1-medium is the message

8/12/2019 1-Medium is the Message

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Understanding Media by

MARSHALL MCLUHAN

1/The Medium Is the Message

In a culture like urs! lng accustmed t s"litting and di#iding all things as a means $ cntrl!

it is smetimes a bit $ shck t be reminded that! in "eratinal and "ractical $act! the medium is

the message% This is merely t say that the "ersnal and scial cnse&uences $ any medium'

that is! $ any e(tensin $ ursel#es'result $rm the ne) scale that is intrduced int ur

a$$airs by each e(tensin $ ursel#es! r by any ne) technlgy% Thus! )ith autmatin! $r e(am"le! the ne) "atterns $ human assciatin tend t eliminate *bs! it is true% That is the

negati#e result% +siti#ely! autmatin creates rles $r "e"le! )hich is t say de"th $

in#l#ement in their )rk and human assciatin that ur "receding mechanical technlgy had

destryed% Many "e"le )uld be dis"sed t say that it )as nt 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 relatins t ne anther and t ursel#es! it mattered nt in the least )hether it turned

ut crn$lakes r Cadillacs% The restructuring $ human )rk and assciatin )as sha"ed by thetechni&ue $ $ragmentatin that is the essence $ machine technlgy% The essence $ autmatin

technlgy 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 relatinshi"s%

The instance $ the electric light may "r#e illuminating in this cnnectin% The electric light is

"ure in$rmatin% It is a medium )ithut a message! as it )ere! unless it is used t s"ell ut sme

#erbal ad r name% This $act! characteristic $ all media! means that the ,cntent, $ any mediumis al)ays anther medium% The cntent $ )riting is s"eech! *ust as the )ritten )rd is the

cntent $ "rint! and "rint is the cntent $ the telegra"h% I$ it is asked! ,-hat is the cntent $

s"eech.!, it is necessary t say! ,It is an actual "rcess $ thught! )hich is in itsel$ nn#erbal%,An abstract "ainting re"resents direct mani$estatin $ creati#e thught "rcesses as they might

a""ear in cm"uter designs% -hat )e are cnsidering here! h)e#er! are the "sychic and scial

cnse&uences $ the designs r "atterns as they am"li$y r accelerate e(isting "rcesses% r the

,message, $ any medium r technlgy is the change $ scale r "ace r "attern that it

intrduces int human a$$airs% The rail)ay did nt intrduce m#ement r trans"rtatin r

)heel r rad int human sciety! but it accelerated and enlarged the scale $ "re#ius human

$unctins! creating ttally ne) kinds $ cities and ne) kinds $ )rk and leisure% This ha""ened

)hether the rail)ay $unctined in a tr"ical r a nrthern en#irnment! and is &uite inde"endent$ the $reight r cntent $ the rail)ay medium% The air"lane! n the ther hand! by accelerating

the rate $ trans"rtatin! tends t dissl#e the rail)ay $rm $ city! "litics! and assciatin!

&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 culd be argued that these acti#ities are in sme )ay the

,cntent, $ the electric light! since they culd nt e(ist )ithut the electric light% This $act

merely underlines the "int that ,the medium is the message, because it is the medium that

sha"es and cntrls the scale and $rm $ human assciatin and actin% The cntent r uses $ such media are as di#erse as they are ine$$ectual in sha"ing the $rm $ human assciatin%

Indeed! it is nly t ty"ical that the ,cntent, $ any medium blinds us t the character $ the

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medium% It is nly tday that industries ha#e becme a)are $ the #arius kinds $ business in

)hich they are engaged% -hen I0M disc#ered that it )as nt in the business $ making $$ice

e&ui"ment r business machines! but that it )as in the business $ "rcessing in$rmatin! then it began t na#igate )ith clear #isin% The eneral 2lectric Cm"any makes a cnsiderable "rtin

$ its "r$its $rm electric light bulbs and lighting systems% It has nt yet disc#ered that! &uite as

much as A%T%3T%! it is in the business $ m#ing in$rmatin% The electric light esca"es attentin

as a cmmunicatin medium *ust because it has n ,cntent%, And this makes it an in#aluableinstance $ h) "e"le $ail t study media at all% r it is nt till the electric light is used t s"ell

ut sme brand name that it is nticed as a medium% Then it is nt the light but the ,cntent, 4r

)hat is really anther medium5 that is nticed% The message $ the electric light is like themessage $ electric ")er in industry! ttally radical! "er#asi#e! and decentrali6ed% r electric

light and ")er are se"arate $rm their uses! yet they eliminate time and s"ace $actrs in human

assciatin e(actly as d radi! telegra"h! tele"hne! and T7! creating in#l#ement in de"th% A

$airly cm"lete handbk $r studying the e(tensins $ man culd be made u" $rm selectins

$rm Shakes"eare% Sme might &uibble abut )hether r nt he )as re$erring t T7 in these

$amiliar lines $rm Rme and 8uliet9

0ut s$t: )hat light thrugh ynder )ind) breaks.

It s"eaks! and yet says nthing%

In ;thell! )hich! as much as <ing Lear! is cncerned )ith the trment $ "e"le trans$rmed by

illusins! there are these lines that bes"eak Shakes"eare=s intuitin $ the trans$rming ")ers $

ne) media9

Is there nt charms

0y )hich the "r"erty $ yuth and maidhd

May be abus=d.

Ha#e yu nt read Rderig!

;$ sme such thing.

In Shakes"eare=s Trilus and Cressida! )hich is almst cm"letely de#ted t bth a "sychic and

scial study $ cmmunicatin! Shakes"eare states his a)areness that true scial and "litical

na#igatin de"end u"n antici"ating the cnse&uences $ inn#atin9

The "r#idence that=s in a )atch$ul state

<n)s almst e#ery grain $ +lutus= gld!

inds bttm in the uncm"rehensi#e dee"s!

<ee"s "lace )ith thught! and almst like the gds

>es thughts un#eil in their dumb cradles%

The Increasing a)areness $ the actin $ media! &uite inde"endently $ their ,cntent, r "rgramming! )as indicated in the annyed and annymus stan6a9

In mdern thught! 4i$ nt in $act5

Nthing is that desn=t act!

S that is reckned )isdm )hich

>escribes the scratch but nt the itch%

The same kind $ ttal! cn$iguratinal a)areness that re#eals )hy the medium is scially themessage has ccurred in the mst recent and radical medical theries% In his Stress $ Li$e! Hans

Selye tells $ the dismay $ a research clleague n hearing $ Selye=s thery9

-hen he sa) me thus launched n yet anther enra"tured descri"tin $ )hat I had

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bser#ed in animals treated )ith this r that im"ure! t(ic material! he lked at me

)ith des"erately sad eyes and said in b#ius des"air9 ,0ut Selye! try t reali6e )hat

yu are ding be$re it is t late: @u ha#e n) decided t s"end yur entire li$estudying the "harmaclgy $ dirt:, 4Hans Selye! The Stress $ Li$e5

As Selye deals )ith the ttal en#irnmental situatin in his ,stress, thery $ disease! s the

latest a""rach t media study cnsiders nt nly the ,cntent, but the medium and the culturalmatri( )ithin )hich the "articular medium "erates% The lder una)areness $ the "sychic andscial e$$ects $ media can be illustrated $rm almst any $ the cn#entinal "rnuncements%

In acce"ting an hnrary degree $rm the Uni#ersity $ Ntre >ame a $e) years ag! eneral

>a#id Sarn$$ made this statement9 ,-e are t "rne t make technlgical instruments thesca"egats $r the sins $ thse )h )ield them% The "rducts $ mdern science are nt in

themsel#es gd r bad it is the )ay they are used that determines their #alue%, That is the #ice

$ the current smnambulism% Su""se )e )ere t say! ,A""le "ie is in itsel$ neither gd nr

bad it is the )ay it is used that determines it #alue%, ;r! ,The small"( #irus is in itsel$ neither

gd nr bad it is the )ay it is used that determines its #alue%, Again! ,irearms are in

themsel#es neither gd nr bad it is the )ay they are used that determines their #alue%, That is!

i$ the slugs reach the right "e"le $irearms are gd% I$ the T7 tube $ires the right ammunitin atthe right "e"le it is gd% I am nt being "er#erse% There is sim"ly nthing in the Sarn$$

statement that )ill bear scrutiny! $r it ignres the nature $ the medium! $ any and all media! in

the true Narcissus style $ ne hy"nti6ed by the am"utatin and e(tensin $ his )n being in a

ne) technical $rm% eneral Sarn$$ )ent n t e("lain his attitude t the technlgy $ "rint!

saying that it )as true that "rint caused much trash t circulate! but it had als disseminated the

0ible and the thughts $ seers and "hils"hers% It has ne#er ccurred t eneral Sarn$$ thatany technlgy culd d anything but add itsel$ n t )hat )e already are%

Such ecnmists as Rbert Thebald! -% -% Rst)! and 8hn <enneth albraith ha#e been

e("laining $r years h) it is that ,classical ecnmics, cannt e("lain change r gr)th% And

the "arad( $ mechani6atin is that althugh it is itsel$ the cause $ ma(imal gr)th andchange! the "rinci"le $ mechani6atin e(cludes the #ery "ssibility $ gr)th r the

understanding $ change% r mechani6atin is achie#ed by $ragmentatin $ any "rcess 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 anther accunts $r

nthing% Nthing $ll)s $rm $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 nt dne )ith things in se&uence and in

cncatenatin accrdingly% Instead $ asking )hich came $irst! the chicken r the egg! it suddenly

seemed that a chicken )as an egg=s idea $r getting mre eggs%

8ust be$re an air"lane breaks the sund barrier! sund )a#es becme #isible n the )ings $ the "lane% The sudden #isibility $ sund *ust as sund 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%

Mechani6atin )as ne#er s #i#idly $ragmented r se&uential as in the birth $ the m#ies! the

mment that translated us beynd mechanism int the )rld $ gr)th and rganic interrelatin%

The m#ie! by sheer s"eeding u" the mechanical! carried us $rm the )rld $ se&uence andcnnectins int the )rld $ creati#e cn$iguratin and structure% The message $ the m#ie

medium is that $ transitin $rm lineal cnnectins t cn$iguratins% It is the transitin that

"rduced the n) &uite crrect bser#atin9 ,I$ it )rks! it=s bslete%, -hen electric s"eed

$urther takes #er $rm mechanical m#ie se&uences! then the lines $ $rce in structures and in

media becme lud and clear% -e return t the inclusi#e $rm $ the icn%

T the highly literate and mechani6ed culture the m#ie a""eared as a )rld $ trium"hant

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illusins and dreams that mney culd buy% It )as at this mment $ the m#ie that cubism

ccurred! and it has been described by 2% H% mbrich 4Art and Illusin5 as ,the mst radical

attem"t t stam" ut ambiguity and t en$rce ne reading $ the "icture'that $ a manmadecnstructin! a clred can#as%, r cubism substitutes all $acets $ an b*ect simultaneusly $r

the ,"int $ #ie), r $acet $ "ers"ecti#e illusin% Instead $ the s"eciali6ed illusin $ the third

dimensin n can#as! cubism sets u" an inter"lay $ "lanes and cntradictin r dramatic cn$lict

$ "atterns! light! te(tures that ,dri#es hme the message, by in#l#ement% This is held by manyt be an e(ercise in "ainting! nt in illusin%

In ther )rds! cubism! by gi#ing the inside and utside! the t"! bttm! back! and $rnt and the

rest! in t) dimensins! dr"s the illusin $ "ers"ecti#e in $a#r $ instant sensry a)areness $

the )hle% Cubism! by sei6ing n instant ttal a)areness! suddenly annunced that the medium is

the message% Is it nt e#ident that the mment that se&uence yields t the simultaneus! ne is in

the )rld $ structure and $ cn$iguratin. Is that nt )hat has ha""ened in "hysics as in "ainting! "etry! and in cmmunicatin. S"eciali6ed segments $ attentin ha#e shi$ted t ttal

$ield! and )e can n) say! ,The medium is the message, &uite naturally% 0e$re the electric

s"eed and ttal $ield! it )as nt b#ius that the medium is the message% The message! it seemed!

)as the ,cntent!, as "e"le used t ask )hat a "ainting )as abut% @et they ne#er thught t ask

)hat a meldy )as abut! nr )hat a huse r a dress )as abut% In such matters! "e"le retained

sme sense $ the )hle "atter! $ $rm and $unctin as a unity% 0ut in the electric age thisintegral idea $ structure and cn$iguratin has becme s "re#alent that educatinal thery has

taken u" the matter% Instead $ )rking )ith s"eciali6ed ,"rblems, in arithmetic! the structural

a""rach n) $ll)s the lines $ $rce in the $ield $ number and has small children meditating

abut number thery and ,sets%,

Cardinal Ne)man said $ Na"len! ,He understd the grammar $ gun")der%, Na"len had

"aid sme attentin t ther media as )ell! es"ecially the sema"hre telegra"h that ga#e him a

great ad#antage #er his enemies% He is n recrd $r saying that ,Three hstile ne)s"a"ers are

mre t be $eared than a thusand baynets%,

Ale(is de Tc&ue#ille )as the $irst t master the grammar $ "rint and ty"gra"hy% He )as thus

able t read $$ the message $ cming change in rance and America as i$ he )ere reading alud

$rm a te(t that had been handed t him% In $act! the nineteenth century in rance and in America

)as *ust such an "en bk t de Tc&ue#ille because he had learned the grammar $ "rint% S

he! als! kne) )hen that grammar did nt a""ly% He )as asked )hy he did nt )rite a bk n2ngland! since he kne) and admired 2ngland% He re"lied9

;ne )uld ha#e t ha#e an unusual degree $ "hils"hical $lly t belie#e nesel$

able t *udge 2ngland in si( mnths% A year al)ays seemed t me t shrt a time in)hich t a""reciate the United States "r"erly! and it is much easier t ac&uire clear

and "recise ntins abut the American Unin than abut reat 0ritain% In America

all la)s deri#e in a sense $rm a sim"le "rinci"le% ;ne culd cm"are America t a$rest "ierced by a multitude $ straight rads all cn#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 crisscrss! and it is nly by tra#eling d)n each ne $ them that ne can build u" a "icture $ the )hle%

>e Tc&ue#ille! in earlier )rk n the rench Re#lutin! had e("lained h) it )as the "rinted

)rd that! achie#ing cultural saturatin in the eighteenth century! had hmgeni6ed the rench

natin% renchmen )ere the same kind $ "e"le $rm nrth t suth% The ty"gra"hic "rinci"les$ uni$rmity! cntinuity! and lineality had #erlaid the cm"le(ities $ ancient $eudal and ral

sciety% The Re#lutin )as carried ut by the ne) literati and la)yers%

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In 2ngland! h)e#er! such )as the ")er $ the ancient ral traditins $ cmmn la)! backed

by the medie#al institutin $ +arliament! that n uni$rmity r cntinuity $ the ne) #isual "rint

culture culd take cm"lete hld% The result )as that the mst im"rtant e#en in 2nglish histryhas ne#er taken "lace namely! the 2nglish Re#lutin n the lines $ the rench Re#lutin% The

American Re#lutin had n medie#al legal institutins t discard r t rt ut! a"art $rm

mnarchy% And many ha#e held that the American +residency has becme #ery much mre

"ersnal and mnarchical than any 2ur"ean mnarch e#er culd be%>e Tc&ue#ille=s cntrast bet)een 2ngland and America is clearly based n the $act $

ty"gra"hy and $ "rint culture creating uni$rmity and cntinuity% 2ngland! he says! has re*ected

this "rinci"le and clung t the dynamic r ral cmmnla) traditin% Hence the discntinuity

and un"redictable &uality $ 2nglish culture% The grammar $ "rint cannt hel" t cnstrue the

message $ ral and nn)ritten culture and institutins% The 2nglish aristcracy )as "r"erly

classi$ied as barbarian by Matthe) Arnld because its ")er and status had nthing t d )ithliteracy r )ith the cultural $rms $ ty"gra"hy% Said the >uke $ lucester t 2d)ard ibbn

u"n the "ublicatin $ his >ecline and all9 ,Anther damned $at bk! eh! Mr% ibbn.

Scribble! scribble! scribble! eh! Mr% ibbn., >e Tc&ue#ille )as a highly literate aristcrat )h

)as &uite able t be detached $rm the #alues and assum"tins $ ty"gra"hy% That is )hy he

alne understd the grammar $ ty"gra"hy% And it is nly n thse terms! standing aside $rm

any structure r medium! that its "rinci"les and lines $ $rce can be discerned% r any mediumhas the ")er $ im"sing its )n assum"tin n the un)ary% +redictin and cntrl cnsist 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 cntact as in the $irst bars $ a meldy%

A +assage t India by 2% M% rster is a dramatic study $ the inability $ ral and intuiti#e

riental culture t meet )ith the ratinal! #isual 2ur"ean "atterns $ e("erience% ,Ratinal!, $

curse! has $r the -est lng meant ,uni$rm and cntinuus and se&uential%, In ther )rds! )e

ha#e cn$used reasn )ith literacy! and ratinalism )ith a single technlgy% Thus in the electric

age man seems t the cn#entinal -est t becme irratinal% In rster=s n#el the mment $

truth cmes in the Marabar Ca#e% Adela Euested=s reasning ")ers cannt c"e )ith the ttalinclusi#e $ield $ resnance that is India% A$ter the Ca#es9 ,Li$e )ent n as usual! but had ncnse&uences! that is t say! sunds did nt ech nr thught de#el"% 2#erything seemed cut $$

at its rt and there$re in$ected )ith illusin%,

A +assage t India 4the "hrase is $rm -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 cn$lict bet)een sight and sund! bet)een )ritten and ral kinds $

"erce"tin and rgani6atin $ e(istence is u"n us% Since understanding st"s actin! as

Niet6sche bser#ed! )e can mderate the $ierceness $ this cn$lict by understanding the media

that e(tend us and raise these )ars )ithin and )ithut us%

>etribali6atin by literacy and its traumatic e$$ects n tribal man is the theme $ a bk by the "sychiatrist 8% C% Carthers! The A$rican Mind in Health and >isease 4-rld Health

;rgani6atin! ene#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 iselectric s"eed that has re#ealed the lines $ $rce "erating $rm -estern technlgy in the

remtest areas $ bush! sa#annah! and desert% ;ne e(am"le is the 0eduin )ith his battery radi

n bard the camel% Submerging nati#es )ith $lds $ cnce"ts $r )hich nthing has "re"ared

them is the nrmal actin $ all ur technlgy% 0ut )ith electric media -estern man himsel$

e("eriences e(actly the same inundatin as the remte nati#e% -e are n mre "re"ared t

encunter radi and T7 in ur literate milieu than the nati#e $ hana is able t c"e )ith the

literacy that takes him ut $ his cllecti#e tribal )rld and beaches him in indi#idual islatin%

-e are as numb in ur ne) electric )rld as the nati#e in#l#ed in ur literate and mechanical

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culture%

2lectric s"eed mingles the cultures $ "rehistry )ith the dregs $ industrial marketeers! the

nnliterate )ith semiliterate and the "stliterate% Mental breakd)n $ #arying degrees is the

#ery cmmn result $ u"rting and inundatin )ith ne) in$rmatin and endless ne) "atterns

$ in$rmatin% -yndham Le)is made this a theme $ his gru" $ n#els called The Human

Age% The $irst $ these! The Childermass! is cncerned "recisely )ith accelerated media change

as a kind $ massacre $ the inncents% In ur )n )rld as )e becme mre a)are $ the e$$ects$ technlgy n "sychic $rmatin and mani$estatin! )e are lsing all cn$idence in ur right

t assign guilt% Ancient "rehistric scieties regard #ilent 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 tk u" this idea #ery e$$ecti#ely in his +layby $ the -estern -rld%

I$ the criminal a""ears as a nncn$rmist )h is unable t meet the demand $ technlgy that

)e beha#e in uni$rm and cntinuus "atterns! literate man is &uite inclined t see thers )h

cannt cn$rm as sme)hat "athetic% 2s"ecially the child! the cri""le! the )man! and the

clred "ersn a""ear in a )rld $ #isual and ty"gra"hic technlgy as #ictims $ in*ustice% ;n

the ther hand! in a culture that assigns rles instead $ *bs t "e"le'the d)ar$! the ske)! the

child create their )n s"aces% They are nt e("ected t $it int sme uni$rm and re"eatableniche that is nt their si6e any)ay% Cnsider the "hrase ,It=s a man=s )rld%, As a &uantitati#e

bser#atin endlessly re"eated $rm )ithin a hmgeni6ed culture! this "hrase re$ers t the men

in such a culture )h ha#e t be hmgeni6ed >ag)ds in rder t belng at all% It is in ur

I%E% testing that )e ha#e "rduced the greatest $ld $ misbegtten standards% Una)are $ ur

ty"gra"hic cultural bias! ut tester assume that uni$rm and cntinuus habits are a sign $ intelligence! this eliminating the ear man and the tactile man%

C% +% Sn)! re#ie)ing a bk $ A% L% R)se 4The Ne) @rk Times 0k re#ie)! >ecember

?D! 1F15 n A""easement and the rad t Munich! describes the t" le#el $ 0ritish brains ande("erience in the 1FBs% ,Their I%E%=s )ere much higher than usual amng "litical bsses% -hy

)ere they such a disaster., The #ie) $ R)se! Sn) a""r#es9 ,They )uld nt listen t

)arnings because they did nt )ish t hear%, 0eing antiRed made it im"ssible $r them t read

the message Hitler% 0ut their $ailure )as nthing cm"ared t ur "resent ne% The American

stake in literacy as a technlgy r uni$rmity a""lied t e#ery le#el $ educatin! g#ernment!

industry! and scial li$e is ttally threatened by the electric technlgy% The threat $ Stalin r

Hitler )as e(ternal% The electric technlgy is )ithin the gates! and )e are numb! dea$! blind!and mute abut its encunter )ith the utenberg technlgy! n and thrugh )hich the

American )ay $ li$e )as $rmed% It is! h)e#er! n time t suggest strategies )hen the threat

has nt e#en been ackn)ledged t e(ist% I am in the "sitin $ Luis +asteur telling dctrs

that their greatest enemy )as &uite in#isible! and &uite unrecgni6ed by them% ;ur cn#entinal

res"nse t all media! namely that it is h) they are used that cunts! is the numb stance $ the

technlgical idit% r the ,cntent, $ a medium is like the *uicy "iece $ meat carried by the burglar t distract the )atchdg $ the mind% The e$$ect $ the medium is made strng and

intense *ust because it is gi#en anther medium as ,cntent%, The cntent $ a m#ie is a n#el r

a "lay r an "era% The e$$ect $ the m#ie $rm is nt related t its "rgram cntent% The

,cntent, $ )riting r "rint is s"eech! but the reader is almst entirely una)are either $ "rint r

$ s"eech%

Arnld Tynbee is inncent $ any understanding $ media as they ha#e sha"ed histry! but he is

$ull $ e(am"les that the student $ media can use% At ne mment he can seriusly suggest that

adult educatin! such as the -rkers 2ducatinal Assciatin in 0ritain! is a use$ul cunter$rce

t the ""ular "ress% Tynbee cnsiders that althugh all $ the riental scieties ha#e in ur time

acce"ted the industrial technlgy and its "litical cnse&uences9 ,;n the cultural "lane!

h)e#er! there is n uni$rm crres"nding tendency%, 4Smer#ell! I% ?J5 This is like the #ice



$ the literate man! $lundering in a milieu $ ads! )h basts! ,+ersnally! I "ay n attentin t

ads%, The s"iritual and cultural reser#atins that the riental "e"les may ha#e t)ard ur

technlgy )ill a#ail them nt at all% The e$$ects $ technlgy d nt ccur at the le#el $ "inins r cnce"ts! but alter sense ratis r "atterns $ "erce"tin steadily and )ithut any

resistance% The serius artist is the nly "ersn able t encunter technlgy )ith im"unity! *ust

because he is an e("ert a)are $ the changes in sense "erce"tin%

The "eratin $ the mney medium in se#enteenthcentury 8a"an had e$$ects nt unlike the"eratin ty"gra"hy in the -est% The "enetratin $ the mney ecnmy! )rte % 0% Sansm

4in 8a"an! Cresset +ress! Lndn! 1FB15 ,caused a sl) but irresistible re#lutin! culminating in

the breakd)n $ $eudal g#ernment and the resum"tin $ intercurse )ith $reign cuntries

a$ter mre than t) hundred years $ seclusin%, Mney has rergani6ed the sense li$e $ "e"les

*ust because it is an e(tensin $ ur sense li#es% This change des nt de"end u"n a""r#al r

disa""r#al $ thse li#ing in the sciety%

Arnld Tynbee made ne a""rach t the trans$rming ")er $ media in his cnce"t $

,etheriali6atin!, )hich he hlds t be the "rinci"le $ "rgressi#e sim"li$icatin and e$$iciency

in any rgani6atin r technlgy% Ty"ically! he is ignring the e$$ect $ the challenge $ these

$rms u"n the res"nse $ ur senses% He imagines that it is the res"nse $ ur "inins that isrele#ant t the e$$ect $ media and technlgy in sciety! a ,"int $ #ie), that is "lainly the

result $ the ty"gra"hic s"ell% r the man in a literate and hmgeni6ed sciety ceases t be

sensiti#e t the di#erse and discntinuus li$e $ $rms% He ac&uires the illusin $ the third

dimensin and the ,"ri#ate "int $ #ie), as "art $ his Narcissus $i(atin! and is &uite shut $$

$rm 0lake=s a)areness r that $ the +salmist! that )e becme )hat )e behld%

Tday )hen )e )ant t get ur bearings in ur )n culture! and ha#e need t stand aside $rm

the bias and "ressure e(erted by any technical $rm $ human e("ressin! )e ha#e nly t #isit a

sciety )here that "articular $rm has nt been $elt! r a histrical "erid in )hich it )asunkn)n% +r$essr -ilbur Schramm made such a tactical m#e in studying Tele#isin in the

Li#es $ ;ur Children% He $und areas )here T7 had nt "enetrated at all and ran sme tests%

Since he had made n study $ the "eculiar nature $ the T7 image! his tests )ere $ ,cntent,

"re$erences! #ie)ing time! and #cabulary cunts% In a )rd! his a""rach t the "rblem )as a

literary ne! albeit uncnsciusly s% Cnse&uently! he had nthing t re"rt% Had his methds

been em"lyed in 1G A%>% t disc#er the e$$ects $ the "rinted bk in the li#es $ children r

adults! he culd ha#e $und ut nthing $ the changes in human and scial "sychlgy resulting$rm ty"gra"hy% +rint created indi#idualism and natinalism in the si(teenth century% +rgram

and ,cntent, analysis $$er n clues t the magic $ these media r t their subliminal charge%

Lenard >b! in his re"rt Cmmunicatin in A$rica! tells $ ne A$rican )h tk great "ainst listen each e#ening t the 00C ne)s! e#en thugh he culd understand nthing $ it% 8ust t be

in the "resence $ thse sunds at J +%M% each day )as im"rtant $r him% His attitude t s"eech

)as like urs t meldy'the resnant intnatin )as meaning enugh% In the Se#enteenthcentury ur ancestrs 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 4Lndn!

1F59

=Tis an e$$ect $ the -isdm $ d! )h created Man t be ha""y! that )hate#er is

use$ul t his cn#ersatin 4)ay $ li$e5 is agreeable t him % % % because all #ictual that

cnduces t nurishment is relishable! )hereas ther things that cannt beassimulated and be turned int ur substance are insi"id% A discurse cannt be

"leasant t the Hearer that is nt easie t the S"eaker nr can it be easily "rnunced

unless it be heard )ith delight%

J



Here is an e&uilibrium thery $ human diet and e("ressin such as e#en n) )e are nly

stri#ing t )rk ut again $r media a$ter centuries $ $ragmentatin and s"ecialism% +"e +ius

KII )as dee"ly cncerned that there be serius study $ the media tday% ;n ebruary 1J! 1FG!he said9

It is nt an e(aggeratin t say that the $uture $ mdern sciety 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 $ cmmunicatin and the ca"acity $ the indi#idual=s )nreactin%

ailure in this res"ect has $r centuries been ty"ical and ttal $r mankind% Subliminal and dcile

acce"tance $ media im"act has made them "risns )ithut )alls $r their human users% As A% 8%Liebling remarked in his bk The +ress! a man is nt $ree i$ he cannt see )here he is ging!

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 clbber ther media and ther gru"s% The result is that the "resent age has been ne $

multi"le ci#il )ars that are nt limited t the )rld $ art and entertainment% In -ar and Human

+rgress! +r$essr 8% U% Ne$ declared9 ,The ttal )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 hst $ large matters

that can nly be mentined here! althugh they deser#e #lumes% Namely! that technlgical

media are sta"les r natural resurces! e(actly as are cal and cttn and il% Anybdy )ill

cncede that sciety )hse ecnmy is de"endent u"n ne r t) ma*r sta"les like cttn! r grain! r lumber! r $ish! r cattle is ging t ha#e sme b#ius scial "atterns $ rgani6atin

as a result% Stress n a $e) ma*r sta"les creates e(treme instability in the ecnmy $ limited

sta"les% r a sciety cn$igured by reliance n a $e) cmmdities acce"ts them as a scial bnd

&uite as much as the metr"lis des the "ress% Cttn and il! like radi and T7! becme ,$i(ed

charges, n the entire "sychic li$e $ the cmmunity% And this "er#asi#e $act creates the uni&ue

cultural $la#r $ any sciety% It "ays thrugh the nse and all its ther senses $r each sta"le that

sha"es its li$e%

That ur human senses! $ )hich all media are e(tensins! are als $i(ed charges n ur "ersnal

energies! and that they als cn$igure the a)areness and e("erience $ each ne $ us! may be "ercei#ed in anther cnnectin mentined by the "sychlgist C% % 8ung9

2#ery Rman )as surrunded by sla#es% The sla#e and his "sychlgy $lded

ancient Italy! and e#ery Rman became in)ardly! and $ curse un)ittingly! a sla#e%0ecause li#ing cnstantly in the atms"here $ sla#es! he became in$ected thrugh

the uncnscius )ith their "sychlgy% N ne can shield himsel$ $rm such an

in$luence 4Cntributins t Analytical +sychlgy! Lndn! 1F?5%



?/The +htgra"h

The Brothel Without Walls

A "htgra"h $ ,St% +eter=s at a Mment $ Histry, )as the c#er $eature $ Li$e maga6ine $r

8une 1D! 1FB% It is ne $ the "eculiar characteristics $ the "ht that it islates single mments

in time% The T7 camera des nt% The cntinuus scanning actin $ the T7 camera "r#ides!

nt the islated mment r as"ect! but the cntur! the icnic "r$ile and the trans"arency%2gy"tian art! like "rimiti#e scul"ture tday! "r#ided the signi$icant utline that had nthing t

d )ith a mment in time% Scul"ture tends t)ard the timeless%

A)areness $ the trans$rming ")er $ the "ht is $ten embdied in ""ular stries like thene abut the admiring $riend )h said! ,My! that=s a $ine child yu ha#e there:, Mther9 ,;h!

that=s nthing% @u shuld see his "htgra"h%, The ")er $ the camera t be e#ery)here and t

interrelate things is )ell indicated in the 7gue maga6ine bast 4March 1G! 1FGB59 ,A )man

n)! and )ithut ha#ing t lea#e the cuntry! can ha#e the best $ $i#e 4r mre5 natins hanging

in her clsetbeauti$ul and cm"atible as a statesman=s dream%, That is )hy! in the "htgra"hic

age! $ashins ha#e cme t be like the cllage style in "ainting%

A century ag the 0ritish cra6e $r the mncle ga#e t the )earer the ")er $ the camera t $i(

"e"le in a su"erir stare! as i$ they )ere b*ects% 2rich #n Strheim did a great *b )ith the

mncle in creating the haughty +russian $$icer% 0th mncle and camera tend t turn "e"le

int things! and the "htgra"h e(tends and multi"lies the human image t the "r"rtins $ mass"rduced merchandise% The m#ie stars and matinee idls are "ut in the "ublic dmain by

"htgra"hy% They becme dreams that mney can buy% They can be bught and hugged and

thumbed mre easily than "ublic "rstitutes% Mass"rduced merchandise has al)ays made sme

"e"le uneasy in its "rstitute as"ect% 8ean enet=s The 0alcny is a "lay n this theme $ sciety

as a brthel en#irned by #ilence and hrrr% The a#id desire $ mankind t "rstitute itsel$

stands u" against the chas $ re#lutin% The brthel remains $irm and "ermanent amidst themst $urius changes% In a )rd! "htgra"hy has ins"ired enet )ith the theme $ the )rld

since "htgra"hy as a 0rthel)ithut-alls%

Nbdy can cmmit "htgra"hy alne% It is "ssible t ha#e at least the illusin $ reading and)riting in islatin! but "htgra"hy des nt $ster such attitudes% I$ there is any sense in

de"lring the gr)th $ cr"rate and cllecti#e art $rms such as the $ilm and the "ress! it is

surely in relatin t the "re#ius indi#idualist technlgies that these ne) $rms crrde% @et i$

there had been n "rints r )dcuts and engra#ings! there )uld ne#er ha#e cme the

"htgra"h% r centuries! the )dcut and the engra#ing had delineated the )rld by an

arrangement $ lines and "ints that had synta( $ a #ery elabrate kind% Many histrians $ this#isual synta(! like 2% H% mbrich and -illiam M% I#ins! ha#e been at great "ains t e("lain

h) the art $ the hand)ritten manuscri"t had "ermeated the art $ the )dcut and the

engra#ing until! )ith the hal$tne "rcess! the dts and lines suddenly $ell bel) the threshld $ nrmal #isin% Synta(! the net $ ratinality! disa""eared $rm the later "rints! *ust as it tended t

disa""ear $rm the telegra"h message and $rm the im"ressinist "ainting% inally! in the

"intillisme $ Seurat! the )rld suddenly a""eared thrugh the "ainting% The directin $ a

syntactical "int $ #ie) $rm utside nt the "ainting ended as literary $rm d)indled intheadlines )ith the telegra"h% -ith the "htgra"h! in the same )ay! men had disc#ered h) t

make #isual re"rts )ithut synta(%

It )as in 1BF that -illiam Henry ( Talbt read a "a"er t the Ryal Sciety )hich had astitle9 ,Sme accunt $ the Art $ +htgenic >ra)ing! r the "rcess by )hich Natural ;b*ects

may be made t delineate themsel#es )ithut the aid $ the artist=s "encil%, He )as &uite a)are $

"htgra"hy as a kind $ autmatin that eliminated the syntactical "rcedures $ "en and "encil%

F



He )as "rbably less a)are that he had brught the "ictrial )rld int line )ith the ne)

industrial "rcedures% r "htgra"hy mirrred the e(ternal )rld autmatically! yielding an

e(actly re"eatable #isual image% It )as this allim"rtant &uality $ uni$rmity and re"eatabilitythat had made the utenberg break bet)een the Middle Ages and the Renaissance% +htgra"hy

)as almst as decisi#e in making the break bet)een mere mechanical industrialism and the

gra"hic age $ electrnic man% The ste" $rm the age $ Ty"gra"hic Man t the age $ ra"hic

Man )as taken )ith the in#entin $ "htgra"hy% 0th daguerrety"es and "htgra"hsintrduced light and chemistry int the making "rcess% Natural b*ects delineated themsel#es by

an e("sure intensi$ied by lens and $i(ed by chemicals% In the daguerrety"e "rcess there )as

the same sti""ling r "itting )ith minute dts that )as eched later in Seurat=s "intillisme! andis still cntinued in the ne)s"a"er mesh $ dts that is called ,)ire"ht%, -ithin a year $

>aguerre=s disc#ery! Samuel % 0% Mrse )as taking "htgra"hs $ his )i$e and daughter in

Ne) @rk City% >ts $r the eye 4"htgra"h5 and dts $r the ear 4telegra"h5 thus met n t" $

a skyscra"er%

A $urther crss$ertili6atin ccurred in Talbt=s in#entin $ the "ht! )hich he imagined as an

e(tensin $ the camera bscura! r "ictures in ,the little dark rm!, as the Italians had named

the "icture "layb( $ 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 $ lking at m#ing images n the )all

$ a dark rm% I$ there is sunshine utside and a "inhle in ne )all! then the images $ theuter )rld )ill a""ear n the )all ""site% This ne) disc#ery )as #ery e(citing t "ainters!

since it intensi$ied the ne) illusin $ "ers"ecti#e and $ the third dimensin that is s clsely

related t the "rinted )rd% 0ut the early s"ectatrs $ the m#ing image in the si(teenth century

sa) thse images u"side d)n% r this reasn the lens )as intrducedin rder t turn the

"icture right side u"% ;ur nrmal #isin is als u"side d)n% +sychically! )e learn t turn ur

#isual )rld right side u" by translating the retinal im"ressin $rm #isual int tactile and kinetic

terms% Right side u" is a""arently smething )e $eel but cannt see directly%

T the student $ media! the $act that ,nrmal, rightsideu" #isin is a translatin $rm ne

sense int anther is a hel"$ul hint abut the kinds $ acti#ity $ distrtin and translatin thatany language r culture induces in all $ us% Nthing amuses the 2skim mre than $r the )hiteman t crane his neck t see the maga6ine "ictures stuck n the igl )alls% r the 2skim n

mre needs t lk at a "icture right side u" than des a child be$re he has learned his letters n

a line% 8ust )hy -esterners shuld be disturbed t $ind that nati#es ha#e t learn t read "ictures!

as )e learn t read letters! is )rth cnsideratin% The e(treme bias and distrtin $ ur sense

li#es by ur technlgy )uld seem t be a $act that )e "re$er t ignre in ur daily li#es%

2#idence that nati#es d nt "ercei#e in "ers"ecti#e r sense the third dimensin seems tthreaten the -estern egimage and structure! as many ha#e $und a$ter a tri" thrugh the Ames

+erce"tin Labratry at ;hi State Uni#ersity% This lab is arranged t re#eal the #arius

illusins )e create $r ursel#es in )hat )e cnsider t be ,nrmal, #isual "erce"tin%

That )e ha#e acce"ted such bias and bli&uity in a subliminal )ay thrugh mst $ human

histry is clear enugh% 8ust )hy )e are n lnger cntent t lea#e ur e("erience in this

subliminal state! and )hy many "e"le ha#e begun t get #ery cnscius abut the uncnscius!

is a &uestin )ell )rth in#estigatin% +e"le are n)adays much cncerned t set their huses

in rder! a "rcess $ sel$cnsciusness that has recei#ed large im"etus $rm "htgra"hy%

-illiam Henry ( Talbt! delighting in S)iss scenery! began t re$lect n the camera bscura

and that ,it )as during these thughts 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%

1



The methd Talbt de#ised )as that $ "rinting "siti#es chemically $rm negati#es! t yield an

e(actly re"eatable image% Thus the radblck that had im"eded the reek btanists and had

de$eated their successrs )as rem#ed% Mst $ the sciences had been! $rm their rigins! utterlyhandica""ed by the lack $ ade&uate nn#erbal means $ transmitting in$rmatin% Tday! e#en

subatmic "hysics )uld be unable t de#el" )ithut the "htgra"h%

The Sunday Ne) @rk Times $r 8une 1G! 1FG re"rted9

TINY CELLS "SEEN" BY NEW TECHNIQUE

Microphoretic Method Spots Million-Billionth

o !ra# London $esi%ner Sa&s

Saples 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 'iocheical anal&st and instruents 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 atospheric pollution '& dust+ + + +

In eect# an electric current pulls or pushes the dierent constituents o the saple into )ones(here the& (ould norall& 'e in,isi'le+

H)e#er! t say that ,the camera cannt 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 "htgra"hhas becme synnymus )ith illusin and $antasy! turning sciety int )hat 8yce called an

,allnights ne)sery reel!, that substitutes a ,reel, )rld $r reality% 8yce kne) mre abut the

e$$ects $ the "htgra"h n ur senses! ur language! and ur thught "rcesses than anybdy

else% His #erdict n the ,autmatic )riting, that is "htgra"hy )as the abnihili6atin $ the

etym% He sa) the "ht as at least a ri#al! and "erha"s a usur"er! $ the )rd! )hether )ritten r

s"ken% 0ut i$ etym 4etymlgy5 means the heart and cre and mist substance $ thse beings

that )e gras" in )rds! then 8yce may )ell ha#e meant that the "ht )as a ne) creatin $rm

nthing 4abnihil5! r e#en a reductin $ creatin t a "htgra"hic negati#e% I$ there is! indeed!a terrible nihilism in the "ht and a substitutin $ shad)s $r substance! then )e are surely

nt the )rse $r kn)ing it% The technlgy $ the "ht is an e(tensin $ ur )n being and

can be )ithdra)n $rm circulatin like any ther technlgy i$ )e decide that it is #irulent% 0ut

am"utatin $ such e(tensins $ ur "hysical being call $r as much kn)ledge and skill as are

"rere&uisite t any ther "hysical am"utatin%

I$ the "hnetic al"habet )as a technical means $ se#ering the s"ken )rd $rm its as"ects $

sund and gesture! the "htgra"h and its de#el"ment in the m#ie restred gesture t the

human technlgy $ recrding e("erience% In $act! the sna"sht $ arrested human "stures by "htgra"hy directed mre attentin t "hysical and "sychic "sture than e#er be$re% The age $

the "htgra"h has becme the age $ gesture and mime and dance! as n ther age has e#er been% reud and 8ung built their bser#atins n the inter"retatin $ the languages $ bth

indi#idual and cllecti#e "stures $ e#eryday li$e% The "hysical and "sychic gestalts! r ,still,

shts! )ith )hich they )rked )ere much )ing t the "sture )rld re#ealed by the

"htgra"h% The "htgra"h is *ust as use$ul $r cllecti#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 traditinal $igures $ rhetric )ere indi#idual "stures $ mind $ the "ri#ate

s"eaker in relatin t an audience! )hereas myth and 8ungian archety"es are cllecti#e "stures

$ the mind )ith )hich the )ritten $rm culd nt c"e! any mre than it culd cmmand mime

and gesture% Mre#er! that the "htgra"h is &uite #ersatile in re#ealing and arresting "sture

and structure )here#er it is used! ccurs in cuntless e(am"les! such as the analysis $ bird

$light% It )as the "htgra"h that re#ealed the secret $ bird$light and enabled man t take $$%

11



The "ht! in arresting bird$light! sh)ed that it )as based n a "rinci"le $ )ing $i(ity% -ing

m#ement )as seen t be $r "r"ulsin! nt $r $light%

+erha"s the great re#lutin "rduced by "htgra"h )as in the traditinal arts% The "ainter

culd n lnger de"ict a )rld that had been much "htgra"hed% He turned! instead! t re#eal

the inner "rcess $ creati#ity in e("ressinism and abstract art% Like)ise! the n#elist culd n

lnger describe b*ects r ha""enings $r readers )h already kne) )hat )as ha""ening by

"ht! "ress! $ilm! and radi% The "et and n#elist turned t thse 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

$rm 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 "rcess $r "ublic "artici"atin% He has

gi#en t us n) the means $ becming in#l#ed in the making"rcess% 2ach de#el"ment $

the electric age attracts! and demands! a high degree $ "rducerrientatin% The age $ the

cnsumer $ "rcessed and "ackaged gds is! there$re! nt the "resent electric age! but themechanical age that "receded it% @et! ine#itably! the age $ the mechanical has had t #erla"

)ith the electric! as in such b#ius instances as the internal cmbustin engine that re&uires the

electric s"ark t ignite the e("lsin that m#es its cylinders% The telegra"h is an electric $rm

that! )hen crssed )ith "rint and rtary "resses! yields the mdern ne)s"a"er% And the

"htgra"h is nt a machine! but a chemical and light "rcess that! crssed )ith the machine!

yields the m#ie% @et there is a #igr and #ilence in these hybrid $rms that is sel$li&uidating!as it )ere% r in radi and T7"urely electric $rms $rm )hich the mechanical "rinci"le has

been e(cludedthere is an altgether ne) relatin $ the medium t its users% This is a relatin $

high "artici"atin and in#l#ement that! $r gd r ill! n mechanism had e#er e#ked%

2ducatin is ideally ci#il de$ense against media $allut% @et -estern man has had! s $ar! n

educatin r e&ui"ment $r meeting any $ the ne) media n their )n terms% Literate man is nt

nly numb and #ague in the "resence $ $ilm r "ht! but he intensi$ies his ine"tness by a

de$ensi#e arrgance and cndescensin t ,"" kulch, and ,mass entertainment%, It )as in this

s"irit $ bulldg "acity that the schlastic "hils"hers $ailed t meet the challenge $ the

"rinted bk in the si(teenth century% The #ested interests $ ac&uired kn)ledge andcn#entinal )isdm ha#e al)ays been by"assed and engul$ed by ne) media% The study $ this

"rcess! h)e#er! )hether $r the "ur"se $ $i(ity r $ change! has scarcely begun% The ntin

that sel$interest cn$ers a keener eye $r recgni6ing and cntrlling the "rcesses $ change is

&uite )ithut $undatin! as )itness the mtrcar industry% Here is a )rld $ bslescence as

surely dmed t s)i$t ersin as )as the enter"rise $ the buggy and )agnmakers in 1F1G%

@et des eneral Mtrs! $r e(am"le! kn)! r e#en sus"ect! anything abut the e$$ect $ the

T7 image n the users $ mtrcars. The maga6ine enter"rises are similarly undermined by theT7 image and its e$$ect n the ad#ertising icn% The meaning $ the ne) ad icn has nt been

gras"ed by thse )h stand t lse 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 $rm ne) hybrid and crssings $ media catch them una)ares%

T The student $ media structures! e#ery detail $ the ttal msaic $ the cntem"rary )rld is

#i#id )ith meaning$ul li$e% As early as March 1G! 1FGB! 7gue maga6ine annunced a ne)

hybrid! resulting $rm a crss bet)een "htgra"h and air tra#el9

This $irst Internatinal ashin Issue $ 7gue is t mark a ne) "int% -e culdn=t ha#e dne

such an issue be$re% ashin nly gt its internatinali6atin "a"ers a shrt time ag! and $r the

$irst time in ne issue )e can re"rt n cuture cllectins in $i#e cuntries%

The ad#antages $ such ad c"y as highgrade re in the lab $ the media analyst can be

recgni6ed nly by thse trained in the language $ #isin and $ the "lastic arts in general% The

c"y )riter has t be a stri"tease 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 sng )riter% It

$ll)s that any )idely acce"ted )riter r entertainer embdies and re#eals a current set $

attitudes that can be #erbali6ed by the analyst% ,> yu read me! Mac., 0ut )ere the )rds $ the 7gue )riter t be cnsidered merely n literary r editrial grunds! their meaning )uld be

missed! *ust as the c"y in a "ictrial ad is nt t be cnsidered as literary statement but as mime

$ the "sych"athlgy $ e#eryday li$e% In the age $ the "htgra"h! language takes n a

gra"hic r icnic character! )hse ,meaning, belngs #ery little t the semantic uni#erse! andnt at all t the re"ublic $ letters%

I$ )e "en a 1FB c"y $ Li$e! the "ictures r "stures then seen as nrmal n) gi#e a shar"er

sense $ remte time than d b*ects $ real anti&uity% Small children n) attach the "hrase ,the

lden days, t yesterday=s hats and #ershes! s keenly are they attuned t the abru"t seasnal

changes $ #isual "sture in the )rld $ $ashins% 0ut the basic e("erience here is ne that mst

"e"le $eel $r yesterday=s ne)s"a"er! than )hich nthing culd be mre drastically ut $ $ashin% 8a66 musicians e("ress their distaste $r recrded *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 "htgra"h in creating a )rld $

accelerated transience% r the relatin )e ha#e t ,tday=s ne)s"a"er!, r #erbal *a66! is thesame that "e"le $eel $r $ashins% ashin is nt a )ay $ being in$rmed r a)are! but a )ay $

being )ith it% That! h)e#er! is merely t dra) attentin t a negati#e as"ect $ the "htgra"h%

+siti#ely! the e$$ect $ s"eeding u" tem"ral se&uence is t ablish time! much as the telegra"h

and cable ablished s"ace% ;$ curse the "htgra"h des bth% It )i"es ut ur natinal

$rntiers and cultural barriers! and in#l#es us in The amily $ Man! regardless $ any "articular "int $ #ie)% A "icture $ a gru" $ "ersns $ any hue )hate#er is a "icture $ "e"le! nt $

,clred "e"le%, That is the lgic $ the "htgra"h! "litically s"eaking% 0ut the lgic $ the

"htgra"h is neither #erbal r syntactical! a cnditin )hich renders literary culture &uite

hel"less t c"e )ith the "htgra"h% 0y the same tken! the cm"lete trans$rmatin $ human

sensea)areness by this $rm in#l#es a de#el"ment $ sel$cnsciusness that alters $acial

e("ressin and csmetic makeu" as immediately as it des ur bdily stance! in "ublic r in "ri#ate% This $act can be gleaned $rm any maga6ine r m#ie $ $i$teen years back% It is nt tmuch t say! there$re! that i$ uter "sture is a$$ected by the "htgra"h! s )ith ur inner

"stures and the dialgue )ith ursel#es% The age $ 8ung and reud is! ab#e all! the age $ the

"htgra"h! the age $ the $ull gamut $ sel$critical attitudes%

This immense tidyingu" $ ur inner li#es! mti#ated by the ne) "icture gestalt culture! has had

its b#ius "arallels in ur attem"ts t rearrange ur hmes and gardens and ur cities% T see a

"htgra"h $ the lcal slum makes the cnditin unbearable% The mere matching $ the "icture

)ith reality "r#ides a ne) mti#e $r change! as it des a ne) mti#e $r tra#el%

>aniel 0rstin in The Ia%e or What happened to the .erican $rea $$ers a cnducted

literary tur $ the ne) "htgra"hic )rld $ tra#el% ;ne has merely t lk at the ne) turismin a literary "ers"ecti#e t disc#er that it makes n sense at all% T the literary man )h has read

abut 2ur"e! in leisurely antici"atin $ a #isit! an ad that )his"ers9 ,@u are *ust $i$teen

gurmet meals $rm 2ur"e n the )rld=s $astest shi", is grss and re"ugnant% Ad#ertisements$ tra#el by "lane are )rse9 ,>inner in Ne) @rk! indigestin in +aris%, Mre#er! the

"htgra"h has re#ersed the "ur"se $ tra#el! )hich until n) had been t encunter the strange

and un$amiliar% >escartes! in the early se#enteenth century! had bser#ed that tra#eling )as

almst like cn#ersing )ith men $ ther centuries! a "int $ #ie) &uite unkn)n be$re his

time% r thse )h cherish such &uaint e("erience! it is necessary tday t g back #ery many

centuries by the art and archaelgy rute% +r$essr 0rstin 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 becme ,diluted! cntri#ed! "re$abricated%, He is nt cncerned t $ind ut )hy

1B



the "htgra"h has dne this t us% 0ut in the same )ay intelligent "e"le in the "ast al)ays

de"lred the )ay in )hich the bk had becme a substitute $r in&uiry! cn#ersatin! and

re$lectin! and ne#er trubled t re$lect n the nature $ the "rinted bk% The bk reader hasal)ays tended t be "assi#e! because that is the best )ay t read% Tday! the tra#eler has becme

"assi#e% i#en tra#elers checks! a "ass"rt! and a tthbrush! the )rld is yur yster% The

macadam rad! the railrad! 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 $rm gingt a m#ie r turning the "ages $ a maga6ine% The , N)! +ay Later!, $rmula $ the tra#el

agencies might as )ell read9 , n)! arri#e later!, $r it culd be argued that such "e"le ne#er

really lea#e their beaten "aths $ im"erci"ience! nr d they e#er arri#e at any ne) "lace% Theycan ha#e Shanghai r 0erlin r 7enice in a "ackage tur that they need ne#er "en% In 1F1!

T-A began t "r#ide ne) m#ies $r its transAtlantic $lights s that yu culd #isit +rtugal!

Cali$rnia! r any)here else! )hile en rute t Hlland! $r e(am"le% Thus the )rld itsel$

becmes a srt $ museum $ b*ects that ha#e been encuntered be$re in sme ther medium%

It is )ell kn)n that e#en museum curatrs $ten "re$er clred "ictures t the riginals $

#arius b*ects in their )n cases% In the same )ay! the turist )h arri#es at the Leaning T)er $ +isa! r the rand Canyn $ Ari6na! can n) merely check his reactins t smething )ith

)hich he has lng been $amiliar! and take his )n "ictures $ the same%

T lament that the "ackaged tur! like the "htgra"h! chea"ens and degrades by making all "laces easy $ access! is t miss mst $ 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 "sitin that cnsiders

a literary landsca"e as su"erir t a m#ie tra#elgue% r the untrained a)areness! all reading

and all m#ies! like all tra#el! are e&ually banal and unnurishing as e("erience% >i$$iculty $

access des nt cn$er ade&uacy $ "erce"tin! thugh it may in#l#e an b*ect in an aura $

"sued#alues! as )ith a gem! a m#ie star! r an ld master% This n) brings us t the $actual

cre $ the ,"seude#ent!, a label a""lied t the ne) media! in general! because $ their ")er tgi#e ne) "atterns t ur li#es by acceleratin $ lder "atterns% It is necessary t re$lect that this

same insidius ")er )as nce $elt in the ld media! including languages% All media e(ist tin#est ur li#es )ith arti$icial "erce"tin and arbitrary #alues%

All meaning alters )ith acceleratin! because all "atterns $ "ersnal and "litical

interde"endence change )ith any acceleratin $ in$rmatin% Sme $eel keenly that s"eedu" has

im"#erished the )rld they kne) by changing its $rms $ "archial "re$erence $r thse

"seude#ents that ha""ened t enter int the cm"sitin $ sciety *ust be$re the electric

re#lutin $ this century% The student $ media sn cmes t e("ect the ne) media $ any

"erid )hate#er t be classed as "seud by thse )h ha#e ac&uired the "atterns $ earlier media! )hate#er they may ha""en t be% This )uld seem t a nrmal! and e#en amiable! trait

ensuring a ma(imal degree $ scial cntinuity and "ermanence amidst change and inn#atin%

0ut all the cnser#atism in the )rld des nt a$$rd e#en a tken resistance t the eclgical

s)ee" $ the ne) electric media% ;n a m#ing high)ay the #ehicle that backs u" is acceleratingin relatin t the high)ay situatin% Such )uld seem t be the irnical status $ the cultural

reactinary% -hen the trend is ne )ay his resistance insures a greater s"eed $ change% Cntrl#er change )uld seem t cnsist in m#ing nt )ith it but ahead $ it% Antici"atin gi#es the

")er t de$lect and cntrl $rce% Thus )e may $eel like a man )h has been hustled a)ay $rm

his $a#rite knthle in the ball "ark by a $rantic rut $ $ans eager t see the arri#al $ a m#ie

star% -e are n sner in "sitin t lk at ne kind $ e#ent than it is bliterated by anther!

*ust as ur -estern li#es seem t nati#e cultures t be ne lng series $ "re"aratins $r li#ing%

0ut the $a#rite stance $ literary man has lng been ,t #ie) )ith alarm, r ,t "int )ith

"ride!, )hile scru"ulusly ignring )hat=s ging n%

;ne immense area $ "htgra"hic in$luence that a$$ects ur li#es is the )rld $ "ackaging and

1D



dis"lay and! in general! the rgani6atin $ sh"s and stres $ e#ery kind% The ne)s"a"er that

culd ad#ertise e#ery srt $ "rduct n ne "age &uickly ga#e rise t the de"artment stres that

"r#ided e#ery kind $ "rduct under ne r$% Tday the decentrali6ing $ such institutins inta multi"licity $ small sh"s in sh""ing "la6as is "artly the creatin $ the car! "artly the result

$ T7% 0ut the "htgra"h still e(erts sme centralist "ressure in the mailrder catalgue% @et

the mailrder huses riginally $elt nt 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 Rebuck enter"rise )as directly )ing t statinmaster use $ the telegra"h% These men sa) that the )aste

$ gds n rail)ay siding culd be ended by the s"eed $ the telegra"h t rerute and

cncentrate%

The cm"le( net)rk $ media! ther than the "htgra"h that a""ears in the )rld $

merchandising! is easier t bser#e in the )rld $ s"rts% In ne instance! the "ress camera

cntributed t radical changes in the game $ $tball% A "ress "ht $ battered "layers in a1FG game bet)een +ennsyl#ania and S)arthmre came t the attentin $ +resident Teddy

Rse#elt% He )as s angered at the "icture $ S)arthmre=s mangled 0b Ma()ell that he

issued an immediate ultimatumthat i$ rugh "lay cntinued! he )uld ablish the game by

e(ecuti#e edict% The e$$ect )as the same as that $ the harr)ing telegra"h re"rts $ Russell

$rm the Crimea! )hich created the image and rle $ lrence Nightingale%

N less drastic )as the e$$ect $ the "ress "ht c#erage $ the li#es $ the rich% ,Cns"icuus

cnsum"tin, )ed less t the "hrase $ 7eblen than t the "ress "htgra"her! )h began t

in#ade the entertainment s"ts $ the #ery rich% The sights $ men rdering drinks $rm

hrseback at the bars $ clubs &uickly caused a "ublic re#ulsin that dr#e the rich int the )ays$ timid medicrity and bscurity in America! )hich they ha#e ne#er abandned% The "htgra"h

made it &uite unsa$e t cme ut and "lay! $r it betrayed such blatant dimensins $ ")er as t

be sel$de$eating% ;n the ther hand! the m#ie "hase $ "htgra"hy created a ne) aristcracy

$ actrs and actresses! )h dramati6ed! n and $$ the screen! the $antasia $ cns"icuus

cnsum"tin that the rich culd ne#er achie#e% The m#ie demnstrated the magic ")er $ the

"ht by "r#iding a cnsumer "ackage $ "lutcratic dimensin $r all the Cinderellas in the)rld%

The utenberg ala(y "r#ides the necessary backgrund $r studying the ra"id rise $ ne)

#isual #alues a$ter the ad#ent $ "rinting $rm m#able ty"es% ,A "lace $r e#erything and

e#erything in its "lace, is a $eature nt nly $ the cm"sitr=s arrangement $ his ty"e $nts! but$ the entire range $ human rgani6atin $ kn)ledge and actin $rm the si(teenth century

n)ard% 2#en the inner li$e $ the $eelings and emtins began t be structured and rdered and

analy6ed accrding t se"arate "ictrial landsca"es! as Christ"her Hussey e("lained in his

$ascinating study $ The +ictures&ue% Mre than a century $ this "ictrial analysis $ the inner

li$e "receded Talbt=s 1BF disc#ery $ "htgra"hy% +htgra"hy! by carrying the "ictrial

delineatin $ natural b*ects much $urther than "aint r language culd d! had a re#erse e$$ect%0y cn$erring a means $ sel$delineatin $ b*ects! $ ,statement )ithut synta(!, "htgra"hy

ga#e the im"etus t a delineatin $ the inner )rld% Statement )ithut synta( r #erbali6atin

)as really statement by gesture! by mime! and by gestalt% This ne) dimensin "ened $r human

ins"ectin by "ets like 0audelaire and Rimbaud le "aysage intrieur! r the cuntries $ the

mind% +ets and "ainters in#aded this inner landsca"e )rld lng be$re reud and 8ung brught

their cameras and ntebks t ca"ture states $ mind% +erha"s the mst s"ectacular $ all )asClaude 0ernard! )hse Intrductin t the Study $ 2("erimental Medicine ushered science int

le milieu intrieur $ the bdy e(a(tly at the time )hen "ets did the same $r the li$e $

"erce"tin and $eeling%

It is im"rtant t nte that this ultimate stage $ "ictriali6atin )as a re#ersal $ "attern% The

)rld $ bdy and mind bser#ed by 0audelaire and 0ernard )as nt "htgra"hical at all! but a

1G



nn#isual set $ relatins such as the "hysicist! $r e(am"le! had encuntered by means $ the

ne) mathematics and statistics% The "htgra"h might be said! als! t ha#e brught t human

attentin the sub#isual )rld $ bacteria that caused Luis +asteur t be dri#en $rm the medical "r$essin by his indignant clleagues% 8ust as the "ainter Samuel Mrse had unintentinally

"r*ected himsel$ int the nn#isual )rld $ the telegra"h! s the "htgra"h really transcends

the "ictrial by ca"turing the inner gestures and "stures $ bth bdy and mind! yielding the

ne) )rlds $ endcrinlgy and "sych"athlgy%T understand the medium $ the "htgra"h is &uite im"ssible! then! )ithut gras"ing its

relatins t ther media! bth ld and ne)% r media! as e(tensins $ ur "hysical and ner#us

systems! cnstitute a )rld $ bichemical interactins that must e#er seek ne) e&uilibrium as

ne) e(tensins ccur% In America! "e"le can tlerate their images in mirrr r "ht! but they

are made uncm$rtable by the recrded sund $ their )n #ices% The "ht and #isual )rlds

are secure areas $ anesthesia%

1



?/The +hngra"h

The To& That Shran/ the National Chest

The "hngra"h! )hich )es its rigin t the electrical telegra"h and the tele"hne! had nt

mani$ested its basically electric $rm and $unctin until the ta"e recrder released it $rm its

mechanical tra""ings% That the )rld $ sund is essentially a uni$ied $ield $ instant

relatinshi"s lends it a near resemblance t the )rld $ electrmagnetic )a#es% This $act brught the "hngra"h and radi int early assciatin%

8ust h) bli&uely the "hngra"h )as at $irst recei#ed is indicated in the bser#atin $ 8hn

+hili" Susa! the brassband directr and cm"ser% He cmmented9 ,-ith the "hngra"h #cale(ercises )ill be ut $ #gue: Then )hat $ the natinal thrat. -ill it nt )eaken. -hat $ the

natinal chest. -ill it nt shrink.,

;ne $act Susa ras"ed9 The "hngra"h is an e(tensin and am"li$icatin $ 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 "rgram cntent! the "hngra"h is a ht medium%

-ithut it! the t)entieth century as the era $ tang! ragtime! and *a66 )uld ha#e had a di$$erentrhythm% 0ut the "hngra"h )as in#l#ed in many miscnce"tins! as ne $ its early names

gram"hneim"lies% It )as cncei#ed as a $rm $ auditry )riting 4grammaletters5% It )as als

called ,gra"h"hne!, )ith the needle in the rle $ "en% The idea $ it as a ,talking machine,

)as es"ecially ""ular% 2disn )as delayed in his a""rach t the slutin $ its "rblems by

cnsidering it at $irst as a ,tele"hne re"eater, that is! a strehuse $ data $rm the tele"hne!

enabling the tele"hne t ,"r#ide in#aluable recrds! instead $ being the reci"ient $

mmentary and $leeting cmmunicatin%, These )rds $ 2disn! "ublished in the NrthAmerican Re#ie) $ 8une! 1J! illustrate h) the then recent tele"hne in#entin already had

the ")er t clr thinking in ther $ields% S! the recrd "layer had t be seen as a kind $

"hnetic recrd $ tele"hne cn#ersatin% Hence! the names ,"hngra"h, and ,gram"hne%,

0ehind The immediate ""ularity $ the "hngra"h )as the entire electric im"lsin that ga#e

such ne) stress and im"rtance t actual s"eech rhythms in music! "etry! and dance alike% @et

the "hngra"h )as a machine merely% It did nt at $irst use an electric mtr r circuit% 0ut in

"r#iding a mechanical e(tensin $ the human #ice and ne) ragtime meldies! the "hngra"h

)as "r"elled int a central "lace by sme $ 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 $ sme actual de#el"ment t )hich it is signi$icantly related% Take! $r e(am"le! the shi$t $

2nglish int an interrgati#e md! since the arri#al $ ,H) abut that., Nthing culd induce

"e"le t begin suddenly t use such a "hrase #er and #er! unless there )ere sme ne) stress!

rhythm! r nuance in inter"ersnal realatins that ga#e it rele#ance%

It )as )hile handling "a"er ta"e! im"ressed by Mrse Cde dts and dashes! that 2disn nticedthe sund 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 culd recrd a tele"hne message% 2disn

became a)are $ the limits $ lineality and the sterility $ s"ecialism as sn as he entered the

electric $ield% ,Lk!, he said! ,it=s like this% I start here )ith the intentin $ reaching here in an

e("eriment! say! t increase the s"eed $ the Atlantic cable but )hen I=#e arri#ed "art )ay in mystraight line! meet )ith a "henmenn! and it leads me $$ in anther directin and de#el"s int

a "hngra"h%, Nthing culd mre dramatically e("ress the turning "int $rm mechanical

e("lsin t electrical im"lsin% 2disn=s )n career embdied that #ery change in ur )rld!

and he himsel$ )as $ten caught in the cn$usin bet)een the t) $rms $ "rcedure%

It )as *ust at the end $ the nineteenth century that the "sychlgist Li""s re#ealed by a kind $

1J



electric audigra"h that the single clang $ a bell )as an intensi#e mani$ld cntaining all

"ssible sym"hnies% It )as sme)hat n the same lines that 2disn a""rached his "rblems%

+ractical e("erience had taught him that embrynically all "rblems cntained all ans)ers )henne culd disc#er a means $ rendering them e("licit% In his )n case! his determinatin t gi#e

the "hngra"h! like the tele"hne! a direct "ractical use in business "rcedures led t his neglect

$ the instrument as a means $ entertainment% ailure t $resee the "hngra"h as a means $

entertainment )as really a $ailure t gras" the meaning $ the electric re#lutin in general% Inur time )e are recnciled t the "hngra"h as a ty and a slace but "ress! radi! and T7 ha#e

als ac&uired the same dimensin $ entertainment% Meantime! entertainment "ushed t an

e(treme becmes the main $rm $ business and "litics% 2lectric media! because $ their ttal,$ield, character! tend t eliminate the $ragmented s"ecialities $ $rm and $unctin that )e ha#e

lng acce"ted as the heritage $ al"habet! "rinting! and mechani6atin% The brie$ and cm"ressed

histry $ the "hngra"h includes all "hases $ the )ritten! the "rinted! and the mechani6ed

)rd% It )as the ad#ent $ the electric ta"e recrder that nly a $e) years ag released the

"hngra"h $rm its tem"rary in#l#ement in mechanical culture% Ta"e and the l%"% recrd

suddenly made the "hngra"h a means $ access t all the music and s"eech $ the )rld%

0e$re turning t the l%"% and ta"erecrding re#lutin! )e shuld nte that the earlier "erid $

mechanical recrding and sund re"rductin had ne large $actr in cmmn )ith the silent

"icture% The early "hngra"h "rduced a brisk and raucus e("erience nt 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 bunce% The "ets and "ainters and musicians $ the later

nineteenth century all insist n a srt $ meta"hysical melanchly as latent in the great industrial

)rld $ the metr"lis% The +ierrt $igure is as crucial in the "etry $ La$rgue as it is in the art

$ +icass r the music $ Satie% Is nt the mechanical at its best a remarkable a""r(imatin t

the rganic. And is nt a great industrial ci#ili6atin able t "rduce anything in abundance $r e#erybdy. The ans)er is ,@es%, 0ut Cha"lin and the +ierrt "ets and "ainters and musicians

"ushed this lgic all the )ay t reach the image $ Cyran de 0ergerac! )h )as the greatestl#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 "hngra"h cult $ the blues% +erha"s it is

misleading t try t deri#e the rigin $ the blues $rm Negr $lk music h)e#er! Cnstant

Lambert! 2nglish cnductrcm"ser! in his Music H:! "r#ides an accunt $ the blues that "receded the *a66 $ the "st-rld -ar I% He cncludes that the great $l)ering $ *a66 in the

t)enties )as a ""ular res"nse t the highbr) richness and rchestral subtlety $ the >ebussy

>elius "erid% 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 "ictrial art% Literary "e"le eagerly acce"ted these

bridges! and 8yce gt Cha"lin int Ulysses as 0lm! *ust as 2lit gt *a66 int the rhythms $

his early "ems%

Cha"lin=s cl)nCyran is as much a "art $ a dee" melanchly as La$rgue=s r Satie=s +ierrtart% Is it nt inherent in the #ery trium"h $ the mechanical and its missin $ the human. Culd

the mechanical reach a higher le#el than the talking machine )ith its mime $ #ice and dance.> nt T% S% 2lit=s $amus lines abut the ty"ist $ the *a66 age ca"ture the entire "aths $ the

age $ Cha"lin and the ragtime blues.

When lo,el& (oan stoops to oll& and

0aces a'out her roo a%ain# alone#She soothes her hair (ith autoatic hand#

.nd puts a record on the %raophone+

Read as a Cha"linlike cmedy! 2lit=s +ru$rck makes ready sense% +ru$rck is the cm"lete

1



+ierrt! the little "u""et $ the mechanical ci#ili6atin that )as abut t d a $li" int its electric

"hase%

It )uld be di$$icult t e(aggerate the im"rtance $ cm"le( mechanical $rms such as $ilm and

"hngra"h as the "relude t the autmatin $ human sng and dance% As this autmatin $

human #ice and gesture had a""rached "er$ectin! s the human )rk $rce a""rached

autmatin% N) in the electric age the assembly line )ith its human hands disa""ears! and

electric autmatin brings abut a )ithdra)al $ the )rk $rce $rm industry% Instead $ beingautmated themsel#es$ragmented in task and $unctinas had been the tendency under

mechani6atin! men in the electric age m#e increasingly t in#l#ement in di#erse *bs

simultaneusly! and t the )rk $ learning! and t the "rgramming $ cm"uters%

This re#lutinary lgic inherent in the electric age )as made $airly clear in the early electric

$rms $ telegra"h and tele"hne that ins"ired the ,talking machine%, These ne) $rms that did

s much t rec#er the #cal! auditry! and mimetic )rld that had been re"ressed by the "rinted

)rd! als ins"ired the strange ne) rhythms $ the ,the *a66 age!, the #arius $rms $

sync"atin and symblist discntinuity that! like relati#ity and &uantum "hysics! heralded the

end $ the utenberg era )ith its smth! uni$rm lines $ ty"e and rgani6atin%

The )rd ,*a66, cmes $rm the rench *aser! t chatter% 8a66 is! indeed! a $rm $ dialgueamng instrumentalists and dancers alike% Thus it seemed t make an abru"t break )ith the

hmgeneus and re"etiti#e rhythms $ the smth )alt6% In the age $ Na"len and Lrd0yrn! )hen the )alt6 )as a ne) $rm! it )as greeted as a barbaric $ul$illment $ the

Russeauistic dream $ the nble sa#age% rtes&ue as this idea n) a""ears! it is really a mst

#aluable clue t the da)ning mechanical age% The im"ersnal chraldancing $ the lder!

curtly "attern )as abandned )hen the )alt6ers held each ther in a "ersnal embrace% The

)alt6 is "recise! mechanical! and military! as its histry mani$ests% r a )alt6 t yield its $ull

meaning! there must be military dress% ,There )as a sund $ re#elry by night, )as h) Lrd0yrn re$erred t the )alt6ing be$re -aterl% T the eighteenth century and t the age $

Na"len! the citi6en armies seemed t be an indi#idualistic release $rm the $eudal $rame)rk

$ curtly hierarchies% Hence the assciatin $ )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

Rmantic idea $ the li$e $ the nble sa#age n) seems dd! but the Rmantics kne) as little

abut real sa#ages as they did abut assembly lines%

In ur )n century the arri#al $ *a66 and ragtime )as als heralded as the in#asin $ the

bttm)agging nati#e% The indignant tended t a""eal $rm *a66 t the beauty $ the mechanical

and re"etiti#e )alt6 that had nce been greeted as "ure nati#e dancing% I$ *a66 is cnsidered as a

break )ith mechanism in the directin $ the discntinuus! the "artici"ant! the s"ntaneus andim"r#isatinal! it can als be seen as a return t a srt $ ral "etry in )hich "er$rmance is

bth creatin and cm"sitin% It is a truism amng *a66 "er$rmers that recrded *a66 is ,as stale

as yesterday=s ne)s"a"er%, 8a66 is ali#e! like cn#ersatin and like cn#ersatin it de"ends u"na re"ertry $ a#ailable themes% 0ut "er$rmance is cm"sitin% Such "er$rmance insures

ma(imal "artici"atin amng "layers and dancers alike% +ut in this )ay! it becmes b#ius at

nce that *a66 belngs in that $amily $ msaic structures that rea""eared in the -estern )rld)ith the )ire ser#ices% It belngs )ith symblism in "etry! and )ith the many allied $rms in

"ainting and in music%

The bnd bet)een the "hngra"h and sng and dance is n less dee" than its earlier relatin ttelegra"h and tele"hne% -ith the $irst "rinting $ musical scres in the si(teenth century! )rds

and music dri$ted a"art% The se"arate #irtusity $ #ice and instruments became the basis $ the

great musical de#el"ments $ the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries% The same kind $

$ragmentatin and s"ecialism in the arts and sciences made "ssible mammth 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"hny rchestra%

Certainly the "hngra"h as a "rduct $ industrial! assemblyline rgani6atin and distributin

sh)ed little $ the electric &ualities that had ins"ired its gr)th in the mind $ 2disn% There

)ere "r"hets )h culd $resee the great day )hen the "hngra"h )uld aid medicine by

"r#iding a medical means $ discriminatin bet)een ,the sb $ hysteria and the sigh $

melanchlia % % % the ring $ )h"ing cugh and the hack $ the cnsum"ti#e% It )ill be an e("ertin insanity! distinguishing bet)een the laugh $ the maniac and dri#el $ the idit% % % % It )ill

accm"lish this $eat in the anterm! )hile the "hysician is busying himsel$ )ith his last

"atient%, In "ractice! h)e#er! the "hngra"h stayed )ith the #ices $ the Signri ghrnis!

the basstenres! rbust"r$unds%

Recrding $acilities did nt "resume t tuch anything s subtle as an rchestra until a$ter the

irst -ar% Lng be$re this! ne enthusiast lked t the recrd t ri#al the "htgra"h album

and t hasten the ha""y day )hen ,$uture generatins )ill be able t cndense )ithin the s"ace

$ t)enty minutes a tne"icture $ a single li$etime9 $i#e minutes $ a chile=s "rattle! $i#e $ the

by=s e(ultatins! $i#e $ the man=s re$lectins! and $i#e $rm the $eeble utterance $ the

deathbed%, 8ames 8yce! sme)hat later! did better% He made 1inne%ans Wa/e a tne "em thatcndensed in a single sentence all the "rattlings! e(ultatins! bser#atins! and remrse $ the

entire human race% He culd nt ha#e cncei#ed this )rk any in ther age than the ne that

"rduced the "hngra"h and the radi%

It )as radi that $inally in*ected a $ull electric charge int the )rld $ the "htgra"h% The radi

recei#er $ 1F?D )as already su"erir in sund &uality! and sn began t de"ress the

"hngra"h and recrd business% 2#entually! radi restred the recrd business by e(tending

""ular taste in the directin $ the classics%

The real break came a$ter the Secnd -ar )ith the a#ailability $ the ta"e recrder% This meant

the end $ the incisin recrding and its attendant sur$ace nise% In 1FDF the era $ electric hi$i

)as anther rescuer $ the "hngra"h business% The hi$i &uest $r ,realistic sund, snmerged )ith the T7 image as "art $ the rec#ery $ tactile e("erience% r the sensatin $ ha#ing the "er$rming instruments ,right in the rm )ith yu, is a stri#ing t)ard the unin $

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 tuch and handling $ instruments

as tactile and kenetic! nt *ust as resnant% S it can be said that hi$i is nt any &uest $r abstract

e$$ects $ sund in se"aratin $rm the ther senses% -ith hi$i! the "hngra"h meets the T7

tactile challenge%

Stere sund! a $urther de#el"ment! is ,allarund, r ,)ra"arund, sund% +re#iusly sund

had emanated $rm a single "int in accrdance )ith the bias $ #isual culture )ith its $i(ed

"int $ #ie)% The hi$i change#er )as really $r music )hat cubism had been $r "ainting! and

)hat symblism had been $r literature namely! the acce"tance $ multi"le $acets and "lanes in asingle e("erience% Anther )ay t "ut is t say that stere is sund in de"th! as T7 is the #isual

in de"th%

+erha"s it is nt #ery cntradictry that )hen a medium becmes a means $ de"th e("eriencethe ld categries $ ,classical, and ,""ular, r $ ,highbr), and ,l)br), n lnger btain%

-atching a bluebaby heart "eratin n T7 is an e("erience that )ill $it nne $ the categries%

-hen l%"% and hi$i and stere arri#ed! a de"th a""rach t musical e("erience als came in%

2#erybdy lst his inhibitins abut ,highbr)!, and the serius "e"le lst their &ualms abut

""ular music and culture% Anything that is a""rached in de"th ac&uires as much interest as the

great matters% 0ecause ,de"th, means ,in interrelatin!, nt ,in islatin%, >e"th means insight!

nt "int $$ #ie) and insight is a kind $ mental in#l#ement in "rcess that makes the cntent

?



$ the item seem &uite secndary% Cnsciusness itsel$ i$ an inclusi#e "rcess nt at all

de"endent n cntent% Cnsciusness des nt "stulate cnsciusness $ anything in "articular%

-ith regard t *a66! l%"% brught many changes! such as the cult $ ,real cl drl!, because the

greatly increased length $ a single side $ a disk meant that the *a66 band culd really ha#e a

lng and casual chat amng its instruments% The re"ertry $ the 1F?s )as re#i#ed and gi#en

ne) de"th and cm"le(ity by this ne) means% 0ut the ta"e recrder in cmbinatin )ith l%"%

re#lutini6ed the re"ertry $ classical music% 8ust as ta"e meant the ne) study $ s"ken rather than )ritten languages! s it brught in the entire musical culture $ many centuries and

cuntries% -here be$re there had been a narr) selectin $rm "erids and cm"ser! the ta"e

recrder! cmbined )ith l%"%! ga#e a $ull musical s"ectrum that made the si(teenth centure as

a#ailable as the nineteenth! and Chinese $lk sng as accessible as the Hungarian%

A brie$ summary $ technlgical e#ents relating t the "hngra"h might g this )ay9

The telegra"h translated )riting int sund! a $act directly related t the rigin $ bth thetele"hne and "hngra"h% -ith the telegra"h! the nly )alls le$t are the #ernacular )alls that

the "htgra"h and m#ie and )ire"ht #erlea" s easily% The electric$icatin $ )riting )as

almst as big a ste" int the nn#isual and auditry s"ace as the later ste"s sn taken by

tele"hne! radi! and T7%

The tele"hne9 s"eech )ithut )alls%

The "hngra"h9 music hall )ithut )alls%

The "htgra"h9 museum )ithut )alls%

The electric light9 s"ace )ithut )alls%

The m#ie! radi! and T79 classrm )ithut )alls%

Man the $dgatherer rea""ears incngruusly as in$rmatingatherer% In this rle! elecrnic

man is n less a nmad than his "alelithic ancestrs%

?1



An Ancient Euarrel in Mdern America

Hutchins and .dler--Sophists# !raarians and

$ialecticians--Cicero ,s+ 2ohn $e(e&--

South ,s+ North--.thens to Chica%o

TH2 0ATTL2 ; the bks has brken ut again% The s"lenetic interchanges $ educatrs and

schlars! beside )hich the )rath $ Achilles r the ire $ Re"ublicans against the Ne) >eal is a "uerile business! are shrieking acrss the nman=s land $ the curriculum% Hutchins! Adler! and7an >ran ha#e made cmmand raids dee" int enemy territry! and the rage $ the

immbili6ed battalins $ standard and "rgressi#e educatin is uttering itsel$ in h)ls against

them as ,reactinary!, ,bscurantist!, ,meta"hysical!, ,unscienti$ic%,

Hutchins and Adler are ne)s% 2ducatin is ne)s% The great bks are talked abut! and the ,great

man=s $at bk club, 4eu"hemism $r ,the $at man=s great bk club,5 numbers sme "rminent

Chicag millinaires in the adult educatin di#isin $ the Uni#ersity $ Chicag% 2#en the mst

inncent $ bystanders might su""se that Hutchins has ,gt smething, )hen he sees Midas and

Cresus arri#ing $r class )ith ntebk in hand% The ancient S"hists "rmised t teach men

h) they culd ac&uire )ealth% -hat des Mr% Hutchins tell thse )h ha#e already ac&uired it.

7ie)ed as an e"isde in a dis"ute )hich began in ancient Athens! the "resent &uarrel #er the

Chicag +rgram becmes nt nly mre interesting but mre intelligible% I shall state brie$ly

)hat seems t me t be the rigin and histry $ this &uarrel be$re "rceeding t $ill in the

utline )ith a $e) $acts )hich )ill enable the reader t in#estigate the business mre cm"letelythan it can be sh)n here%

The end $ educatin as described by Hutchins is the making $ the citi6en% The citi6en is ratinal

man e&ui""ed $r scial and "litical li$e by means $ encycl"edic 4nns"eciali6ed5 training inthe arts and sciences 4the great bks "rgram5% S"ecial skill in the arts $ reading and )riting

are "aramunt% The citi6en must be $luent! e#en el&uent! n all sub*ects% The citi6en must kn)

all things )hich cncern the )el$are $ the gru"%

The ""nents $ Hutchins! )hether scientists! "rgressi#e educatinalists! "siti#ists! r

e("erimentalists! 415 are all agreed in a s"ecialist ntin $ human acti#ity% Scienti$ic kn)ledge

and methd are the ultimate bases $ scial and "litical authrity $r men like +r$essr >e)ey%

4?5 Liberals like Ale(ander Meikle*hn )rking )ith Russeau=s basic assum"tin that the state

is a mral "ersn cnclude that ,Teacher and "u"il are nt islated indi#iduals% They are bth

agents $ the state%, 4B5

2ducatin as cncei#ed by the liberal ""nents $ Hutchins is mre cncerned )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= "rgram )uld make e#ery citi6en a "tential ruler! the ,liberals,cncei#e rather $ the indi#idual as a technlgically $unctinal unit in the state% Meikle*hn

em"lys the analgy $ the indi#idual as a nte in the musical scre $ sciety! )hereas Hutchins

thinks $ each "ersn as a cm"lete musical )rk% Again! Hutchins ad"ts the classical #ie) $

man as a ratinal animal and hence a "litical animal% The state $rm this "int $ #ie) is an

assciatin $ autnmus "ersns% ;""sed t this! a cn#entinal re"resentati#e $ nineteenth

century scial thught! such as >e)ey r Meikle*hn! regards the cllecti#ity as the basic thing%

The indi#idual has n nature )hich is nt cn$erred n him by the cllecti#ity% Man is nt aratinal animal%

0ehind this cntrast in basic "stulates bet)een Hutchins and his ""nents there is a lng

histry% -hat make the e("lanatin $ the cn$lict rather di$$icult is the $act that )hile the "sitin $ Hutchins is recgni6ably that $ Iscrates and Cicer! the "sitin $ men like >e)y

is nt like that $ +lat and Aristtle% Ne#ertheless! I think it can be sh)n that >e)ey and the

??



e("erimentalists are lineally descended $rm +lat and Aristtle #ia -illiam $ ;ckham and

+eter Ramus% My e("lanatin $ the mdern &uarrel is in terms $ the ld &uarrel bet)een the

grammarians and rhetricians n the ne hand and the dialecticians n the ther hand% It is the&uarrel begun by Scrates against the S"hists! $rm )hse ranks he came% H)e#er! the Church

athers! ntably St% 8erme and St% Augustine! made Cicernian humanism basic training $r the

e(egetist $ Scri"ture% +atristic humanism subrdinated dialectics t grammar and rhetric until

this same &uarrel brke ut a$resh in the t)el$th century )hen +eter Abelard set u" dialectics asthe su"reme methd in thelgical discussin% Abelard=s "arty )as ""sed by the great

Cicernian humanist 8hn $ Salisbury! )hse Metalgicus! as the name im"lies! )as aimed

against the lgicians! )h )ere called the Schlmen! r mderni% 4D5

A$ter $ur centuries $ trium"hant dialectics! the traditinal "atristic reactin! heralded by

+etrarch! had gathered su$$icient head under 2rasmus t su""lant a schlasticism )eakened $rm

)ithin by bitter dis"utes% 0ut by many channels mathematical! "hils"hical! thelgical! andscienti$ic dialectics has "ersisted% +articularly strng )as the schlastic current in Ne) 2ngland

in the se#enteenth and eighteenth centuries )here the in$luence $ dialectics thrugh Cal#inistic

thelgy made $ Har#ard a little Srbnne% Meantime! the suthern states had recei#ed a class

$ small 2nglish gentry )hich had been reared in the Cicernian encycl"edism that )as then

standard training in all the seculari6ed schls and clleges $ 2ngland% Humanistic! legalistic!

$rensic! suthern educatin has $ll)ed Cicernian lines t this day! as the case $ an eminent<entuckian such as Rbert Hutchins illustrates% ;n the ther hand! the Nrth has $ll)ed

schlastic lines! sh)ing mre cncern $r abstract methd and technlgy than $r the res

"ublica% It is n accident that nearly all American "litical thught is Suthern% In shrt! the

cultural clea#age $ Nrth and Suth re$lects the brad di#isins $ the ageld &uarrel bet)een

Scrates and the S"hists in the "ast and bet)een science and ,the great bks "rgram, in the

"resent% 4G5

Re$erring t +lat=s accunt $ Hi""ias $ 2lis! M% Rbin bser#es9 ,He )as an encycl"aedic

#irtus $ the "ictures&ue ty"e "rduced by the Italian Renaissance%, 4 5 My "rblem is t

sketch in the histrical $acts )hich made it "ssible $r a reek S"hist t becme the ideal $ Renaissance humanist educatin% 0y s ding it is "ssible t highlight the signi$icance $! andthe ""sitin t! the great bks "rgram% The S"hists ad#ertised $r "u"ils by "rmising

)ealth and ")er! and they demnstrated their #erbal and dialectical skill at great $esti#als% They

ga#e ratrical dis"lays n all the themes $ art! science! and "hils"hy% T mani"ulate this

encycl"edic kn)ledge it became necessary t rgani6e it arund basic ,cmmn"laces, r lci

$ argument and in rder t retain this kn)ledge ,Hi""ias= system $ mnemnics )as $ great

im"rtance%, 4J5 Naturally! the S"hists made lgic subrdinate t rhetric r "ersuasin! sincetheir end )as "litical% And this it )as )hich raised against them the ""sitin $ Scrates!

+lat! and Aristtle! )h )ere all agreed that dialectics shuld cntrl rhetric! that kn)ledge

)as su"erir e#en t "rudential actin% 45

It is un$air t su""se that the S"hists )ere merely cynical ")er and mney gluttns% They

claimed als t teach the means t )isdm $r )isdm! as )ell as el&uence! )as thught by

them! as by Cicer! t be the by"rduct $ eruditin% It )as this claim )hich mst annyed +lat

and against )hich he directs his dialectical re$utatins in the rgias and else)here% 4F5 4I think

that this is admittedly the claim $ the Chicag "rgram als%5 0ut +lat and Aristtle )ere $ar

$rm success$ul in se#ering rhetric $rm )isdm% Iscrates "r#ed a mst $rmidable e("nent$ the dctrine that el&uence and )isdm are ne! and he cm"elled +lat and Aristtle t make

"ractical cm"rmises% 415

It is necessary t s"end sme time in sh)ing h) this identity $ el&uence and )isdm enters

int the )rk $ Cicer! since he! mre than any ther indi#idual! )as res"nsible $r the

cnce"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 thught $ 8e$$ersn! -dr) -ilsn! r in the great

bks "rgram! all kn)ledge is subrdinated 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""sitin )hich al)ays rises against the Cicernian "rgram $rm the cam"s $ technlgy!

science! r "hils"hy%

The rigin $ this im"rtant claim $r the inse"arable character $ el&uence and )isdm )uld

seem t lie in the $amiliar dctrine $ the Lgs! )hich may be su""sed t ha#e arisen )ithHeraclitus% 4115 Sciety is a mirrr r s"eculum $ the Lgs! as! indeed! are the e(ternal )rld!

the mind $ man and! ab#e all! human s"eech% Sciety! ideally the csm"lis r "er$ect )rld

state! claimed the de#tin $ e#ery #irtuus man% And *ust as en cnsidered )isdm r

"rudence ,nt nly as the $irst $ the #irtues! but as the $undatin $ all!, s "litical "rudence is

the nblest s"here in )hich t e(ercise this #irtue% 41?5 The Stics deduced $rm this dctrine the

crllary that ,The bnd $ the state is the Lgs 4rati at&ue rati5%, 41B5

7ie)ed $rm the stand"int $ the dctrine $ the Lgs! man is distinguished $rm the brutes by

s"eech! and as he becmes mre el&uent he becmes less brutish% 41D5 As he becmes less

brutish he becmes mre )ise% There is thus n cn$lict bet)een el&uence and )isdm and

since el&uence is the means t "litical ")er! the great ratr! the great statesman! and thegreat "hils"her are ne and the same% 41G5 0ccacci culd hail +etrarch as ,him )hse heart

)as the abde $ the Muses! and the sanctuary $ "hils"hy and el&uence%, 415

I$ there is ne )rd )hich is $tener used by Cicer! r ne )hich better describes his "sitin

than anther! it is humanitas% 41J5 -hen )e s"eak $ the humanities tday as ""sed t

technlgy! the "hysical sciences! r highly s"eciali6ed disci"lines such as lgic! )e mean )hat

Cicer and Sci"i meant9 ,Sci"i % % % intrduced int Rman sciety the atms"here $ Sticism!

kn)n as humanitas9 this included an a#ersin t )ar and ci#il stri$e! an eagerness t a""reciate

the art and literature $ reece! and an admiratin $r the ideals de"icted by Ken"hn! $ theruler in Cyrus! and $ the citi6en in Scrates%, 415 r Cicer the cm"lete ratr! the dctus

ratr! is the ideal "hils"her! ruler! citi6en% 41F5 Mre#er! ,)hate#er the theme! $rm

)hate#er art $ )hate#er branch $ kn)ledge it be taken! the ratr! *ust as i$ he had gt u" the

case $r a client! )ill state it better and mre grace$ully than the actual disc#erer and the

s"ecialist%, 4?5

8ust "recisely )hat is im"lied in this last statement can best be $und in the "ineer in#estigatin

dne by M% Marru n the educatin and )rk $ St% Augustine% 4?15 2#en earlier! de Labrille

had sh)n h) the encycl"edic e&ui"ment $ the classical grammarian )h )as cm"etent t

gi#e an e("licatin $ a "et 4??5 )as like)ise re&uired by the e(egetist $ Scri"ture% 4?B5

Cn$rnted )ith the ine(haustible riches $ a "assage $ Scri"ture! St% Augustine )ishes $r anideal thelgian )h cmbines all the #irtues $ Euintilian=s grammarian and Cicer=s ratr9 ;

utinam dctissimum ali&uem! ne&ue id tantum! sed etiam el&uentissimum % % % de hc amb 4de

#i et "tentia animae5 interrgare "ssemus: 4?D5

St% Augustine! )h )as the educatr $ the entire Middle Ages! )as himsel$ *ust this srt $

)riter% He )rte treatises n the liberal arts% He had becme ac&uainted )ith the beauty $

"hils"hy by reading the Hrtensius! the lst treatise $ Cicer% There )as n el&uence )ithut

"hils"hy in St% Augustine% He als became an histrian in the best traditin in his >e Ci#itate

>ei and his >e >ctrina Christiana is the charter $ Christian educatin! laying d)n a

Cicernian basis $r all teaching in the ne(t centuries% 4?G5

A$ter this brie$ indicatin $ the ""sitin $ +lat and Aristtle t the ideal $ kn)ledge

subrdinated t the ser#ice $ actin r "litical "rudence! $ll)ed by a re$erence t Cicer=s

cnslidatin $ the "litical ideal! and the )ay in )hich Cicer=s "rgram became the basis $

"atristic humanism! it remains t sketch &uickly the subse&uent stages $ this de#el"ment%

?D



The culti#atin $ rhetric and el&uence in the Middle Ages )as "rimarily $r e(egesis and

hmiletics! but increasingly it became assciated )ith the la) $aculties% 4?5 The authritati#e

statement $ L% 8% +aet) )ill clari$y the cn$used ntins )hich are generally held n thesesub*ects9 ,There is abrad a generally errneus ntin abut religius instructin in the Middle

Ages% Any clse ins"ectin $ the )rk $ medie#al schls re#eals the rather startling $act that

they $$ered e(tremely little religius instructin% It is e&ually sur"rising t $ind that thelgy )as

taught in cm"arati#ely $e) uni#ersities $ the Middle Ages! )hereas a $aculty $ la) )aslacking in nt a single ne $ them%, 4?J5

An im"rtant $act $r the histry $ the Cicernian traditin is that grammar and rhetric

4e#erything )e tday kn) as ,humanism,5 )ere nt su""lanted by dialectics in Italy as they

)ere in rance! ermany! and 2ngland% Italy=s great legal traditin ke"t grammar and rhetric in

the $regrund! s that there is nthing strange in the $act that +etrarch gt his literary training at

the 0lgna la) schl% 4?5 H)e#er! mst $ the Italian mnks )h )uld rdinarily ha#e been studying Cicer and Euintilian at Mnte Cassin and such "laces! had gne $$ t +aris t

study lgic% Thus +etrarch=s cm"laint abut the state $ classical studies in Italy at this time )as

)ell $unded% 4?F5

Thus the ths and Huns $ learning 4$ )hm +etrarch and 2rasmus ne#er tire t s"eak5 )erethe lgicians $ the Srbnne and ;($rd% The lgicians )ere the mderni% The humanists called

themsel#es the anti&ui thelgi! because they )ere s"nsring the re#i#al $ the ld "atristic

methds in e(egesis against the ne) s"eculati#e and systematic thelgy% 4B5

In tra#ersing s many centuries )ith a #ie) t setting u" $inger"sts $r thse interested in the

ancient &uarrel $ rhetric and dialectics! nly the sketchiest methds are $easible% I must n)

assume that the e(istence! at least! $ this &uarrel bet)een humanism and smething )hich has

been #ariusly designated as ,schlastic "hils"hy!, ,dialectics!, and the ,scienti$ic s"irit!, has

been indicated% r the "ur"se $ runding $$ the "a"er it is necessary t bser#e that stage $ the battle )hich ccurred in the si(teenth century! since e#ery histrian $ mdern literature and

thught is accustmed t take his bearings $rm that century% N mre im"ressi#e e#idence $

the cntinuity $ the ,Cicernian, traditin culd be gi#en here than that $ L% <% 0rn in his

"re$ace t 2rasmus= 2ducatin $ a Christian +rince% >iscussing the numerus manuals $ this

class! he says9 ,That there is a cntinuus line $ successin at least $rm the time $ Iscrates

)ith his Ad Nicclem t the t)entieth century is beynd &uestin%, 4B15 The argantua $

Rabelais is like)ise a treatise n humanistic educatin $r the "rince *ust as much as Mre=sUt"ia! Castigline=s Curtier! Aschams=s Schlemaster! and S"enser=s aerie Eueene% 4B?5

As ne reads the early eighteenthcentury 0yrd $ -est#er 4BB5 ne is in cntact )ith a

Cicernian humanist )h began e#ery day )ith reading in reek and Latin! a man )hsetraining )as legalistic and )hse interests )ere "litical% ,r sme reasn!, says L% 0% -right!

,Suthern clnists )ere less intrs"ecti#e % % % than their cntem"raries in Ne) 2ngland%, 4BD5

The reasn $r this dichtmy lies in the di#ergent educatin $ the t) sectins $ America%-hereas the Sutherner "ursued the linguistic and legalistic learning $ si(teenthcentury

humanism! the Ne) 2nglander )as nurished n lgic and s"eculati#e r systematic thelgy%

4BG5 -hereas the Sutherner had the "ractical "litical and scial bias $ the Renaissancegentleman and tended t study letters and la)! the Ne) 2ngland )as absrbed in the mst

recndite thelgical "rblems $ human de"ra#ity! grace! $rekn)ledge! and $ree )ill% The

stages by )hich he made the transitin $rm high thelgy t high $inance ha#e analy6ed in R% H%

Ta)ney=s classic Religin and the Rise $ Ca"italism% 4B5

-ithut "rceeding int the kind $ detail "ssible nly in a bk! I ha#e dne )hat I culd t

suggest that behind the immediate cntr#ersy abut the great bks "rgram lies nt nly the

basic clea#age $ American culture but a &uarrel )hse rts are in ancient reece% 0et)een the

?G



s"eculati#e dialectician and scientist )h says that ,the glry $ man is t kn) the truth by my

methds!, and the el&uent mralist )h says that ,the bliss $ man is gd g#ernment carried

n by c"iusly el&uent and )ise citi6ens!, there need be n cn$lict% Cn$lict! h)e#er! )illine#itably arise bet)een these "arties )hen either attem"ts t ca"ture the entire educatin $ an

age r a cuntry% It )uld seem t be a matter $ distributing time $r these studies% The

Cicernian! "articularly in a demcracy! culd reasnably ha#e charge $ all educatin until

graduatin $rm cllege 4)hether that ccurs at eighteen r t)entyne5% Intimate assciatin)ith the scienti$ic s"irit! )hether inculcated by lgic 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

sme kn)ledge $ the histry $ the "resent dis"ute )uld ser#e t diminish the $g and the "assins arused at "resent! and )uld substitute sme light $r much heat% ;$ curse! n human

di$$iculties e#er seem ine#itable t the histrical ga6e% Reasnable in&uiry )uld de"ri#e us $

that ma*r distractin $rm bredm )hich is in#ariably sught in hasty accusatin and )arm

re*inder )here bth "arties raise cn#enient incnse&uence t the le#el $ an intellectual #irtue%

N;T2S

1 The attack $ Sidney Hk n the Hutchins7an >ren "rgram "uts the b*ectins $ the

e("erimentalist cam" in the cn#entinal )ay% 4,d! emetry! and the d Sciety%,

+artisan Re#ie) OS"ring! 1FDDP 111J5%

? Sidney Hk9 8hn >e)ey 4Ne) @rk! 1FBF5! 1GG! 1JG! ??% ,The "rcess and methd $

cnstructing gds is the nly thing that can be called the gd%, 415

B 2ducatin 0et)een T) -rlds 4Ne) @rk! 1FD?5! ?JF% ;n "% D Meikle*hn sh)s that nt

the indi#idual but the state is "ersnal% Hence all men ha#e their $reedm nt in their )n natures

but in and $rm 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! 1FB5%Lectures gi#en by 2tienne ilsn at the Uni#ersity $ Trnt 41FBFD5 traced the Cicernian

traditin t the time $ 2rasmus! e("laining the "recise nature $ the &uarrel bet)een the

rhetricians and dialecticians $rm the t)el$th century n)ards% The &uarrel bet)een Abelardand St% 0ernard! bet)een +etrarch and the Huns $ the Srbnne! bet)een 2rasmus and the

Schlmen! bet)een S)i$t and the ,mderns!, is basically the &uarrel%

G The curius )ay in )hich this dichtmy illuminates the )rk $ +e in cntrast t the )rk $ the Ne) 2ngland literati I ha#e tried t sh) in ,2dgar +e=s Traditin, 4Se)anee Re#ie)!

-inter 1FDD! ?DBB5%

Len Rbin! reek Thught and the ;rigins $ the Scienti$ic S"irit 4Lndn! 1F?5! 1B% C%

-erner 8aeger=s +aideia 4Ne) @rk! 1FBF5! ?FD%

J Rbin! "% cit% 4see nt 5! 1BF%

Rbin! 1DB% Since e#erybdy is $amiliar )ith the claims $ Scrates and +lat $r dialectics! I

gi#e here the less )ellkn)n te(t $ Aristtle $rm the T"ics 411a5% >ialectics ,has a $urther

use in relatin t the ultimate bases $ the "rinci"les used in the se#eral sciences% r it is

im"ssible t discuss them at all $rm 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 "rcess $ criticism)herein lies the "ath t the "rinci"les $ all in&uiries%, 4Trans% $ -% A% +ickardCambridge%5

F Richard Rbinsn! +lat=s 2arlier >ialectic 4Ne) @rk! 1FD15! JBJD%

1 -% Rhys Rberts! reek Rhetric and Literary Criticism 4Ne) @rk! 1F?5! D% C$% Cicer=s

?



>e ;ratre B%BG! and ;ratr G1%1J?%

11The best accunt is that $ 2% 7% Arnld in Rman Sticism 4Cambridge! 1F115! BJ et "assim%

1? Ibid%! ?JG%

1B Ibid%! B% C$% 8aeger! "% cit% 4see nte 5! ?JD! B1! B?B%

1D >e ;ratre 1%%1G It )as nt until the time $ Seneca that the Stics turned their back n the )rld andabandned the burdens $ "litical $$ice! Arnld! "% cit% 4see nte 115! 11%

1 T% Cam"bell! Li$e $ +etrarch 4secnd ed%! Lndn! 1DB5! #l% II! B1G%

1J >e ;ratre ?%BJ% ;ne $ the mst interesting things in the >e ;ratre is Cicer=s histry $

"hils"hy 4B%1G?B5% His aim is t sh) h) it came abut that Scrates and the rest culd e#er

ha#e claimed that there )as any se"aratin bet)een el&uence and )isdm% Cicer says this

began as a di#isin $ the heart and head% rancis 0acn re"eats these arguments $rm Cicer inhis N#um ;rganum 41%B5% 0th Cicer and 0acn e#aluate arts and kn)ledge in

utilitarian r "litical terms%

1 Arnld! "% cit% 4see nte 115! B1

1F >e ;ratre B%?G%

? Ibid%! 1%1?% Euintilian 4?%?15 gi#es a lengthy de#el"ment and illustratin $ this "sitin%

This ideal dminated the humanism $ the Renaissance as can be seen in Castigline=s Curtier!

2lyt=s #ernur! and in such Shakes"earean "rtraits as Hamlet and Henry the i$th% See

es"ecially the latter "lay! Act I! sc% i% 2arly Christin "iety scul"turally re"resented Christus

ratr! 4Christ"her >a)sn! The Making $ 2ur"e ONe) @rk! 1FBP! D%5

?1 H% I% Marr)! "% cit% 4see nte D5! 11$$%

?? Euintilian 1%D% ?%1%DJ

?B +ierre de Labrille! Histry and Literature $ Christianity 4Ne) @rk! 1F?G5! %

?D >e Euantitate Animi! Migne! +atrlgia Latina! 7l% (((ii! c% 1JG% 0k #i $ Clement $

Ale(andria=s Miscellanies cntains a discussin $ the true gnstic=s need $r encycl"edic

learning in a""raching the Scri"tures%

?G ;$ its $ur bks! three are gi#en #er t the linguistic and liberal arts necessary t the

inter"reter $ Scri"ture% The $urth bk is de#ted t "ersuasin! rhetric! and style% He &utes

4D%1?5 Cicer=s dictum that the el&uent man must teach! delight! and "ersuade% 4;ratre ?1%5 Seeals 2% <% Rand=s unders $ the Middle Ages 4Cambridge! Mass%! 1F?5! DFD! 1?1BD5%

? R% +% Mc<en=s ,Rhetic in the Middle Ages!, S"eculum 1J%1B?% This highly cm"ressed

study su""lants C% S% 0ald)in=s )rk% ?J The 0attle $ the Se#en Arts 40erkeley! 1F1D5! 1F?%+aet)=s "re$ace t this remarkable "em is as basic $r these matters as his Arts Curse at

Medie#al Uni#ersities 4UrbanaCham"aign! 1F15% Henri >=Andeli=s rench "em abut the

battle $ the arts at +aris in the t)el$th century describes the )ar bet)een the lgicians and the

humanists that is! bet)een the Schlmen and the grammarians and rhetricians% It is the same

&uarrel )hich ccurred in $i$thcentury Athens! se#enteenthcentury rance! and t)entieth

century America%

? +resident Hutchins cm"lains that the nly "lace in America )here ne can get a humanistic

training in the arts $ s"eech is a la) schl! 2ducatin $r reedm 40atn Ruge! 1FDB5% It is

true that in the "ast century the abstract cadres $ erman schlasticism ha#e cm"letely

disriented American schl and cllege rgani6atin a)ay $rm humanistic ends! bringing ur

?J



educatin int line )ith industrial technlgy% All industrialist rgani6atin $ sciety is

necessarily technlgical and abstract% Ne) 2ngland and the nrthern states embraced

abstractins readily% The suthern traditin! h)e#er! is resistant )ith legalistic humanism%

?F +aet)! "% cit% 4see nte ?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

cntem"raries belie#ed that the dry and barren "erid n )hich they had $allen must ha#e

e(tended back $r centuries t the last days $ classic Latin literature%,

B 2rasmus re$ers t Clet! his ins"irer! as ,the #indicatr and assertr $ the ld thelgy,

against ,this mdern schl $ thelgians )h s"end all their time in mere &uibbling%, 8% 8%Mangan! Li$e $ >esiderius 2rasmus 4Ne) @rk! t) #ls%! 1F?J5! 1%1F! 11D11G%%

B1 2ducatin $ a Christian +rince 4Ne) @rk! 1FBD5! FF% See als the Italian treatises "ublished

by -% H% -d)ard in 7ittrin da eltre and ;ther Humanist 2ducatrs 4Cambridge! 1F?15%

B? C$% Ruth <els=s >ctrine $ the 2nglish entleman in the Si(teenth Century 4Urbana! 1F?F5%

This )rk gi#es a cm"lete "icture $ the "rimarily "litical aims $ humanistic educatin )hich

s strngly in$luenced 2nglish educatin and als suthern educatin in America% Thmas

8e$$ersn is the #irtus $ the Italian Renaissance in eighteenthcentury dress% He is Cicernianin all res"ects%

BB The Secret >iary $ -illiam 0yrd $ -est#er! 1JF1? 4Richmnd! 1FD15! ed% L% 0% -right

and Marin Tinling%

BD Ibid%! "%#%

BG +erry Miller=s The Ne) 2ngland Mind 4Ne) @rk! 1FBF5 is the bk )hich $ully re#eals the

schlastic and dialectical bias $ Cal#inist thelgy as "ursued in 2ngland! rance! and Ne)

2ngland%

B +erha"s e#en mre im"rtant as sh)ing the basis $ the ecnmic as )ell as the cultural

clea#age bet)een Nrth and Suth is the )ellkn)n )rk $ -erner Smbart in the histry $ ca"italism% He deri#es bth industrial technlgy and the ca"italist s"irit $rm the great

schlastic e$$rt $ abstractin during the t)el$th t the si(teenth centuries%

?



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

TH2R2 IS A sense in )hich at least literary and artistic discussin may bene$it $rm the ad#ent

$ the atm bmb% A great many tri#ial issues can n)! )ith a blush! retire $rm guerrilla duty

and literary "artisans can )ell a$$rd t culti#ate an urbane candr )here "re#iusly nne had been cnsidered "ssible% +erha"s Malclm C)ley=s recent a""raisal $ -illiam aulkner may

be #ie)ed as a minr "rtent $ e#en ha""ier e#ents t cme% La trahison des clercs may cme

t an end since the atm bmb has laid $re#er the illusin that )riters and artists )ere smeh)

cnstituti#e and directi#e $ the hly 6eitgeist% In clssal skyletters the bmb has s"elt ut $r

the childlike re#lutinary mind the $act $ the abdicatin $ all "ersn and indi#idual character

$rm the "litical and ecnmic s"heres% In $act! nly the drab and deluded amng men )ill n)

seek t "arade their $utility and insigni$icance in "ublic "laces% This is mre than the #ery#igrus and #ery human egtism $ artists and )riters is "re"ared t s)all)% It )as ne thing

t indulge in the lyrical megalmania $ being a ,re#lutinary, )riter )hen mere "litical

a$$iliatin absl#ed ne $rm a t strenuus artistic disci"line and assured re"utatin and

audience% H) easy it )as then t cncct r t a""laud a "lastic r "etic bmb 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 anther thing t lk arund tday% The destructi#e energy "stulated by the

re#lutinaries is here! and it is #astly in e(cess $ any a#ailable human )isdm r "litical

ingenuity t accmmdate it% ;$ curse! Mar( had al)ays "inted t the re#lutinary "rcess astechnlgical rather than "litical r literary% His austere cnce"t $ ,man, and the uni#erse )as

rigrusly mnistic and technlgical a "er$ect e("ressin $ the cynical sentimentality $ an era%

Like the a$$irmatins $ Cal#in and Russeau thse $ Mar( are rted in the negatin $ the

human "ersn% 0ut technlgy hath n) "rduced its master"iece% The 0rick 0rad$rd brains $

mdern labratry 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 rmantic nihilism $

nineteenthcentury art and re#lutin% 2#ery human cause has n) the rmantic charm $ a ,lst

cause!, and the irrele#ance $ "r"sed human ends is nly e&ualed by the likelihd $ theannihilatin $ human begins% 2#en the ,lst, cause $ the Suth begins t assume intelligible

and attracti#e $eatures $r a great many )h $rmerly assumed that it )as mre $un t be n the

side $ the big battalins% In $act! the ,Suthern cause, is n mre lst than that $ the "resent

day le$t)ingers! )hse literary "rductin! $r that matter! has been de"endent n the creati#e

e$$rts $ men like H"kins! 2lit! and @eats! )hse )n allegiance )as in turn gi#en t theseemingly mst $rlrn $ causes%

+erha"s the "int $ this can best be illustrated by the case $ Henry 8ames! )hse current #gue

is by n means related t a cmmensurate im"r#ement in the general le#el $ literarydiscriminatin% A "rimary "stulate $ 8ames= )rld is that it en*ys an enrmus material

ascendancy )ith its cnse&uent eu"hria% Crrelati#e )ith the elabrate and tenuus sensibility$ his created )rld there is the e#en mre elabrate structure $ abstract $inance! and the

ethereal technlgy )hich that $inance called int being% -here#er this abstract structure e(ists

and trium"hs 8ames can mani"ulate his "u""ets! $r bth are cm"letely interanimated% It is n

accident! $ curse! that in this area $eminine li$e shuld be dminant and lu(uriant! andmasculine beings timid and meager% It is a big! sa$e nursery )rld n its material side% There are

n $inancial )rries% 4Almst e#erybdy in his n#els is a turist! $re#er engaged in a

"ilgrimage nt $rm this )rld t the ne(t but $rm ne "art $ the ;ld -rld t the ne(t%5 0ut

the mment 8ames ste"s beynd the cn$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 nthing% gne are all

$amiliar and! t him! indis"ensable gru"s $ human mti#es and energies% It des 8ames n

harm t smile at his cha"ters n the Suth in The American Scene% They $rce him t sh) his

?F



hand! a #ery strng hand! thugh nt s strng as he thught it%

Henry 8ames belnged t a sciety su$$ering $rm the last stages $ ele"hantiasis $ the )ill% In

$act! he culd bear t cntem"late nly its "eri"heral "rducts dminant )men and e$$ete men%

The "i#tal $igures $ the 8amesian eths are ne#er btruded in his )rk the mrbid tycns

)hse em"ty and aimless )ills ser#ed a ")era""etite as l#ely as a ta"e)rm=s% This is nt $r

a mment t suggest that 8ames is cm"lacent abut these remte $igures% His cm"sure in the

"resence $ the diablical! his ,&uiet des"eratin!, "rduces the ma(imum tensin in his )rk itscrdinates are clearly thelgical! delicacy $ ner#us cnstitutin being bth the means and

sign $ grace% 4The eighteenth century had earlier substituted lachrymse sensiti#ity $r sectarian

religius enthusiasm%5 And yet! that sciety )as riddled )ith negatin and timidity% A "hils"hy

$ actin is al)ays bankru"t $ thught and "assin! and ,nthing is mre timid than a millin

dllars%, Against the lurid backgrund $ such an eths there is baths rather than "aths

emergent in Lambert Strether=s e(hrtatin in The Ambassadrs ,% % % it desn=t much matter )hatyu d in "articular! s lng as yu ha#e yur li$e% I$ yu ha#en=t had that )hat ha#e yu had. % % %

% Li#e! li#e:, A sciety held tgether by a tense )ill and e#asi#e bustle can ne#er "rduce a li$e

style )ith all that im"lies $ "assin% It can and des "rduce abundant turists! museums! and

huses like museums% And )ith these 8ames is cm"letely at hme%

r! a$ter all! a ,business ci#ili6atin, 4a cntradictin in terms5! )ith its elabrate subter$uges

and legal $ictins! "rduces e&ually intricate and subtly aimless characters% Such a sciety

re&uires endless actin and hence mti#atin $ its members% And character is strictly cnstituted

by mti#e% +assin cnstitutes character nly negati#ely% The ,l#er the madman and the "et,

nly becme characters in the degree t )hich the ruling "assin cn$licts )ith anther "assin!r )ith sme ratinal end% Like)ise! "assin makes $r the tragic in art and li$e *ust as character

tends t)ard satire! cmedy! and the "lay $ manners% The shar" di#isin bet)een these t)

)rlds is! $r e(am"le! the heart $ -uthering Heights the 2arnsha)Lintn clash being an

analgue $ the mdern )rld=s intlerance $ "assin! thus $rcing "assin int the mnstrus

utla) $rms )hich ccur in aulkner! as )ell as in the 0rntQs% As Lck)d symblically says

t Mrs% >ean! )h is the narratr $ -uthering Heights! )hen she tries t "ut him int the stry9,I=m $ the busy )rld and t its arms I must return% n% -as Catherine bedient t her $ather=s cmmands.,

+assinate li$e des nt "rduce subtle characters% Heathcli$$ is less cm"le( than 2dgar Lintn%

And the nature $ sim"ly agrarian sciety! $r e(am"le! is such as t "rduce men )h are "rimarily "assinate in the strict sense% They understand the se#ere limits $ mere human mti#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 dminates the memries and lyalties $ such a "e"le%

Character in "assinate scieties is cnse&uently sim"le! mnlithic! and! )hen ccasin

re&uires! heric% There is uncnscius irny! there$re! in 8ames= stricture9 ,I caught the )ide

eyed smile $ the Suth! that e("ressin $ tem"eramental $elicity in )hich shades $ character!&uestins $ real $eature! thers marks and meanings! tend al)ays t lse themsel#es%, This

hardly e(hausts the "assins $ the Suth! but it "r#ides a cmment n 8ames= )n characters%

Had they chsen t li#e "assinately! the restless analyst )uld nt ha#e been interested in them%

-hen 8ames= )rld did try! )ith its head! t g "assinate and dithyrambic! >% H% La)rence tk

#er% 0ut nt e#en La)rence culd make a Heathcli$$ $ 2dgar Lintn% +assin bliterates

di$$erences rather than makes them! as the Ci#il -ar illustrates% -itness the rem#al $ dee"ecnmic and class di#isins! bth sectinal and "litical! as a result $ that cn$lict% And the

"rimarily nnintrs"ecti#e and "assinate character $ Suthern li$e s"eaks $rm e#ery "rduct

$ Suthern )riters% At the same time that this "assin de$ines the Suthern )riter it ba$$les the

Nrthern critic! )h is $ "ur"se all cm"act% 0ut this is t arri#e t &uickly at the "rblem%

T the merely ratinalist and re#lutinary mind $ the scial ,"lanner, r engineer there is ne#er

B



care $ that rder%

As ui6t "ut it9 ,2#en the best re#lutinaries ha#e a #ain cn$idence in themsel#es! and in all

they think and all they desire! )hich urges them t rush head $remst alng the "ath they nce

ha#e chsen% % % % Mdesty is a great light it kee"s the mind "en and the heart ready t listen t

the teachings $ truth%, And it is "recisely this kind $ intellectual mdesty )hich is t be $und

disseminated thrughut the scial cmments $ Suthern men $ letters! a $reedm $rm that

nte $ "litical rectitude and abslutist cntem"t $r the "ersn )hich is inherent in the,"rgressi#e!, $r )hm things and "ersns are *ust s much energy t be harnessed $r #irtuus

"ur"ses%

8ust h) much $ the latent insurrectinist and mral aggressin $ the scial "lanner lurked in

the makeu" $ Henry 8ames emerges amusingly in his cntact )ith the Suth% In his tur he has

ne#er nce t make his "er"etual Nrthern cm"laint abut ,the air $ hard "rs"erity! the

ruthlessly "ushedu" and "rmted lk )rn by men! )men and children alike%, ;n the

cntrary9 ,I )as t $ind mysel$ liking! in the Suth and in the mst mnstrus $ashin! it

a""eared! thse as"ects in )hich the cnse&uences $ the great $lly )ere! $r e(tent and gra#ity!

still traceable%, In ther )rds 8ames senses sme dangerus de"ra#ity in his )n admiratin $r

the cultural #estiges $ an alien and de$eated natin'the ,great $lly, being the "resum"tin $ a "e"le in ha#ing established a mde $ li$e distinct $rm the Nrth% It is as thugh a t

success$ul missinary )ere $r a mment t see a cmmerciali6ed China thrugh the eyes $ a

Cmaras)amy% 0ut cm"lacency sn returns% 8ames had a basic res"ect $r success )hich

culd ne#er $rgi#e $ailure% The Suthern cause )as in his eyes "redestined t $ail% There$re it

)as damned%

Smething must be said at this "int t "lace the di#ergent traditins $ Nrth and Suth in a

)ider histrical $rame! i$ nly t rela( sme $ the $actinal tensins )hich de#el" )hene#er

re"resentati#es $ these dissenting "arties begin discussin% Smething $ the sc"e $ the humanissue is $inely caught in Tate=s "em ,Aeneas at -ashingtn%, The Ci#il -ar and the Tr*an -ar

merge9

Stuck in the )et mireur thusand leagues $rm the ninth buried city

I thught $ Try! )hat )e had built her $r%

It is n mere attem"t t glamri6e the de$eated Suth by hinting that Negr sla#ery )as like the

ra"e $ Helen! a )rng a#enged by an army backed by su"erir $rce and calculating guile% It israther Tate=s #ery Suthern $eeling $r the mysterius unity $ histry and art alike! )hich blends

these e#ents% Hmer=s reeks are actually end)ed )ith the "rsaic #irtues and #ices $ the

acti#e li$e% The Tr*ans are gi#en all the sym"athetic &ualities $ dignity! "aths! and rmance%

The )rath $ Achilles is a "assin )hich is $irst turned against the reeks and then against the

Tr*ans This "assin )hich is the decisi#e $rce and the dramatic "i#t $ the "em! )henmitted alike by the medie#al #ersins and by Shakes"eare in Trilus and Cressida! "r#ides a

remarkable analgue $ Ci#il -ar itsel$%

0ut )hat is im"rtant! $r the mment! is Tate=s sense $ the histrical dimensins $ the

Suthern attitude% 4It ccurs e&ually in 8hn +eale 0ish"=s ,The 0urning -heel%,5 A merely

cmmercial sciety 4like Carthage5 has n histrical sense and lea#es $e) traces $ itsel$% 4In hisresearch int the rigins $ American technlgy Sig$ried iedin )as astnished t encunter

an almst ttal absence $ recrds r mdels $ early acti#ity in ma*r industries% rd! $r

e(am"le! )hile s"ending millins n his museum! had n recrds $ the initial "rductin

"rcess $ his $irm%5 8e$$ersn! n the ther hand! sh)s! like Aristtle! a strng histrical sense

cncerning the material and intellectual $actrs )hich g#ern the de#el"ment $ scieties%

B?



-illiam ilmre Simms! )ell in ad#ance $ the Ci#il -ar! dis"lays an histrical "ers"ecti#e and

e#en nstalgia $r the early Suth Carlina! that Suth )hich $rankly and $ten t bast$ully

claimed $r itsel$ the glry that )as reece and the grandeur that )as Rme% A "er$ectly *usti$iedinsistence! h)e#er! n direct cnnectin )ith the ta"rt $ classical humanism and Cicernian

humanitas and el&uence ccurs in e#ery kind $ Suthern )riting $rm the time $ -illiam

0yrd $ -est#er t the "resent%

N) these claims )ere ne#er made in the Nrth% Mre#er! the reasn )hy Ne) 2ngland ne#er laid claim t Cicernian and 2rasmian humanism is abundantly clear $rm the e#idence gathered

by +erry Miller in The Ne) 2ngland Mind% The authr $ 8urgen $eels histrical a$$inities $ li$e

style )hich enable him t m#e easily and unchallenged amng classical myths and medie#al

legends )ith a sense $ cntinuity and cntem"raneity )hich is marred nly by a sel$"rtecti#e

)himsy% 0ut Henry Adams= gr"ing arund Chartres! ,stirring the cld breasts $ anti&uity, )ith

)rshi"$ul a)e! "r#ide merely the s"ectacle $ arti$icial res"iratin% H)e#er! this is a sightentirely acce"table t the academic mind )hen it )uld simulate a "assinate "erce"tin )hich it

cannt $eel% In a )rd! +erry Miller=s research "resents us )ith a dialectical mind in se#enteenth

century Ne) 2ngland! *ust as 8hn >e)ey re"resents the same mind tday% T) things mst

im"rtant $r an understanding $ the &uarrel bet)een Nrth and Suth are nt sh)n by Miller9

$irst! the #ilent 2ur"ean ""sitin $ the humanist t the dialectical mind in the si(teenth and

se#enteenth centuries and! secnd! the ageld &uarrel bet)een these minds in $i$thcenturyAthens! t)el$thcentury rance! and $urteenthcentury Italy% This is nt the "lace t "r#ide such

an histrical "icture% 0ut )ere the Ne) 2ngland mind as ca"able $ "ercei#ing its )n rts in

the dialectics $ Abelard and ;ckham 4stri#ing t settle the "rblems $ meta"hysics! thelgy!

and "litics as thugh they )ere "rblems in lgic5 as the Suth has been able t $eel and t

$cus its )n $rensic traditin $ Cicernian humanism! then sme &uali$ying mdesty might

ha#e gt int the dis"ute a great deal earlier%

In shrt! the truble )ith the Ne) 2ngland mind has al)ays been its ignrance $ its )n histry%

It has al)ays assumed that it )as Mind "er se rather than the $ractius s"linter $ schlastic

traditin that it is% ;nce Ramus had )elded ;ckham=s theries int a tl $ a""lied thelgicalcntr#ersy! he and his $ll)ers laid abut them heartily% Ramus )as strictly interested in the$ray! nt the )ea"n% H)e#er! that dubius )ea"n )as the main intellectual e&ui"ment that

the Cambridge di#ines brught t Har#ard during the time )hen 8ames I and Charles I had made

li$e intlerable $r them by $a#ring the "atristic r humanist "arty at Cambridge%

The tl $ Ramistic scri"tural e(egesis "r#ed #ery destructi#e $ Scri"ture! naturally $r it )as

ratinalistic and nminalistic% That is! it made all "rblems lgical "rblems and at the same time

destryed ntlgy and any "ssibility $ meta"hysics! a $act )hich accunts $r the ntrius

anemia! the "araly6ing ske"ticism $ Ne) 2ngland s"eculatin% Already in the se#enteenth

century Har#ard had designated technlgia as the true successr $ meta"hysics'an absurdity!

)ith all the "ractical cnse&uences! )hich is "iusly "er"etuated at this hur by >e)ey and hisdisci"les% r this mind there is nthing )hich cannt be settled by methd% It is the mind )hich

)ea#es the intricacies $ e$$icient "rductin! ,scienti$ic, schlarshi"! and business

administratin% It desn=t "ermit itsel$ an inkling $ )hat cnstitutes a scial r "litical "rblem

4in the 0urke r @eats sense5 sim"ly because there is n methd $r tackling such "rblems% That

is als )hy the #ery cnsiderable creati#e "litical thught $ America has cme nly $rm the

Suth'$rm 8e$$ersn t -ilsn%

r the Cicernian "rgram $ educatin! as utlined in the >e ;ratre $ Cicer 4and n less in

the Curtier $ Castigline5! lks "rimarily t man in his scial and "litical as"ect% In $i$th

century reece this had been the aim $ the S"hists! )hse )rk )e kn) thrugh the hstile

medium $ +lat% Cicer recei#ed it #ia the great Stic traditin! and ha#ing cnslidated and

e(em"li$ied it! "r#ided the Church athers )ith their charter $ Christian educatin )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 ilsn has sh)n that until the t)el$th century the traditin $ classical

humanism is unbrken! unabridged! and unchallenged in the Church%5 Schlastic thelgy )asthe anmalus inn#atin! nt the characteristic mde $ Christian thelgy%

Against this backgrund! the humanistic reactin $ a 8hn $ Salisbury r a +etrarch against

)hat they called the barbaric dialectics 4the ths and Huns $ the Srbnne5 is! like the similar

reactin $ 2rasmus! Clet! Mre! the reassertin $ the central classical and Christian humanismagainst an u"start "arty $ #ermiculate dis"utatinists% Un$rtunately $r sim"licity $ subse&uent

retrs"ect! the t) intellectual "arties in thelgy 4the humanists r "atrists and the schlmen5

)ere nt s"lit in accrdance )ith the +rtestantCathlic di#isins% 0th +rtestant and Cathlic

cam"s )ere in turn di#ided% 2ach had its "artisans $ "atristic and schlastic thelgy% 4The rati

studirum $ the 8esuits attem"ted t cmbine bth mdes%5

The great dis"ute )ithin the Anglican Church under 2li6abeth )as #er this &uestin% And it )as

$ the greatest "ssible signi$icance $r the cultural and "litical $uture $ Nrth America that the

"atristic "arty $inally )n ut in the Church $ 2ngland'a #ictry celebrated by the sudden

$lurishing under ryal "atrnage $ "atristic el&uence in Andre)es! >nne! Crasha)! Taylr!

and <ing% This #ictry $inally settled 2nglish +ublic Schl educatin in the Classical gr#es $ linguistics! histry! and manners! and *ust at the time )hen the 2"isc"al Church early gained

scial and "litical "redminance amng the "lanters% The Cicernian "rgram $ educatin!

because $ its scial "restige and utility! )as readily acce"ted by all'e#en by the +resbyterians

)h in the Nrth "ursued #ery di$$erent mdes%

-here#er this classical and $rensic educatin s"read! it carried )ith it the $ull gentlemanly cde

$ hnr! dignity! and curtesy! since that )as inse"arable $rm the recnstituted "rgram as it

)as "r"agated by Castigline! Sidney! and S"enser% It )as n mere archelgical re#i#al% It had

the $ull #itality $ medie#al chi#alry and curtly l#e in e#ery "art $ it% H)e#er! se#enteenthand eighteenthcentury 2ngland sa) such a ")er$ul u"surge $ the trading s"irit that its

gentlemanly cde )as s)i$tly mdi$ied% >ueling! b#iusly! is nt cm"atible )ith cmmercial

e&ui"ise! nr middleclass cm$rt% In the Suth there )as #ery little $ the trader=s sel$

abnegatin abut "ersnal hnr! and n curtailment $ the $ull Renaissance $la#r $ the

gentlemanly cde% In $act! )ith the strng Celtic cm"le(in $ Suthern immigratin 4Sctch

Irish5 there )as! i$ anything! an intensi$icatin $ the cult $ "ersnal hnr and lyalty t $amily

and "atriarch%

In such a sciety! uni$rmly agrarian! "ssessing hmgeneity $ educatin and ""ulatin! the

aristcratic idea )as demcratic% It is b#ius! $r e(am"le! that 8e$$ersn=s cnce"t $

demcracy )uld ha#e e#ery man an aristcrat% The "re#alence in all classes and "laces $ thearistcratic idea )as! $ curse! ut $ all "r"rtin t the number $ "lanters )h culd

incarnate it )ith any degree $ e$$ecti#eness% It certainly gt int -hitman% 0ut there need be n

mystery abut h) a small yeman $armer culd #ernight! almst! blssm ut as anaristcratic "lanter% It )as altgether less su"er$icial and cmic than the )ay in )hich Thmas

Arnld $ Rugby "lausibly transmgri$ied the sns $ grcers! mechanics! and "atent medicine

&uacks int haughty yung blds% The #igr $ the aristcratic idea in the nineteenthcenturySuth "rbably e("lains h) +e! alne $ his age! $recast the e$$ect $ the machine n the

$rms $ human li$e! n the #ery ntin $ the "ersn%

;ne main cnditin $ aristcratic li$e )as "resent in the Suth and nt in the Nrth'"ersnalres"nsibility t ther human beings $r educatin and material )el$are% 4A Carnegie r a rd!

like a bureaucracy! mlds the li#es $ millins )ithut taking any res"nsibility%5 +erha"s e#en

mre decisi#e! at any time r "lace! in the creatin $ the aristcrat is absence $ "ri#ate li$e% T

li#e al)ays in the "resence $ $amily and $amily ser#ants subtly changes the mst a#erage $

BD



beings% rmality becmes a cnditin $ sur#i#al% Mre#er! t re"resent ne=s $amily $irst and

nesel$ secnd in all scial intercurse cn$ers a s"ecial im"ersnal character n human manners

and actins% A scial cde )ill al)ays emerge #ery s)i$tly under such cnditins% And )herethere is a cde! all classes )ill share and inter"ret it $r themsel#es in the )ay in )hich @eats has

sh)n in the "assage &uted earlier% Striking e#idence $ this ccurs in aulkner=s Light in

August% 8e Christmas the ctrn li#es and dies by a cde )hich is ne#er mentined but )hich

is "er$ectly de$ined by his tenue as )ell as by his relatins )ith the ther characters in the n#el%Clearly an ,utla), nly because he li#es amng la)less $lk that is! amng men and )men $

endless cnni#ing! a#erage cn$usin! rdinary egtism! and a#catin he ac&uires by his

detachment and su$$ering a )eird dignity in his $ull acce"tance $ $atality% N shad) $ medicrity! #ulgarity! r sel$"ity e#er $alls n him% He *udges nbdy! but all the rest are *udged

by his "r(imity%

He nthing cmmn did r meanU"n that memrable scene%

In a )rld $ "ri#ate li#es! ske"tical ambitins ! and cynical egtisms! the aristcrat r the man $

"assin is hel"less% In a )rld $ merely material a""etites his rle is t su$$er% That is )hy the

)rld "rtrayed in the n#els $ the Suth is ne $ #ilence! "assin! and death% 8e Christmasis a genuine symbl in the "r"er sense $ being ccasined by an actual and "articular s"iritual

cnditin nt *ust a Suthern but a uni#ersal human cnditin tday% And this ")er $ symbl

making is nt "ssible $r thse )h cncei#e $ the inner li$e as being in a "er"etual state $

$lu(% r they are inca"able $ se"arating s"iritual $rm "hysical b*ects% 0y a rigrus

cntem"latin $ his )n lcal e("erience! aulkner has m#ed steadily t)ards uni#ersals

statements%

+rbably n mre discriminating e#catin $ all the $acts $ such a sciety has e#er a""eared

than The athers $ Allen Tate% In that n#el the dminant character $ erge +sey 4"eri"heral

Sutherner $ unstable "ise5! )h had ,the heightened #itality "ssessed by a man )h kne) n

bunds!, e("lains mre than a library $ scilgical in#estigatins9

I shuld say that the +seys )ere mre re$ined than the 0uchans! but less ci#ili6ed% I ne#er sa) a letter )ritten by erge +sey he must ha#e )ritten letters! but I cannt imagine them% In the sense $ tdaynbdy )rte "ersnal letters in ur time9 Letters cn#eyed the sensibility in sciety! the rdered li$e$ $amilies and neighbrhds% erge +sey )as a man )ithut "e"le r "lace he had strngrelatinshi"s! and he )as ca"able $ "assinate $eeling! but it )as all "ersnal and disrdered! and it)as curius t see them tgether9 the big ")er$ul man $ actin remained the mther=s by% -hat elseculd he ha#e been. -hat li$e )as there $r him in the ca#erns $ the +sey huse. -hat li$e )as

there $r him utside it. That )as )hat! as I see it! he )as trying t $ind ut%

The Cicernian ideal reaches it $l)er in the schlarstatesman $ encycl"edic kn)ledge!

"r$und "ractical e("erience! and #luble scial and "ublic el&uence% That this ideal )as

"er$ectly ada"ted t agrarian estateli$e )ith its multi"le legal "rblems and its need $r direct

4re"ublican5 "litical re"resentatin is b#ius t anybdy )h has cnsidered the Suth%Mre#er! )ithin such a sciety! literary ability is &uite naturally drained $$ int legal and

"litical channels! t say nthing $ highly de#el"ed scial cn#ersatin% S that in assessing

the intellectual &uality $ such a li$e ne is bliged t turn t semi"ublic dcuments and the

crres"ndence $ "e"le like -ashingtn and 8e$$ersn%

0ut since the de$eat $ the Suth it may be asked )hether the Cicernian "rgram has any $urther

rele#ance% That &uestin is usually "ut in a hstile manner by "e"le )h regard Cicernian

humanism as inse"arable $rm $eudalism r sla#ery% ;ne abru"t )ay t ans)er it )uld be t say

that )hereas the Cicernian humanism $ the Suth re"resented the main current $ 2ur"ean

and -estern culture! the technlgy $ the Nrth 4)ith its e"i"henmenal art and belles lettres5

BG



)as built n the mst destructi#e aberratin $ the -estern mind autnmus dialectics and

ntlgical nminalism% The $act $ the matter is that ne "hase $ the Ci#il -ar is being $ught

#er again in the Nrth tday% +resident Hutchins is merely the mst #ci$erus member $ alarge "arty )hich is embattled against the dialectics and educatinal technlgy $ 8hn >e)ey

and Sidney Hk% All the ld $eatures $ the &uarrel ha#e reemerged% Hutchins )ants educatin

$r citi6enshi" in a limited sciety! )hereas >e)ey )ants educatin $r a $unctinal abslutist

sciety abslutist because the sciety rather than the "ersn is cnstituti#e $ #alue% Hutchins)ants encycl"edic training >e)ey )ants training in methds and techni&ues kn) )hat #s%

kn) h)% That the ,cause $ the Suth, is &uite inde"endent $ gegra"hy needs n urging%

An ans)er t the &uestin abut the #alue $ traditinal Suthern li$e and educatin culd!

h)e#er! t sme e(tent be based n a scrutiny $ "resentday letters in the Suth% I$ sme

&uality r characteristic e(cellence has emerged in current Suthern letters nt t be du"licated

else)here! sme testimny r e("lratin $ human e("erience nt attem"ted by thers! thensme srt $ ,ans)er, t the hstile critic )ill ha#e been gi#en% r the histrian=s &uestin)hat

the Suth )as is included in the &uestin9 )hat is Suthern literature tday.

Mean)hile! it is )rth "ndering the "light $ many Suthern )riters )hse )rks are hted!

r admired $r the )rng reasns! in Nrthern *urnals% In this res"ect the "sitin $ theSuthern )riter is nt unlike that $ an Irish )riter $rty years ag% -hen a al)ay cuntry

editr sa) in a Lndn "a"er that an Irishman had *ust "rduced a bk abut the "e"le $

al)ay in )hich at last e#en the Irish might see the irremediable i$ "ictures&ue de"ra#ity $ their

stubbrn race! )ith its im"ractical and mrbid brding #er the )rngs dne by Crm)ell! then

the al)ay editr )uld denunce the Irish traitr t his readers% All Irish )riters )ere snhated in Ireland as )retches )h had sld the misery and "#erty $ "e"le $r a "rice in the

Sassenach market% It )as "artly this )hich made 8yce s bitter abut the ld s) that eats her

)n $arr)% 0ut in the "resent cnditin $ the centrali6ed "ublishing and marketing $ bks in

Ne) @rk and Lndn there is n esca"e $rm this stulti$ying situatin% -hat is mre natural

than that "r#incial ne)s"a"er editrs shuld be mre cncerned abut )hat a Nrthern critic

says than )hat he himsel$ thinks abut a Suthern bk. The Nrthern critic hlds in abeyancehis habitual mral aggressin *ust as lng as he $eels sure a -l$e! a Cald)ell! r a aulkner isri""ing u" the Suth in manner )hich s&uares )ith Nrthern cn#ictins%

It has already been suggested that the Suthern )riter des nt $eel im"elled t technical

e("eriment as ther )riters sim"ly because he desn=t think $ art as a means t 3pater les'our%eois% r gd r ill he has ne#er been $ the ardent <reymbrgs and Millays )h

lust uncm$rted

T kiss the naked "hrase &uite una)are%

The Suth! n the ther hand! may be said t ha#e cn$rnted +hilistia in 11%

Again! letters in the Suth en*y a degree $ autnmy nt en#isaged by thse )h ha#e "itched

their )ares int the cause $ re#lt% Literature is nt there cncei#ed $ as ,an in$erir kind $

scial )ill, as in A(el=s Castle% In $act! it may be ne )eakness $ Suthern )riters as )riters that

they are s cncerned )ith li#ing their )n li#es that they resist that absr"tin and annihilatin

)hich is e("ected $ the mdern )riter% The gentlemanly cde in a 0yrn )rks als in a

Thmas -l$e t "rduce a rebellius man but a cn#entinal artist% Mre#er! the Suthern)riter shares mst $ his e("erience )ith the ma*rity $ Sutherners! )h ne#er ha#e heard $

him'there is nt the s"lit bet)een educated and ,uneducated, )hich ccurs in an atmi6ed

industrial cmmunity% In cn#ersatin! the Sutherner delights t re"rt! )ithut cndescensin!

the $ine remarks and shre)d "erce"tins $ &uite illiterate $lk% 0ut the main reasn $r this

slidarity is the uni#ersal acce"tance $ a "assinate #ie) $ li$e% Nt nly is there n $atal

B



di#isin bet)een educated and uneducated! but there is nt the $amiliar headheart s"lit $ the

Nrth! )hich became glaring in 2ur"e and 2ngland in the eighteenth century% The Suth

esca"ed that because it had n si6able urban trading class until a$ter the Ci#il -ar% S it has beenable t "reser#e t a degree the integrity $ thught and $eeling much as )e $ind it in Cnrad and

the Russin n#elists $ the nineteenth century! )ith )hm recent Suthern n#elists ha#e a

strng a$$inity%

The "assinate and tragic sense $ li$e as ""sed t the li$e $ multi"le and di#ergent "ur"sesis already discernible as a basic li$estyle lng be$re the Ci#il -ar! as the )rk $ +e strngly

testi$ies% The minus sense $ $atality )hich )as already haunting that li$e cmes ut in all his

)rk! and n)here mre strangely than in ,The Man -h -as Used U"!, )hich may ha#e

ins"ired Ransm=s ,Ca"tain Car"enter%, And tday the mral aggressin $ Uncle Tme=s Cabin

has been mre than canceled by the great ""ularity $ ne -ith the -ind in the Nrth% 2#en

s crude a )rk as Margaret Mitchell=s caught smething $ the style and "assin $ the Suth ina )ay )hich cm"elled a )ide res"nse% The ")er $ a li$estyle t mld $uture imaginatin

and li$e is incalculable )here the s"ectacle $ mere brute ")er is stu"e$ying% The chi#alric

Suth! it has been said! )anted the )hle hrse! )hereas the Nrth )anted nly t abstract the

hrse")er $rm the hrse%

0ut the huge material achie#ement $ a 0ulder >am e#kes anther kind $ ,"assin, )hich it

may be )ell t lk at here% There is the "assin $ a ci#ili6ed "ersn $r )hm actin is

re"ugnant r unthinkable unless the )hle man is in#l#ed and there is the "assin r su$$ering

$ the little submen! Hll) Men! $ >s +asss! 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 $ullsi6e! scial beings! because in 1 men still cunted% Nt nly )ar but the causes $ )ar! and the "rblem

$ e#il! bth in indi#iduals and scieties! are $rankly $aced% S the Suth met "hysical destructin

but ne#er $elt s"iritual de$eat at all% H)e#er! s"iritual de$eat came t the Nrth )ithin a $e)

decades% The characters $ Heming)ay are men $ "aths in the limited sense nly'they are

"itiable! cl)nlike d)ar$s% Their actins ha#e n cnte(t% They g t )ars they dn=t understand%

Their l#e is des"air% Their s"eech is little mre than a grunt r a haussement des "aules% Thereis n "rblem $ e#il and tragedy in this )rld because there is n human dignity nr res"nsibility%

It is the same in it6gerald% -e are nt gi#en any )rkaday mti#es r actins in The reat

atsby because it is! in its )ay! a n#el $ "assin% There is n intrs"ecti#e analysis% 0ut the$igures are Hanselandretellike% +athetic! irres"nsible )ai$s! sub*ect $ the 2m"err $ Ice

Cream! )hse little interlude $ li$e is "layed ut n the reat RckCandy Muntain% ;ne

thinks $ ersh)in=s ,>! d! d )hat yu dne dne dne be$re! baby, as being at the same

le#el as it6gerald=s ,gldhatted! highbuncing l#er%, Irnically! the little submen $ the great

cities best e("ress their )n sense $ hel"lessness by means $ Negr music% -hile stensibly

setting abut the $reeing $ the sla#es! they became ensla#ed! and $und in the )ailing sel$"ityand crning $ the Negr the substitute $r any li$estyle $ their )n% They destryed r

re*ected the best things in the Suth and tk the )rst% 2#en the characters $ 2rskine Cald)ell

are $ree at least $rm sel$"ity% Cntrast the "seudinncence $ the "e"le $ Heming)ay and

it6gerald )ith the $rank "erce"tin $ aulkner9

She )as a )aitress % % % she )as slight! almst childlike% 0ut the adult lk sa) that the smallness )asnt due t any natural slenderness but t sme inner crru"tin $ the s"irit itsel$9 A slenderness )hich

had ne#er been yung% % % %

;ne $ the mst "ersistent na#ets $ Nrthern criticism $ the Suth has cncerned the

Suthern re"resentatin $ genuine human e#il and tragic #ilence% It has been su""sed again

and again that this $eature $ Suthern literature )as nt a #isin $ human li$e but *ust the

BJ



natural result $ a bad cnscience abut im"enitent Negrbaiting r general "litical

back)ardness% That is "art $ the legacy $ Russeau in the dctrinaire Nrth% As +hili" Rah#

says $ Henry 8ames! he ,)as al)ays identi$ying his nati#e land )ith inncence and =sim"lehuman nature!= an idea )hich his 2ur"ean critics ha#e nt $und it easy t s)all)%, There is

ne#er any histric sense any mre than there is any inncence! )here this illusin $ inncence

"re#ails% A "assage $rm aulkner=s Absalm! Absalm: may hel" us t see the cntrast9

It )as a summer $ )istaria% The t)ilight )as $ull $ it and $ the smell $ his $ather=s cigar as they satn the $rnt gallery a$ter su""er until it )uld be time $r Euentin t start! )hile in the dee" shaggyla)n bel) the #eranda the $ire$lies ble) and dri$ted in s$t randm'the dr! the scent! )hich $i#emnths later Mr% Cm"sn=s letter )uld carry u" $rm Mississi""i and #er the lng irn Ne)2ngland sn) and int Euentin=s sittingrm at Har#ard! 4It )as a day $ listening5 t'thelistening! the hearing in 1FF mstly abut that )hich he already kne)! since he had been brn in andstill breathed the same air in )hich the church bells had rung n that Sunday mrning in 1BB and! nSundays! heard e#en ne $ the riginal three bells in the stee"le )here descendants $ the same "igens strutted and crned r )heeled in shrt curses resembling s$t $luid "ainsmears n the s$t

summer sky%

T this as e(egesis ne may a""end Tate=s remark9 ,The Sutherner can almst )ish $r his ease

the Nrthern cntem"t $r his kind $ histry he )uld like t belie#e that histry is nt a #ast bdy $ cncrete $act t )hich he must be lyal! but nly a surce $ mechanical $rmulas%, r the "ragmatist there can be n &uestin $ a "assinate and lyal cntem"latin $ histry% r

him it is e("licitly an armry $rm )hich he dra)s the )ea"ns t ad#ance )hate#er cn#ictin

he may! at the mment! entertain%

-hy has it ne#er ccurred t anybdy t cnsider the reasn )hy e#ery Suthern n#elist is a

teller $ tales. This is true nt nly $ +e! Simms! and $ e#en Mark T)ain! but $ <atherine

Anne +rter! Mildred Haun! Andre) Lytle! 2llen lasg)! 8hn +eale 0ish"! Rbert +enn

-arren! -illiam aulkner! Carline rdn! T% S% Stribling! Stark @ung! and 8ames 0ranch

Cabell% The tale is the $rm mst natural t a "e"le )ith a "assinate histrical sense $ li$e% r

in the tale! e#ents march n! "assing smetimes #er and smetimes arund human li#es%Indi#idual character is inter)#en )ith the e#ents but is subrdinate% That is )hy the Suthern

n#el is! at $irst glance! s #ery de$icient in the "rtrayal $ human character% As Lacy 0uchan!

the narratr $ The athers! says9 ,I ha#e a stry t tell but I cannt e("lain the stry% I cannt

say9 i$ Susan had nt married erge +sey then Susan )uld nt ha#e kn)n 8ane +sey and

in$luenced her%, This sense $ the $atality and im"ersnality $ e#ents )uld be u"set at nce by

elabrate character analysis% Instead $ shar"ly de$ined mti#es! there$re! and clearcut $ramesarund "e"le! their indi#idual "tential! the charge $ s"iritual energy that is in them! is

indicated $rm time t time as the narrati#e "rceeds% ,He )as a hatchet$aced! im"assi#e yung

man! &uite hnest'said my $ather'$ the small$arming class $r generatins9 i$ he ne#er

entered ur $rnt dr! )e ne#er entered his sim"ly because )e )ere nt )anted%, The

im"ersnal scial cde )hich "ermits a $rmal e("ressin $ in)ard emtin makes it &uite "intless $r "e"le t inter"ret ne anther cnstantly! as they d in mst ,realistic, n#els%

There is thus in the Suthern n#el a #acuum )here )e might e("ect intrs"ectin% 4It is &uite "rnunced 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 8hn

2rskine ntes that a shar" di$$erence bet)een the scuts $ C"er and Simms is that C"er

insists that the success $ his scuts 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$estyle here )hich hlds $r all Suthern )riters% The )rk $ Thmas-l$e! $r e(am"le! "artakes $ully $ this character! e(ce"t that in his e("erience the im"ersnal

attitude brn $ $rmali6ed scial symbls! )hich $inally le$t each "ersn entirely lcked u" in

his )n "assinate slitude! )as intlerable9

B



He understd that men )ere $re#er strangers t ne anther! that n ne e#er cmes really t kn)anyne! that im"risned in the dark )mb $ ur mther! )e cme t li$e )ithut ha#ing seen her $ace!that )e are gi#en t her arms a stranger! and that! caught in the insluble "risn $ being! )e esca"e itne#er! n matter )hat arms may clas" us! )hat muth may kiss us! )hat heart may )arm us% Ne#er!

ne#er! ne#er! ne#er! ne#er%

-l$e has all the "assin )ithut any $ the $rmal means $ cnstraint and cmmunicatin

)hich make it tlerable% He )as a Sutherner by attitude but nt by traditin% Thus he stretcheshimsel$ dramatically #er that abyss $ "ersnalism )hich is the negatin $ e#ery ci#ili6ed

agreement and e$$rt% The same can be said $ the $rantic "u""yism $ the early 0yrn% 0ut0yrn had the energy and luck t achie#e a &uite im"ersnal "ise! $inally and -l$e might #ery

)ell ha#e dne the same! in time% 0y cntrast! in Stark @ung! emtinal intensity $cuses

shar"ly in the sha"e $ a huse! a rm! r the m#ement $ hands% ,They )ere lng hands! )hite

and shining % % % % As a child I used t )atch her hands and used t think she lit the candles my

merely tuching them%, There is nthing here $r the analytical mind t sei6e n% Here is rather

,skill $ the interir mind t $ashin dignity )ith sha"es $ air%, ;nce the scial symbl $ aninterir rder $ intense "ersnal li$e has been e#ked $r cntem"latin! the )riter "asses n

)ithut cmment% Mr% @ung=s dee" sym"athy )ith Italian sciety 4ne recalls his $ine

a""reciatin $ >use5 is as natural as 0ish"=s $r rance r Andre) Lytle=s $r S"ain% It is clear that >e St! the Cn&uistadr in At the Mn=s Inn! is n mere histrical $igure but the symbl

$ sme "ersnal and cntem"rary "ressure9 ,-e )ent $r days and )eeks at a time lacking any

sciety! and )hat )e had )as $ men $ ur )n calling! silent and cntem"lati#e men gi#en at

mments t "assinate actin%,

The teller $ tales like these may "r#ide a great deal $ cn#entinal descri"tin! as a Lytle r a

aulkner des% >escri"tin $ "hysical en#irnment is a$ter all $ "rime im"rtance t the authr

$ "assinate narrati#e )hether Sctt r +e! -rds)rth in ,Michael!, r T)ain in Huckleberryinn% It is a ma*r means $ cntrlling emtin res"nse! as the $irst "age $ A are)ell t Arms

illustrates% In Suthern )riting e(ternal nature is usually a ma*r actr r "layer in the narrati#e!

as $r e(am"le the heath in Hardy! the sea In Cnrad! r the ri#er itsel$ in Huckleberry inn% 0ut$r all that! the Suthern stryteller takes a great deal $r granted in his readers% He assumes a

large stck $ cmmn e("erience and a set $ basic attitudes )hich make the sur$ace sim"licity

$ Suthern $ictin rather dece"ti#e% The sur$ace cm"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 elabrately mti#ated characters! nt men $ "assin% There is really n

"arad( in the $act that intensely sel$analytical and intrs"ecti#e "e"le are the nes $r )hm

endless actin is the nly catharsis! "assinate natures are nt at all sel$analytical yet seem t be

brdingly cntem"lati#e and la6y% In The 0east in the 8ungle 8ames has $inally this t say $ the

li$elng esthetic calculatins $ 8hn Marcher9 ,N "assin had e#er tuched him % % % % He had

seen utside $ his li$e! nt learned it )ithin! the )ay a )man )as murned )hen she had been

l#ed $r hersel$ % % % he had been the man $ his time! the man! t )hm nthing n earth )as tha#e ha""ened%,

In cntrast! Carline rdn=s Aleck Maury! S"rtsman says at the end $ his li$e9

,I sat there until nearly midnight and during thse $ur r $i#e hurs I engaged! I imagine! in mreintrs"ectin than in all the rest $ my li$e "ut tgether% I kne) suddenly )hat it )as I had li#ed by % % % % I had kn)n $rm the $irst that it )as all luck I had gne abut seeking it! )ith! as it )ere! thea#erted eyes $ a sa#age "raying t his gd % % % % >elight % % % I had li#ed by it $r si(ty years% I kne)n) )hat it )as I had al)ays $eared9 that this elatin! this delight by )hich I li#ed might g $rmme % % % % -ell! it had gne and it might ne#er cme again % % % % -hen I a)ke in the mrning'and I belie#e this is the strangest thing that has e#er ha""ened t me'I had a "lan % % % % I )uld set mysel$

de$inite "rblems % % % %,

BF



+assin at an end! Aleck! as it )ere! becmes a ,@ankee, #ernight% Tate re$ers t this srt $

"lanned! lst li$e9

Think $ tmrr)%

Make a $irm "stulate

;$ sim"licity in desire and act

unded n the best hy"theses

>esire t eat secretly! alne! lestRitual crru"t ur charity%

The )hle histry $ this Nrthern cn$usin is in a line r s $ Andersn=s ,The 2gg,9 ,She

)as a tall silent )man )ith a lng nse and trubled grey eyes% r hersel$ she )anted nthing%r ather and mysel$ she )as incurably ambitius%, A mre #iciusly disintegrating $rmula is

unimaginable%

-hat has been said s $ar may ser#e as a means t get a reader int sme intelligible relatin tSuthern literature% H)e#er! it cannt "r"erly be said t be an intrductin t the numerus

)riters themsel#es% The reasn $r stressing )hat all Suthern )riters ha#e in cmmn! rather

than the indi#idual ntes an idims! has been t dra) attentin t the nature $ that ci#ili6edtraditin in )hich they all share% That is )hy it may nt be amiss t cnclude these bser#atins

by "inting ut sme $urther interests shared by Suthern )riters as result $ their "assinate

attitude t li$e% In nne $ them is there any discernible e$$rt t e#ade the #ery un"leasant limits

and cnditins $ human li$e'ne#er any burking $ the $act $ e#il% +erha"s -l$e is! in thisres"ect! least satis$actry al all9

Health )as t be $und in the steady stare $ the cats and dgs! r in the smth #acant ch"s $ the "easant% 0ut he lked n the $aces $ the lrds $ the earth'and he sa) them )asted and de#ured by the beauti$ul disease $ thught and "assin % % % % The creatures $ rmantic $ictin! the #icius dll$aces $ the m#ie )men! the brutal idit regularity $ the $aces in the ad#ertisements! and $aces $ the yung cllege men and )men! )ere stam"ed in a muld $ enamelled #acancy! and became

unclean t him%

The sense $ belnging t a great chain $ "ersn and e#ents! "assi#e yet res"nsible! is

e#ery)here in aulkner9 ,I seem t ha#e been brn int this )rld )ith s $e) $athers that I ha#et many brthers t utrage and shame )hile ali#e and hence t many descendants t be&ueath

my little "rtin $ lust and harm t at death % % % %, Like)ise in 8hn +eale 0ish"9

This is my bld! my bld that beatsIn blithe bys= bdies

And shall yet run 4; death:5

U"n a bright inhabited star%

2&ually in T% S% Stribling9 ,Thrugh )hat bscure channels his bld had $l)ed since thatdistant hur in his $ather=s barn % % % % It )as like strangling a "ythn at night % % % the chain $

)rngs and #ilences ut $ )hich his li$e had been mlded % % % %,

,0ld, is! $ curse! a symbl as )ell as a $act in Suthern )riting% It is intensely related t thelyalty t histrical $act! traditin! $amily! name% As Cabell says9 ,% % % ne trait at least the

children $ Lich$ield share in cmmn% -e are lyal% -e gi#e but nce and )hen )e gi#e! )e

gi#e all that )e ha#e%, Symblically assciated )ith this "assinate bld lyalty in all Suthern

$ictin ges its disease'the shad) $ incest! the a#arice $ the a$$ectins! as St% Thmas calls

it% -hile it may suggest great +h%>% "ssibilities! it is actually #ery cm"le( and! artistically!

symblical% In n instance is it sentimentally e("lited! as in rd! the dramatist% Rather! in Tate!

Stribling! and aulkner! it is incidental t the tragic $atality $ the larger theme%

D



Inse"arable $rm the "r$und acce"tance $ the destiny $ ne=s bld and kin ges a

cntem"latin $ death )hich "er#ades all Suthern )riting% It ges al)ays )ith the "assinate

cntem"latin $ transient beauty! as in the light "ise $ Ransm=s ,0lue irls,9

r I culd tell yu a stry )hich is true

I kn) a lady )ith a terrible tngue!

0lear eyes $allen $rm blue!

All her "er$ectins tarnished'and yet it is nt lngSince she )as l#elier than any $ yu%

The cn&uerr )rm haunts Cabell=s 8urgen9

Nessus ta""ed )ith a $re$inger u"n the back $ 8urgen=s hand% ,-rm=smeat: this is the destined$d! d )hat yu )ill! $ small )hite )rms% This by and by )ill be a struggling "ale crru"tin! like

seething milk% That t is a hard saying! 8urgen% 0ut is a true saying%,

inally! there is basic in any traditin $ intellectual and scial "assin a cult $ $eminine beauty

and elegance% A $eeling $r the $rmal! ci#ili6ing ")er $ the "assinate a""rehensin $ a

styli6ed $eminine elegance! s b#ius in Suthern li$e and letters! stems $rm +lat! blssms inthe trubadurs! >ante! and the Renaissance +latnists! and is inse"arable $rm the curtly

cnce"t $ li$e% There is a strng secular #ein in this traditin! des"ite its a$$inity )ith sme$rms $ Christian mystical e("ressin! )hich )as e(cluded entirely $rm that branch $

schlastic s"eculatin )hich $lurished in Ne) 2ngland% +erha"s n $urther e("lanatin $ the

bearings $ this matter need be gi#en than t say that in this! as in s many things! Suthern

)riters are at ne )ith @eats in his #isin $ things9

The clud"ale unicrns! the eyes $ a&uamarine!

The &ui#ering hal$clsed eyelids! the rags $ clud r $ lace!

;r eyes that rage has brightened! arms it has made lean!

i#e "lace t an indi$$erent multitude! gi#e "lace

T bra6en ha)ks% Nr sel$delighting re#erie! Nr hate $ )hat=s t cme! nr "ity $r )hat=s gne!

Nthing but the gri" $ cla)! and the eye=s cm"lacency!

The innumerable clanging )ings that ha#e "ut ut the mn%

D1



2rasmus and Castigline% 4The +rince $ Machia#elli stems $rm a ttally distinct traditin $

schlastic s"eculatin! thugh it still tends t be cn$used )ith Cicernian traditin%5

The encycl"edic ideal $ ,Renaissance man, )as cnsciusly and e("licitly that $ Cicer=s

ratr! )hether e(em"li$ied in a $urteenthcentury Italian humanist! r a si(teenthcentury

S"enser! Sidney! r in Shakes"eare=s Hamlet r Henry 7% This meant that the ne) gentry )ere

educated alng the aristcratic$rensic lines $ Cicer=s >e ;ratre! as anybdy can determine

$rm cnsidering the ingredients $ gentlemanly educatin in any 2ur"ean cuntry $ thesi(teenth century% S $ar as America is cncerned! this )as a $act $ decisi#e im"rtance! since

7irginia! and the Suth in general! )as t recei#e the "ermanent stam" $ this Cicernian ideal%

This is the highly "ractical and gentlemanly ideal in )hich kn)ledge and actin are

subrdinated t a "litical gd% It is thus n accident that the creati#e "litical $igures $

American li$e ha#e been mlded in the Suth% -hether ne cnsiders 8e$$ersn r Lincln! ne is

cn$rnted )ith a mind aristcratic! legalistic! encycl"edic! $rensic! habitually e("ressing itsel$ in the mde $ an el&uent )isdm% This is a $act $ the utmst rele#ance t the understanding $

+e! as )e shall see%

T $cus the $acts abut +e! it is necessary t understand a traditin )hlly 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 schlastic traditin! and

"r$undly ""sed t ,humanism%, 0rie$ly! the thecratic $unders $ Har#ard and rulers $

Ne) 2ngland )ere Cal#inist di#ines! $ully trained in the s"eculati#e thelgy )hich had arisen

$r the $irst time in the t)el$th century the "rduct $ that dialectical methd in thelgy )hich is

rightly assciated )ith +eter Abelard% Unlike Luther and many 2nglish +rtestants! Cal#in andhis $ll)ers )ere schlmen! ""sed t the ld thelgy $ the athers )hich 2rasmus and

humanistCicernians had brught back t general attentin a$ter the cntinuus "redminance

$ schlastic thelgy since the t)el$th century% T the humanists nbdy culd be a true

inter"reter $ Scri"ture! a true e("nent $ the "hils"hi Christi! )h had nt had a $ull classical

training% S Cathlic and +rtestant schlmen alike )ere! $r these men! the ,barbarians!, the

,ths $ the Srbnne!, crru"ting )ith ,mdernistic, trash 4the schlmen )ere calledmderni $rm the $irst5 the el&uent "iety and )isdm $ the athers% 4The athers )ere calledthe ,ancients, r anti&ui thelgi%51

It need hardly be said that this alignment $ traditin thr)s a startlingly #i#id light n the

relatins bet)een learning and religin in the si(teenth century! )hich subse&uent stages $ theriginal &uarrel ha#e bscured% In $act! it means nthing less than this9 that $rm +etrarch t

Ramus the #ilent &uarrels abut the relati#e claim $ di$$erent srts $ learning riginated in the

cn$licting claims $ grammar and dialectic t be the e(clusi#e methd in thelgy% The sectarian

$gs )hich! $rm the beginning! in#l#ed the basic intellectual struggles $ the Renaissance! ha#e

like)ise "re#ented American histrians $rm seeing clearly the mst im"rtant intellectual $act

abut America the $act that! gegra"hically se"arated $r the $irst time in their ageld struggle!there e(ist! "r$undly entrenched in this cuntry! the t) radically ""sed intellectual

traditins )hich ha#e been )arring since Scrates turned dialectics against the rhetric $ his

S"hist teachers% Scrates turned $rm rhetric t dialectics! $rm $rensics t s"eculatin and

de$initin! raising the issue )hich "itted +lat and Aristtle against their $rmidable ri#al

Iscrates! and )hich "itted the $rensic Cicer against Carneades and the Stics% The same

&uarrel as t )hether grammar and rhetric! n the ne hand! r dialectics! n the ther! shuldha#e "recedence in rgani6ing the hierarchy $ kn)ledge is the key t understanding the

Renaissance $rm the t)el$th t the se#enteenth centuries% 8ust )hen the &uarrel! bth )ithin the

Cathlic Church and utside it! )as reaching its term! re"resentati#es $ bth "arties in the

&uarrel migrated t America% The schlmen )ent t Ne) 2ngland! the &uasihumanist gentry t

7irginia% 4At this time! mre#er! the Anglican Church had! )ith the accessin $ the "atristic

DB



and Cicernian 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 ryal

a""r#al $r their "atristic rhetric and grammatical thelgy% Anyh)! this $act cntributedindirectly t directing Suthern educatin alng classicalCicernian lines%5

Har#ard! then! riginated as a little Srbnne! )here in 1G the schlastic methds $ ;ckham

and Cal#in! as streamlined by +etrus Ramus! )ere the sta"le $ educatin% Lgic a dialectics

)ere the basis $ thelgical methd! as $ e#erything else at Har#ard% Here rhetric )as taught!nt $r el&uence! but in rder t teach the yung seminarian h) t rub $$ the csmetic tr"es

$ Scri"ture be$re ging t )rk n the dctrine )ith dialectical dichtmies% Ramus taught a

utilitarian lgic $r )hich he mad the same claims as "ragmatists d $r ,scienti$ic methd%, In

$act! +eirce! 8ames and >e)ey culd ne#er ha#e been heard $ had they nt been nurtured in the

S"eculati#e traditin $ the schlastic thelgians Cal#in and Ramus%?

This hel"s greatly t e("lain a mst "u66ling $act namely! that Ne) 2nglanders ha#e $elt a

"erennial cngeniality $r ne strand $ rench culture% 4This is als true $ Sctsmen! and $r

the same reasns%5 rench uni#ersities! that is t say! sa) t it that "art $ rance remained

schlastic% And >escartes is unthinkable )ithut the Schlmen 4es"ecially the ;ckhamists5! as

+ierre >uhem and 2tienne ilsn ha#e demnstrated% Thus! nt in s"ite $ Cal#inism but because $ it! the Ne) 2nglander $inds himsel$ able t cmmunicate )ith "art $ 2ur"ean

culture% It is nt ther)ise that )e can accunt $r that rich crss$ertili6atin $ seemingly

distinct cultures! )hich ccurred )hen Henry 8ames and T% S% 2lit came int cntact )ith

rance% Su"er$icially! h)e#er! there culd be n greater anmaly 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! schlastic! and academic Ne)

2nglander has natural rts in the Cartesian traditins $ academic rance! s has the Cicernian

Suth maintained relatins )ith Cicernian and encycl"edist rance% r ne main current $ rench letters in the se#enteenth century is that $ Cicer an el&uent )isdm "litically

ins"ired! and based n uni#ersal learning% -hether it is 0ssuet and Crneille r 7ltaire and

>idert! ne has t deal )ith the $rensic! "litical el&uence $ a great traditin )hse )ell

de$ined rts can easily be e(amined in the schls $ that age% Thus! the American Suth

naturally $inds a cngenial milieu in rance $ the eighteenth century the rance $ the

encycl"edists )h rebelled against >escartes% These men "rclaimed the Cicernian rigins $

their aristcratic re"ublicanism in the #ery name they bear% And 2rasmus! Mre! 0acn! S)i$t!0lingbrke! 0urke! r 7ltaire )uld ha#e alike a""r#ed the linguistic and $rensic "rgram

)hich 8e$$ersn dre) u" $r his uni#ersity%

+e must h) be $cused in relatin t this dichtmy $ 2ur"ean and American culture% Thus!merely t mentin The Autcrat at the 0reak$ast Table is t summn u" a ty"e $ man and a ty"e

$ )riting )hich are antithetical t +e=s mde $ being% The Ne) 2ngland ethse naturally $inds

its highest le#el $ e("ressin in the schlastic man! and the result is that the Ne) 2ngland "r$essr is autcratic% There is n scial li$e ce(tensi#e )ith him! nr ne able t embdy and

critici6e his thught and actins% 0rught u" amidst this scial nudity and "edaggical

earnestness! T% S% 2lit cn$rnted the situatin directly in ,Traditin and the Indi#idual Talent%,Here it )as that he e("lded the heresy $ ,sel$e("ressin!, $ ,message!, and $ artistic

islatin and $utility! )hich had $und such cngenial sil in Ne) 2ngland% ;n the ther hand!

#i#idly a)are $ the de$ects $ his immediate scial en#irnment! +e is yet naturally and

una$$ectedly csm"litan% 0ecause he understd "r$undly the nature $ his artistic

de"endence n that sciety! he )as its #igrus and unremitting critic! scrutini6ing its dress! its

manners! its reading! its $urniture and science and he utili6ed these things as the basic materials

$ his "rse% r he is the master $ a "rse )hse lucidity and resilience are unmistakably )ing

t sciety in )hich gd talk is cmmn%

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All his li$e +e $ught )ith el&uence and #ersatility $ learning t maintain serius standards in

current literature! t e(tend the sc"e $ American letters! and t banish "archial habits $ mind%

T the end he maintained the need and "racticality $ a critical re#ie) )hich )uld trans$rm thetaste $ sciety at large% Thus! unlike the Ne) 2ngland academicians and recluses! +e )as the

man $ letters in sciety% He )as nt "r$essrial but "r$essinal in the $rensic traditin $ >r%

8hnsn and Macaulay%

This is nt the "lace in )hich t "rceed t a care$ul study $ +e=s )ritings in relatin t histraditin% H)e#er! the kind $ im"rtance )hich essentially scial and "litical "rblems ha#e

in an understanding $ his )rk must be indicated brie$ly% r it )as $rm the e("erience $ the

7irginia $ his day +e )as able t "r*ect thse symbls $ alienatin and inner cn$lict )hich

)n the immediate assent $ 0audelaire himsel$% 40audelaire )as als an aristcratic dandy! and

his de#tin t Sil#er Age and "atristic rhetric has im"licatins )hich relate him decisi#ely t

the Cicernian traditin )hich has been described%5 That 0audelaire shuld ha#e hailed +e as hedid has a meaning ttally unlike that )hich belngs t the recgnitin $ 2mersn by Carlyle% T

a""reciate the $ull signi$icance $ this e#ent remained $r us t disc#er tday $r 2nglish "etry

had t )ait anther se#enty years $r T% S% 2lit $inally t incr"rate 0audelaire=s sensibility and

el&uence% N mre striking testimny culd be asked $r +e=s central lcatin 2ur"ean

traditin% And yet he )n that "lace by the uncm"rmising integrity )ith )hich he dealt )ith

his lcal American e("erience% -hile the Ne) 2ngland dns "rimly turned the "ages $ +latand 0uddha beside a teac6y! and )hile 0r)ning and Tennysn )ere creating a "archial $g

$r the 2nglish mind t rela( in! +e ne#er lst cntact )ith the terrible "aths $ his time%

Ce#ally )ith 0audelaire! and lng be$re Cnrad and 2lit! he e("lred the heart $ darkness%

-ithin this "ers"ecti#e $ dee"lying cultural dichtmy it becmes "ssible $r the critic t

sh) that ,the heart $ darkness, $r 0yrn! 0audelaire! and +e is &uite distinct $rm )hat it is

$r Ha)thrne and Mel#ille% 2#il is a $act! "erha"s the mst im"rtant $act! in the Ne) 2ngland

cnsciusness% 0ut the e#il )hich +e and 0audelaire e("erienced had #ery di$$erent rts $rm

that $ the Nrth% It is the e#il )hich led 0yrn t e#ke endless Satanic heres as b*ecti#e

crrelati#es in his "ems! the e#il! nt $ Cal#inistic de"ra#ity! but $ the s"lit man and the s"litci#ili6atin% The "sychlgical e("lratin $ uneasy cnscience as carried n by Ha)thrne r Mel#ille culd nly regain cntact )ith 2ur"ean cnsciusness a$ter 8ames and 2lit had

#isited the $unts $ rench Culture% 0ut +e li#ed in a cmmunity )hich had ne#er breached its

relatin )ith the riginal traditins $ its culture% And let us remember that these traditins )ere!

lng be$re the si(teenth century! strngly anti"athetic t thse )hich )ere brught t Ne)

2ngland%

Cnsidering this cultural dichtmy n) in a ne) "ers"ecti#e! it is "ssible t a""rach e#en

clser t a slutin $ a ma*r +e "rblem9 -hy is +e essentially "reccu"ied )ith symbls

and situatins $ hrrr and alienatin. ;r it can be "ut this )ay9 -hy did the s"lit

cnsciusness $ an aristcraticseigneurial sciety e("ress itsel$ in symbls $ Satanism! sadistichrrr! $ $ear! #ilence! and deslatin. 0yrn! 0audelaire! and +e are here tgether in a

literary traditin )hich stretches back at least t Cer#antes! and )hich is much ali#e tday! e#en

in such degenerate $rms as crime $ictin )ith its! signi$icantly! dandi$ied sleuths%

-ithut cnsidering Crneille and Racine! the matter is b#ius enugh in Miltn=s Satan! and

e#en mre in the cult $ literary diablism assciated )ith that Satan in the eighteenth and

nineteenth centuries% The issues are strikingly de$ined by Mar#ell in his Hratian ;de! )here he

e("lains h) the aristcratic ideals $ nble being ha#e been s)e"t aside by the #ulgar

Crm)ell! )hse genius is $r destructi#e actin rather than $r harmny $ thught and $eeling%

Tradesman Richardsn $$ers an b#ius incarnatin $ the same cn$lict in his Clarissa

Harl)e% This time it is $rm the ,Crm)ellian, "int $ #ie)% Thus L#elace! the "rtty"e $

the aristcratic #illain! "r#ides us )ith the "attern $ the 0yrnic her and the #illain $

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7ictrian meldrama! t say nthing $ >u"in! Sherlck Hlmes! Lrd +eter -imsey! Rhett

0utler! and the Hlly)d "anthen% The characteristic "se is that $ the man ,beauti$ul but

damned!, the man )h scrns the ignble cn#entins and "etty! calculating bustle $ cmmercial sciety% This man is )hlly alienated $rm sciety! n ne hand! and $eared and

admired by the cmmercial members $ sciety! n the ther hand% The entire cn$lict is "er$ectly

dramati6ed in the relatins bet)een 2dgar +e and his guardian! 8hn Allan% 8hn Allan secretly

admired +e &uite as much as Richardsn re#ered L#elace% Allan des"ised himsel$ in the "resence $ +e! and +e in turn "itied and scrned him%

A $igure $ great interest! )h can best be seen in relatin t )hat has here been said $ +e! is

-hitman% Many "e"le ha#e mistaken him $r anther #ariety $ Threau r the nble sa#age $

the $rntier% Actually! as Sidney Lanier #ery clearly sa) and e("lained lng ag! -hitman is an

in#erted 0yrnic dandy% His traditin is that $ the aristcratic and "litical Suth% He has

nthing in cmmn )ith the dns $ Ne) 2ngland% The in#erted 0yrnic dandyism $ -hitmanis e#ident enugh as sn as ne a""lies the ci"her $ re#ersal% +ut uncritical embrace $ all

scial $acts in "lace $ $astidius scrn and )ithdra)al% +ut "se $ nble and mni#rus ykel

$r "se $ satiated aestheticism $ the )rldling% +ut tnes $ ,barbaric ya)" #er the r$s $

the )rld, $r the elegant scrn $ a 0yrnic her e(criating mankind $rm a midnight crag% +ut

bisterus adlescent athleticism $r the )rld)eary $laneur! and the "attern is cm"lete% That

is )hy -hitman )as s eagerly acce"ted by the aesthetes )h had nly t make ne sim"lead*ustment that $ re#ersal in rder t $raterni6e )ith him% +erha"s this als e("lains his #ery

cnsiderable $ailure t cn#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 restre circulatin% Mre im"rtant than this im"lied

#aluatin is the $act that America=s "litical "et belngs t the aristcratic Suthern traditin! a

re"resentati#e $ the Cicernian and $rensic ideal $ el&uent )isdm%

-ithut at "resent "ursuing this theme $urther! it can be maintained that )hereas +e=s art is

"litical! in that its #ehicle and dramatic rgani6atin cncern thse symbls )hich e("ress a

basic s"lit in sciety and "ersnality! the art $ Ha)thrne! Mel#ille! and 8ames is )hlly nn

"litical in its cncern )ith the laceratin $ merely indi#idual cnscience e#en )hen thiscnscience is ty"ical $ a certain ty"e $ cmmunity% r the $act )hich cn$rnts this indi#idualcnscience is! $inally! nt "litical dislcatin but the thelgical "rblem $ mral de"ri#atin%

>istinct $rm this ty"e! and )ithin the crdinates $ a thrughly ratinal sensibility! +e

brught mrbidity int $cus! ga#e it manageable "r"rtins! held it u"! nt $r emulatin! but

$r cntem"latin%

In his )n $ashin! then! +e had as great a )rking $aith in ci#ili6atin as 8e$$ersn himsel$! and

by de$ining and "r*ecting the inner emtinal drama $ his time he "rbably did as much as

8e$$ersn t energi6e American li$e% r there is intense #itality in his ,mrbidity%,

N;T2S

1 The best "ublished accunt $ the ancient &uarrel bet)een the grammatical and dialectical

methds in thelgy is in R% +% Mc<en=s "a"er! ,Renaissance and Methd!, Studies in the

Histry $ Ideas! #l% III%

? R% M% -ea#er 4,The ;lder Religiusness in the Suth!, Se)anee Re#ie)! S"ring! 1FDB5

"r#ides a gd deal $ incidental dcumentatin $r the "resent "a"er% He cntrasts the

s"eculati#e! Ne) 2ngland thelgy )ith the "ractical! ,"litical, "iety $ the Suth% The )rk $

-erner Smbart! n the ecnmic "lane! makes the same "int9 Schlastic "hils"hy andthelgy "r#ided the indis"ensable #ie)"int and technlgical abstractin )hich brught

abut the rise $ industrial ca"italism% The Suthern resistance t technlgy and industry is

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1-medium is the message

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