Jacques Barzun, Cultural historian and critic (1980)
a day ago
- Jacques Barzun dedicated his career to bringing order to the arts and clarifying great ideas for others.
- He criticizes the modern 'credentials society' for valuing specialized diplomas over general intelligence and adaptability.
- Modern art, according to Barzun, has taken on a destructive role, using shock and parody to break past artistic conventions and teach self-consciousness.
- Barzun identifies self-consciousness as a disease of the age, undermining courage and leading to anti-heroes.
- He sees potential in electronic music to develop new forms genuinely connected to human feeling, but finds little freshness elsewhere.
- Barzun argues that art should not be expected to serve institutional functions like mirroring society; artists should be free to create without imposed demands.