In regards to the beauty of a loved one's face: There's a fine quote from Dickens's Oliver Twist where Mr. Brownlow tries to recall the faces of people he's seen throughout his life: “He wandered over them again. He had called them into view, and it was not easy to replace the shroud that had so long concealed them. There were the faces of friends, and foes, and of many that had been almost strangers peering intrusively from the crowd; there were the faces of young and blooming girls that were now old women; there were faces that the grave had changed and closed upon, but which the mind, superior to its power, still dressed in their old freshness and beauty, calling back the lustre of the eyes, the brightness of the smile, the beaming of the soul through its mask of clay, and whispering of beauty beyond the tomb, changed but to be heightened, and taken from earth only to be set up as a light, to shed a soft and gentle glow upon the path to Heaven.”
Murnau was a master of light and dark in Faust as were many films of the time which explored the underbelly of ‘civilization’ such as Metrpolis, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu and even Battleship Potemkin. Filmmakers of that time were edgy not because it was in to be so but because film was in its infancy and every serious director was experimenting with technique.
Just started reading "Don't Cry" collection and have only read first two but loved them both. "Folk Song" is like nothing I've ever read. The poor turtles. Are we cruel by nature? Hearts of Darkness lost up that river somewhere? I was once catholic and it took me a lifetime to escape the guilt of the black original sin stain on my soul. Still not completely healed, but much better. Is there a part of all of us that is always capable of the worst? A different kind of original sin? Anyway can't wait to finish Don't Cry. haven't read Fairy Tale of Love yet. Happy New Year from very close to the Falls of Niagara. John Sweeney.
Thank you for the link to that film--I'd never seen it! Maybe no book has electrified me as much as Goethe's Faust. My freshman roommate in college was reading it for a class, and I happened to pick it up one night and couldn't put it down until I finished it in the middle of the night. I'm sure its impact was heightened because, while I read it in college, I didn't read it *for* college.
so i was only able to watch it last night, post-holidays, and admittedly, was a little stoned—but wow. it WAS so moving and beautiful. magical, even. like a dark fairytale, with that glorious light at the end. it could have been corny, and if it were described, might be. but seeing it makes it something different entirely. i want to watch the whole thing now. thank you for sharing.
In regards to the beauty of a loved one's face: There's a fine quote from Dickens's Oliver Twist where Mr. Brownlow tries to recall the faces of people he's seen throughout his life: “He wandered over them again. He had called them into view, and it was not easy to replace the shroud that had so long concealed them. There were the faces of friends, and foes, and of many that had been almost strangers peering intrusively from the crowd; there were the faces of young and blooming girls that were now old women; there were faces that the grave had changed and closed upon, but which the mind, superior to its power, still dressed in their old freshness and beauty, calling back the lustre of the eyes, the brightness of the smile, the beaming of the soul through its mask of clay, and whispering of beauty beyond the tomb, changed but to be heightened, and taken from earth only to be set up as a light, to shed a soft and gentle glow upon the path to Heaven.”
Murnau was a master of light and dark in Faust as were many films of the time which explored the underbelly of ‘civilization’ such as Metrpolis, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu and even Battleship Potemkin. Filmmakers of that time were edgy not because it was in to be so but because film was in its infancy and every serious director was experimenting with technique.
Just started reading "Don't Cry" collection and have only read first two but loved them both. "Folk Song" is like nothing I've ever read. The poor turtles. Are we cruel by nature? Hearts of Darkness lost up that river somewhere? I was once catholic and it took me a lifetime to escape the guilt of the black original sin stain on my soul. Still not completely healed, but much better. Is there a part of all of us that is always capable of the worst? A different kind of original sin? Anyway can't wait to finish Don't Cry. haven't read Fairy Tale of Love yet. Happy New Year from very close to the Falls of Niagara. John Sweeney.
Having been directed down another delightful rabbit hole I see this "eternal feminine" concept. Hmmm...
Thank You Mary. Merry Christmas.
Thank you for the link to that film--I'd never seen it! Maybe no book has electrified me as much as Goethe's Faust. My freshman roommate in college was reading it for a class, and I happened to pick it up one night and couldn't put it down until I finished it in the middle of the night. I'm sure its impact was heightened because, while I read it in college, I didn't read it *for* college.
so i was only able to watch it last night, post-holidays, and admittedly, was a little stoned—but wow. it WAS so moving and beautiful. magical, even. like a dark fairytale, with that glorious light at the end. it could have been corny, and if it were described, might be. but seeing it makes it something different entirely. i want to watch the whole thing now. thank you for sharing.
“Liebe".....
Love me some Goethe ❤️❤️🔥