Books (and other stuff) of 2017 - including the timely Middle England

Books

I'm currently reading one of those on Barack Obama's list - the excellent (and optimistic) Factfulness  others read include Jonathan Coe's 'Middle England' and found it offered some humour and insight on what for many is the issue of the day (perhaps the decade?).

Waterstones

Christmas (and the sales) have supplied me with new reading material including Art book, 1001 Paintings by Stephen Farthing and a book (with commentary) on Pliny The Youngers' letters - don't expect it'll be an easy reader but not all good things are.

Music/CD/Film

Not been a year in which I've bought much music but did get McCartney's latest  - Egypt Station (which is to my mind workmanlike but not as good as New  - I do like the cover though!) and we did go and see The Human League (yet again) also a rare visit to the Cinema was to see The Queen film Bohemian Rhapsody (which to me was 'too' Hollywood to the point of parody).

Philosophy and Religion (2)

On to the next topic which is labelled 'Supernatural Beings' which reflects on how Monotheistic religions  (like Islam and Judaism) have accommodated earlier multi-God faiths  by  the (near) worship of Angels and Saints. 

Reflections are worth looking at..

Time has been passing and I've failed to look at what's going on personally, no journal or pictures for a few weeks - it's time to rectify it and look back and forward.

I will try to restart and perhaps catch-up (where appropriate).

First

Christmas (the challenges)

Nice to have a present

Christmas has to me felt even more interminable than usual -it does pressure many (me not so much), the cost is both emotional and financial to those who can often feel unreasonably and unseasonably strained.

Pre 'The Big Day' had a bit of a tidy up and found presents from last year that were still hanging around and I expect High Street Charity shops will be on the end of a bonanza of stuff - seems maximum consumption may have been reached in some of the  western/developed economies.

 

[Looking at this I find a reminder of what government should do to get their domestic economies' moving (should they choose to) which is to give money to the poor who will spend rather than the rich who will save.

   

Speaking to people I meet the reports of how much they enjoy their winter holidays - have been surprised that some have developed strategies that help them manage their particular issues - and goodness knows what those who take their cues from Social Media will feel at their perceived inadequacies.

 

Christmas (the payback)

Well to be fair it isn't all bad news  - we (or many of us anyway)  do get a chance to spend time away from the treadmill and have a bit of a digital detox.  

A time for 'kids' of all ages in Portsmouth

Not real snow..

Of course Christmas (the gift giving bit anyway) is for children and there is pleasure there in gifts, games and too many sweets.

 

We had a weekend in Portsmouth to buy some gifts (in theory) and there are Christmas markets all over the place at this time of year.

Of course the way that Christmas runs into New Year also lets us reflect what we have done and how we might improve in the New Year.

For my part I'm back on the Philosophy Trail (see below) and also going to try and write a story.

Looking Back

Am happy to report I've made some efforts to improve my diet (less Meat and Sweets) and (perhaps) less alcohol.

Looking Forward -Philosophy/Religion  (The Natural World)

A couple of years back I worked through a Marcus Weeks book and I did start  another (similar one) called  'Religion in Minutes' which I'll  try to work through again)- I'm now much drawn to Stoicism and would recommend  subscribing to Daily Stoic. 

 So the first thought/ subject is The Natural World - as Man moved to group living and sometimes had excess he/she became able to spend time working out more about existence, life was dominated by nature and  the heavens appeared mysterious - society looked for order and existence narratives.

Media

Sad to hear that Sister Wendy - Art expert has died, yesterday I listened to her (and also E H Gombrich) editions of Desert Island Discs - both inspirational and serious people, I hope to take some time to follow similar directions to them and read my copy of The Story of Art - Sister Wendy spoke of how she used to read 2 books every day!

Me

Photo's as before on Twitter daily

Not my taste but still worthwhile (CityLit 100 western Paintings)

Last week we were again at V&A looking at many (I suppose) alternatives to painting.

Some were good - like the Intarsia Panel credited to Fra Raffaele da Brescia  - this is an example of Trick of the eye/Trompe-l'œil.

Although the reliefs were very much beyond my taste (perhaps they inspired Jeff Koons?) there are plenty of things to note there.

Here are 3 works that I don't like!

The Annunciation by Giovanni della Robbia

Altarpiece the assumption of the virgin

The Ferruci Altarpiece

Klimt Schiele at RA

Now at the RA

So as well as 100 years since the end of the First World War it's a 100 years since the death of Austrian artists Klimt (at 56) and Schiele (at just 28).

The RA is holding an exhibition of drawings of the two artists in Piccadilly and it's proving (from my visit anyway)  to be pretty well attended.

Klimt and Schiele were
both involved in Secession group.

The drawings further reveal Klimt as a fine draughtsman.

Klimt could draw 

I enjoyed looking at Klimt's work (paintings) previously but had not realised how sexually charged his work  (and Schiele's) was - the artists were known to each other (and both were involved with Secession group)  and it seems influenced each others work.

This was a poster from Klimt 

Schiele in particular was associated with the Expressionists' School - following the exhibition I took a look at the recent BBC documentary (Dangerous Desires) on Schiele - certainly his lifestyle and work still seems contemporary, much of the work is quite erotic and confrontational.