Death and Creativity

By Lisa Marburg Goodman

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140062750
• ISBN13: 9780140062755
• Release Date: March 1983
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 172 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

The ultimate paradox and question of it all

This work is a highly interesting exploration of the subject of how the contemplation of Death effects the creative work of artists and scientists. The heart of the book is a set of interviews with artists and scientists on this basic question. In her introduction Goodman points out to two different approaches one can have to Death. One can think to make the most of one's life by ignoring death, by giving it as little time and attention as possible, by supposing that somehow it will never happen. In the words of William Saroyan," I thought in my case they would make an exception". Or you can confront it, and in the confronting it strive to give the time of life- Meaning. Here Goodman points out that what bothers many is not that they will die , so much as that they might die before they have accomplished what they could . The idea is that those who do feel that they have done what they could have done are ready for their death. I think here of the writer Agnon who a few months before his death, said that he had finished, and simply waited to die. There is of course no right, no simple, no easy answer here. There is also the question after all of the world- to- come, and how religious artists and scientists see this question differently from those who suppose the end here is the final end. There are a great many interesting ideas and directions for thought in this most valuable work. I would only add one thought of my own. One strives for immortality in one's work. One strives for 'continuity' beyond one 's own life through one's children and generations to come. One dreams of an afterlife. And yet with all this the abyss of the abyss , there is the everpresent thought and fear that one will go down to nothing forever, whether one is remembered or not. And even more despairingly that all one knows and loves will go down in the end,that even the very earth, and even our very universe will come to nothing. And this thought leads to such great great despair. God, and only God, God and only God, if there is an answer, is that Answer.