m rbidity int $ cus! ga#e it manageable "r " rti ns! held it u"! n t $ r emulati n! but $ r c ntem"lati n% In his )n $ashi n! then! + e had as great a ) rking $aith in ci#ili6ati n as 8e$$ers n himsel$! and by de$ining and "r *ecting the inner em ti nal drama $ his time he "r bably did as much as 8e$$ers n t energi6e American li$e% / r there is intense #itality in his ,m rbidity%, N;T2S 1 The best "ublished acc unt $ the ancient &uarrel bet)een the grammatical and dialectical meth ds in the l gy is in R% +% Mc<e n=s "a"er! ,Renaissance and Meth d!, Studies in the Hist ry $ Ideas! # l% III% ? R% M% -ea#er 4,The ;lder Religi usness in the S uth!, Se)anee Re#ie)! S"ring! 1FDB5 "r #ides a g d deal $ incidental d cumentati n $ r the "resent "a"er% He c ntrasts the s"eculati#e! Ne) 2ngland the l gy )ith the "ractical! ," litical, "iety $ the S uth% The ) rk $ -erner S mbart! n the ec n mic "lane! makes the same " int9 Sch lastic "hil s "hy and the l gy "r #ided the indis"ensable #ie)" int and techn l gical abstracti n )hich br ught ab ut the rise $ industrial ca"italism% The S uthern resistance t techn l gy and industry is DH

inherent! *ust as the N rthern "assi n $ r machinery and bureaucracy is inherent in ageC ld but di#ergent intellectual traditi ns% H% 8% / rd 4Rise and 1r )th $ American + litics! ""% 1D1C1D?5 makes the same c ntrast bet)een " litical #ie)s $ N rth and S uth%

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