Butterflies and Wheels

Possibly the Greatest Reason for attending a Carnival of Blogs is the inevitable discovery of Intelligent Beauty. That is what I've found in Butterflies and Wheels. Masterfully rendered by two staff members of the The Philosopher's Magazine (though presumably not in any association with said periodical,) B&W examines, deciphers and, sometimes, lampoons modern attempts at Reason in print.

A recent post by Ophelia (Jerry is associate ed.) exposes us to a treatise on the importance of Literature as Art via one Howard Jacobson.

After reading her post, I couldn't wait to read Jacobson's essay and then blog it. Here is a small sample of Ophelia's style (her comment first - then its subject:)

Now that is really interesting. 'No comedy, don't forget, it messes up the concentration. Focus on the throbbing genitalia, and leave the wit at home.'

The isolation of comedy from everything else we do is symptomatic of this. We are right to shrink from the very idea of a "funny" book. There should be no such genre. We should expect laughter to be integral to the business of being serious. We are back in a new dark age of the imagination. We read to sleep.

"The dark age of the imagination" indeed!

It is always my style and intention to have a sense of humor in my writing. On even the most severe or horrific topic I believe a modicum of humor must somehow be incorporated in order to alleviate the sterile nature of unattached observation which necessarily takes away the relevance to our personality and/or culture of that which is describe or enumerated.Einstein's Relativity should never be confused with relativism, though it explains the possibility of the propensity to swell unreasonably at times. (Note that I LAUGH vigorously at those who decry alliteration! Ha! LOL!)

One of the harshest and silliest complaints of many a theist about materialism is that it is nihilist and bleak, without hope or meaning. Balderdash! Poppycock!! BullShit!!! LOL! Materialism and Objectivism are both prime and functional suppliers of a realistic and astonishing joi de vive! Whilst the classic Randian version of Objectivism may indeed come out harsh and unconcerned for the welfare of one's society, it nevertheless sets a standard of achievement that, without humor, is not only impossible achieve, but is simply undesirable. Life on this planet, and assuredly where ever our silly but magnificent species may eventually roam, is every shade of gray; every nuance of the spectrum; every possible sensation that can be experienced. It is full and wonderful and to leave out any aspect de riguer is to shortchange one's self and one's audience.

Ophelia's review of Jacobson's essay obviously struck a chord with me and I hope, not only that you've enjoyed my manner of sharing that melody, but that you will enjoy perusing Butterflies and Wheels as well.

Adieu