Paglia is one of two or three primary influences upon my aesthetics/artistry writings

Wednesday, February 14, 2007 On "Camille's Back!", Paglia's recent column posted by MD

I eagerly read everything that Camille Paglia has written, because she is one of two or three primary influences upon my aesthetics/artistry writings. She profoundly sparked my desire to start POLYSEMY. And in her columns, she's one of the main queen of soundbyte fireworks. Her most recent column is no exception. Do read it before taking too much of what I write here to heart.

First, a general comment. Paglia's is the kind of output that benefits greatly from reading in toto. One must understand that, at heart, she is a classroom teacher, first; a serious scholar, second; and with whatever is left, is a cultural provocateur par excellence. Which means that each column, each essay, each book is all of a rather large piece. Her overall metaphysic is vast and in depth. Which allows two benefits: to see how seemingly disparate views of hers fit together, on one hand; to read particular pieces with a big grain of salt.

The latter benefit, if explored, leads directly to this: Paglia is highly fluent in writing to audience, and particularly to medium. Her Salon.com columns are for one audience (or, temperament); her Arion essays another; and her books, still another...FYI, for my write-up of her most recent lecture in Chicago, at the Harold Washington Public Library, go here. For my detailed notes taken at the lecture, go here.Camille 4ever. Labels: Paglia 3:31 PM