|
History and art
Master and Disciple went after a long while to see a circus in the
village. Both were enthralled by the breathtaking and hilarious moments
of it.
 Does
anybody come into your mind after seeing it, Master inquired.
Disciple pondered a while before answering. Then it occurred to him
suddenly as lightening; Charlie Chaplin!
Yes, I was thinking of him too, Master observed, have you seen him?
"Yes master, 'The Circus' and 'The Great Dictator'."
Since disciple's exams were coming at hand, Master thought it was
better to make him analyze what he had learnt from his influence. So he
asked, "So, is Chaplin your favourite comedian?"
"He's the funniest of course," Disciple replied carefully. "but I
wonder if we truly can identify him as a comedian. I always sensed there
was a tinge of deep insightful observation of human folly and, you know,
a sense of rootlessness, or melancholy in the films I've seen him
acting."
Master was pleased. He patted the young genius's back.
Obviously disciple has gained a satisfactory 'consciousness of life
and art' as Master calls it. Master didn't much care for the exam
syllabus Disciple was expected to study from him. Master never liked
exams in his life. But he knew his responsibility and undertook it
whenever he thought he should intervene to disciple's confines.
Disciple was the only prospect for him to leave his inheritance with
having grown considerably old.
Disciple had plunged into a moment of reflection. "Can art survive
without politics Master?" He looked at Master.
"I think you're asking it with regard to 'The Great Dictator'...."
"Errr.... yes, I think so." Disciple was in apparent discomfort to
base that multifaceted question just on one work.
"Well," Master cast a look at his watch. It read 6.30p.m. Disciple
started his evening studies a few minutes before 7. Master knew it. He
realized this wasn't the best of times to send Disciple a long winding
journey by himself to find for himself an enlightening answer. "it is
about recreation and imagination, isn't it? It is a wonderful remake of
imagination and history..."
"And history has politics all alongside it!" Disciple was now having
his way.
"That's something to consider of course. But from your answer, I
hoped you've understood history is also inseparable from art...." |
