Eurocentric Art and Culture in the close of the Nineteenth Century

Evolving from realism, in which verisimilitude or a near photographic reproduction of a subject was made, the modernist movement towards the end of the nineteenth century had as its goal pure creativity to the ultimate degree possible for each individual artist. Easy communication with the audience, reader and viewer in familiar language, form and content was no longer the objective. It was a break from literalness as evidenced in the poetry of Stephen Mallarme and Paul Verlaine. Similarly, painting was freed from the necessity to be graphic and depicted the first impression made by a scene or an object upon the eye. It was known as impressionist painting, and the works of Monet, Manet, and Renoir are its outstanding example. Imitating art and poetry, music composers departed from “major-minor” system and juxtaposed widely separated chords, like Claude Debussy of France.



This revolutionary shift in various art forms had its reflection in popular culture, subsequently to be known as mass culture. With literacy rates rising after 1870 and increased leisure time due to social legislation, the urban and lower middle classes in Europe began to play an important role in the cultural life of their country as a mass audience. Printing had become a less expensive process giving rise to the so called cheap and affordable “penny press” and “dime novels”. They were neither serious nor had literary merits, but were immensely popular due to their mass availability. The moving picture or the movies were introduced around 1890s and revolutionized the concept of entertainment. These movie theatres catered to people who would not have gone to an opera, a symphony concert or an art gallery. Big time sports made their appearance at this time in Europe and the United States. Most of these sporting events were old, but were the pursuits of upper classes till then. The six day work week provided the worker with a day off so as to participate in such sports or see others to play.

INDIAN THANKSGIVING

The Indian version of Thanksgiving falls in early autumn. It is a remembrance of ancestors one has seen and heard of. It is a pledge of gratitude to them for allowing one to enjoy the colour, sight, smell, taste, vibrancy and wonders of this life, this earth and this universe. They are believed to be among the gods, and one has to be ritually cleansed (by taking a bath, preferably in a river or a pond) before invoking them for their blessings. One has to stand in knee-deep water to do so. If that's not possible, then a padmasana on a mat will do. Some water is needed for achman (ritualistic ablution) and to hold a handful (what else is better than that?) to offer them while chanting the prayer, usually the gayatri mantra. It's a shame that the lawmaker, Manu (circa 2nd century BCE to 4th century CE) did not allow women to participate in this celebration known as TARPAN.

RUKOL NADAM AS BALBAN

After the Arabs ran over Delhi in the 11th century or thereabouts, their Turkish slaves established a sultanate or kingdom. Balban was one of those sultans who suffered from illusions of grandeur. He believed himself to be a descendant of the Persian king Darius, kept a spade like beard and followed outlandish protocols in his court. I was thinking of it as I waited for my turn in the court of similarly bearded rukol nadam in Delhi High Court. An advocate arguing a case stood with his back to me, his hands clasped behind, he was continuously twirling his thumbs. Now to a Bengali like me that was an ominous sign. It meant nil, neti, nahi...Disgusted, I left the court...in the evening my counsel phoned me to inform that I had lost the case.

THE FIRST BLOG

The pest control guy has finished spraying the house with insecticide or whatever cide it is, and I am sitting inhaling a sweet cloying smell. Now, what would happen if I pass out ? The pcg didn't say what antidote was to be used in such an event. So, I am probaly going to experience a near-death sensation. Would it be like a scene from the movie Ghost where Patrick Swayze (may he rest in peace) gets even with his treacherous buddy. Alas, the entity raising such murderous feelings in my mind is a corporate body, which gave me the sack without much ado. Losing consciousness, I slumped over the laptop, then slid on the floor, my mind full of visions of hellish revenge as depicted (nearly) by Hieronymous Bosch during the fall.