The War of Art

Badger

Upon reading my last blog, someone with whom I am intimately related took moral issue with its content. This person criticized me for my fiscal irresponsibility and cited my rage, guilt, and hatred as being the root of that fiscal irresponsibility. This, of course, triggered my entire life-thus-far dilemma, wherein approval of my talent, skill, knack, and creativity has been confined within the parameters of social niceties and norms. All things provocative were immediately dismissed. In short, the execution of technique was the measure of art, and its tameness was its treasure.

I know this is all elemental, but I’m eyeball to eyeball with this monster right now so come with me or click away.

The college I attended was the epitome of this wretched philosophy. It was renowned as a fine arts school. The art students were able to replicate in paint or ink with near photographic precision. The English majors could construct and deconstruct sentence structure with rare eloquence. The musicians’ in depth knowledge of theory matched their instrumental and vocal technical prowess.

However, their repertoire of artistic subjects was limited to choice classical reproductions, religious doctrinal delineations, portraits, and still life mimicry. There was soul, but it was the strangled topiary soul that leers at us all today in the mainstream media, Hollywood, pop music, pornography, fast food, Walmart, Costco, suburbia, Ikea, fashion, orthodoxy, excuse me whilst I mop up my own stark vomit…

The content, flawlessly executed, was formulaic, contrived, G-rated, crucifixion fixated, unoriginal crap. Those who were critical of its deadness were judged as insensitive, while the orchestrated numbness pervaded the campus like a yeast infection.

The Witness

If art is not provocative it is dead. Forget art, if religion isn’t provocative it is dead. If we want to live we must challenge, confront, and grapple. We must terrorize and assault. Life is a narrow bridge. It is a battlefield. Creation is violent.

The ferocity with which we play with life merits our favor amongst the stars. See how the Sun burns against the blackness of space. The stars sing and hum with intent volition in light of all that darkness. The clouds do not drift; they swim hard against the variant barometric pressures. Trees and all green things force their claws against gravity. They dig their roots down in earnest. The animals burn in their presence. Their silence is ever ready to explode into snarls, shrieks, and the frantic efficacy of survival. All stones are fervent. Destruction is the foundation of existence.

Art’s provocation is a threat to outworn forms. It is as destructive as it is creative. It is the consuming fire that throws off heat and light.

Is my art irresponsible and immoral? I certainly hope so.

Keep watching.

By Zeus' Beard

Badger

As I mentioned here I made a single fated mistake that cost me everything. For those who know me, it ain't what you think. My moment of weakness had nothing to do with any pathetic social contract. Simply put: I shaved my beard.

The simple act of shaving initiated the fall of the first domino and a string of karmic causality ensued. My motivation for shaving was vanity. Vanity made me shave and vanity led to all manner of madness thereafter.

Heretofore and nary-a-whit I do vow by the beard of Zeus to never cut my hair or beard again for as long as I breathe. Though it cost me friend and fortune. Though it mark me menial amongst men and markets. Though I lose priority and position, I will never shave again.


The Witness 

Here's what I've learned about the power of beards:

To quote Leviticus 19:27, "You must not shave or cut the corners of the hairs of your head and you are not to trim the edge of your beard."

Now the context for this particular mitzvah was, in part, to contrast the ancient pagan custom of shaving the beard and the sides of the head. Those involved in this practice were death worshippers. Today this practice is observed by the military. 

These guys think they're praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets, but they ain't. Not with haircare that way. They're praying to Death. Death and Hell... because "war is hell", as anyone who's been through that ritual sacrifice will tell you. 

But the "clean" shave and crewcut reminiscent of Orcas worship for soldiers is only part of the picture.

Our culture's pedophilial peter panism is also to blame for a land bereft of beards and men. The Romans used to shave and keep hair short. 

Rome degenerated into a culture of pleasure seeking game boys, who eventually met their end in a whimpering disintegration, spread as thin as their scruff across Europe. 

But enough criticism of man-boys and war-mongers...

What are the benefits of beardom?

According to James Freeman in speaking of the biblical Jewish beard, "The beard is considered a symbol of manhood, and, in some places, of freedom - slaves being compelled to shave their beards in token of servitude."

Beard as a symbol of freedom... hmmm... a beardless man signed the NDAA as I recall.

Aron Moss writes: "The beard is hair that grows down from the head to the rest of the body. It is the bridge between mind and heart, thoughts and actions, theory and practice, good intentions and good deeds. So we don't cut the beard, but rather let it flow freely, to open a direct flow from the ideals and philosophies of our minds into our everyday lifestyle."

Disassociation and cognitive dissidence are hallmarks in our beardless society.

By Sikhi Wiki: "Beard, in general, indicates the age of adults and, therefore, to put an adult to shame for any irresponsible or disgraceful act, it is always the beard that is mentioned and pointed at during the course of the rebukes. So, the people, especially the shopkeepers, who were accustomed to the irresponsible and disgraceful acts of malpractices, cheating, etc. got rid of the beard by shaving it off so that they could not be rebuked by the people pointing towards their beards. Thus, in the Arabian countries, Mohammad allowed the people to cut short their beards to such a length as could be grabbed by the hand so that in the extreme cases of irresponsible and disgraceful acts, the people could get hold of the beards of such bad characters not only to rebuke but also to jolt them by their beards. This cutting short of the beards and shaving off the moustaches under the nostrils in the Arabian countries is mainly based upon the scarcity of water so that the beard and the moustaches could easily be kept hygienically clean under such circumstances but now if there is no scarcity of water in those countries, the people should not cut their beards short and shave off the moustaches under the nostrils any more; otherwise they will be altering natural "Art" of Brahma without any tangible reasons based upon personal hygiene. Whereas the beard is used to rebuke and put the men to shame for the disgraceful acts, the moustaches are normally curled up during a challenge to an adversary who may dare to harm the family honour of the men."

But my favorite of explanations I've found was on IndiaDivine.org where a character called Narasimha writes: "As one does spiritual sadhana, some shakti (can be translated as energy or purity) may be accumulated. However, certain egoistic actions make one lose some or all of the accumulated shakti. Long hair and beard trap some shakti and help avoid situations where one commits an action that results in a loss of all of one's shakti. They improve the control over senses in tricky situations. It is like a small railing atop a mountain. If one wanders off at night, those railings can stop one from falling. A small barrier can make a big difference at critical times. Beard and long hair are like that small barrier. Of course, a small railing cannot save a car driving at 70 mph from plunging down. But it can stop a person wandering at night. Similarly, beard and long hair are not sufficient for control over senses, but one who made a lot of progress and still struggling at some critical times can benefit significantly from long hair and beard."

And this brings me back to my original sin... I shaved and fell. 

Keep watching.