There are a lot of words people use to describe art that really don’t mean much. “Sublime” is just a way of saying “great” — a fancy thumbs up.
Artists write how their work is “liminal” and they only mean “somewhat complex.” Folks who are “deconstructing” are usually just asking questions. As with “sublime,” the original meaning and usage of these words was quite interesting, but now they have become empty cliches.
Thanks for working to resuscitate “sublime,” which is a wonderful concept.
Lovely thoughts, Jim. I often find myself drowning in the meaningless of most of the comments people leave on other platforms. A moment to mark, what... I don't know. It's a weird space to exist in and throw art at, that's for sure.
Thank you Jim I enjoyed this. Reminds me of the feeling (somewhere between sublime and sheer terror) of diving off a ship stopped in mid-ocean (I used to be in the Navy). In warmer climes and when the programme permitted, we’d stop and let people go for a swim. While the objective properties of the water you’re in are no different from those on any day at the beach, the fact that there were often thousands of metres depth beneath us, unknown creatures, and we could see nothing below but interminable dark blue, was enough to take the breath away. That’s what I think of when we talk of these things; the balance of beauty, fear (tending to the irrational) and awe at the magnificence of the natural world.
Beautiful piece. Exceptionally well said. If the sublime is in the moment, and the way in which you feel it, then can it, or should it be captured, or simply felt?
Great essay - gives me a lot to chew on. Random side note, I live in a 1960s house in Colorado Springs, and the picture you posted is haunting. It's like looking at a present day version of my house 😳
Nightswimming is great.
And technically excellent images can move a person, but most often they don’t.
Move people in whatever way you can. Thats my advice. You did that here, I am certain.
Sublime :)
Seriously, a profound and compelling essay, Jim!
There are a lot of words people use to describe art that really don’t mean much. “Sublime” is just a way of saying “great” — a fancy thumbs up.
Artists write how their work is “liminal” and they only mean “somewhat complex.” Folks who are “deconstructing” are usually just asking questions. As with “sublime,” the original meaning and usage of these words was quite interesting, but now they have become empty cliches.
Thanks for working to resuscitate “sublime,” which is a wonderful concept.
Ha. Yes, ‘liminal.’ My dentist asks if I grind my teeth - I say yes and that I blame people over/misusing the word liminal.
Lovely thoughts, Jim. I often find myself drowning in the meaningless of most of the comments people leave on other platforms. A moment to mark, what... I don't know. It's a weird space to exist in and throw art at, that's for sure.
Thank you Jim I enjoyed this. Reminds me of the feeling (somewhere between sublime and sheer terror) of diving off a ship stopped in mid-ocean (I used to be in the Navy). In warmer climes and when the programme permitted, we’d stop and let people go for a swim. While the objective properties of the water you’re in are no different from those on any day at the beach, the fact that there were often thousands of metres depth beneath us, unknown creatures, and we could see nothing below but interminable dark blue, was enough to take the breath away. That’s what I think of when we talk of these things; the balance of beauty, fear (tending to the irrational) and awe at the magnificence of the natural world.
Beautiful piece. Exceptionally well said. If the sublime is in the moment, and the way in which you feel it, then can it, or should it be captured, or simply felt?
What a compelling read. Wilson Cummer left a great comment. There is nothing else I could add or could say better.
Great essay - gives me a lot to chew on. Random side note, I live in a 1960s house in Colorado Springs, and the picture you posted is haunting. It's like looking at a present day version of my house 😳
Splendid. Thank you.
Thanks for this Jim, a really interesting and thought provoking read.