The reference in my title is to Helen of Troy, from a line in Marlowe's Faust. While Faust (whoever's it may be) is a post in itself, this particular post is about Helen and what she stands for, namely, Beauty (with a capital B). Why Helen? Helen is the inspiration for a culture. The Greeks are known as Hellenic for a reason. Although ancient Greece rules no more, it continues to inspire us (speaking from a strictly eurocentric point of view, which is fine considering that is my descent). Ancient Greece is the original classic, and since they were inspired by Beauty in all that they did, there must be something to it.
There is a reason why we human beings are creative, striving for Beauty. We are always striving to express ourselves and certainly art in all its forms is our means. According to Keats (Ode on a Grecian Urn), "Beauty is truth, truth beauty, --that is all/ Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." Dickinson also wrote in I Died for Beauty "'For beauty,' I replied./'And I for truth, -the two are one." Aldous Huxley also stated that "after silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressable is music." Within our artistic endeavors lies a deeper meaning, regardless of its intentionality.
How does this Truth sneak into our endeavors? Part of it is how we are merely expressing that which has already existed for centuries as part of our culture. We are not only inspired by ancient civilisations but unconsciously socialised to make their Truths a part of us. Moreover, art acts as therapy as our artistic struggles mirror our struggles with the world around us. Our attempts to make sense of the world are expressed as art.
Fundamentally though, creative endeavors are the answer to our greatest fear: death. When we create something truly worthwhile, expressing enduring truths about the world, we are creating something that will outlast even ourselves. It is through these creative endeavors that we can continue to dialogue with those who are no longer physically with us and seek immortality for ourselves.
For further reading: Rollo May's Courage to Create and My Quest for Beauty
2 comments:
Have you noticed that everything you discuss comes down to death and dying?
Isn't death and dying all there is in the end? I know it sounds depressing, but really, I think talking about death is celebrating life. If we didn't have death, we wouldn't have life. By recognising the importance of death I feel I am making a positive statement about how I choose to live.
"As you struggle with the mystery of your death, you will discover the meaning of your life." -M. Scott Peck [Further Down the Road Less Travelled]
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