The Art of Losing

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XavierAlex
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The Art of Losing

Post by XavierAlex »

Is there an art to losing everything? Often people will describe in all seriousness that business is an art, that science is an art, that gardening is an art, etc.

What about the art of getting lost, losing family and friends, losing societal credibility and then losing your mind? In other words, is there some sort of techique for total alienation and abandonment?

If so, what path would one take? Where would it lead one to? Could this art be the reason behind homelessness, panhandling, petty crimes, and other dead ends in life?
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Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

At least as described in legend, I think Diogenes the Cynic mastered that art. :)
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HANDSON
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by HANDSON »

I don't see that withdrawal from life requires artfulness. An introverted personality with a self-destructive nature might find withdrawing/alienation fairly easy to accomplish. The art for such a person comes in successfully functioning socially.

The idea of getting lost, quitting family and friends, losing ones mind has religious implications. Throughout the millennia ascetics have don just that in their search for higher meaning.
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Belinda »

XavierAlex can call the ability to tolerate loss 'art' if he likes. I don't think that this appellation is helpful to either the idea of a work of art or knowing how to tolerate loss.

True, people vary in their psychological coping strategies, and artists vary in their level of skill, bu this comparison is not sufficient to justify the claim.
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XavierAlex
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by XavierAlex »

Belinda wrote:XavierAlex can call the ability to tolerate loss 'art' if he likes. I don't think that this appellation is helpful to either the idea of a work of art or knowing how to tolerate loss.

True, people vary in their psychological coping strategies, and artists vary in their level of skill, bu this comparison is not sufficient to justify the claim.
Belinda, I agree. There is no art to tolerance. I think, though, that the best example I know of--a full withdrawal from family, friends, and society, in contemporary art--the nonfiction story about the adolescent who graduated from high school, cut all families ties, sold his car, burned all of his money, traveled around the US and Mexico. His goal, eventually, was to traverse the Alaskan Wilderness. He carried with him the unnecessary equipment and tools, ending up dying in the wilderness there. I think, the story is called: Into the Wild.

Although he didn't write his story or paint about it. There are almost no traces of him other than bits of evidence and anecdotes from those whom he encountered.

Into the Wild is an intriguing story, and an example of one individual living his philosophy and an art, maybe.

I always thought it was cruel of him to abandonment the people who may have loved him (that part of the story, I don't know.)

In this thread, the difference I think wouldn't be "losing" so much as it is self-reliance. Perhaps, the art is his complete rejection and abandonment of the society he lives in.

Perhaps, he disagreed with the political structure, civilization, and what other factors went through his head when he abandoned everything.

For some, people have families and properties and churches and whatever they feel thy have to lose, and they wouldn't dare dream of ever doing something like this. Others may see this was utter hubris (he died without "foresight" of the Alaskan wilderness). Yet others may dare to dream, but know they are ill-equipped for such a radical change.
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Spiral Out
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Spiral Out »

I would think that overcoming any difficulty could be considered an art. The concept of 'losing everything' is not really inherent to life itself, although it can happen if one does not work to prevent it, indeed one would still have to work toward that goal to achieve it.
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Ecurb
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Ecurb »

Scott wrote:At least as described in legend, I think Diogenes the Cynic mastered that art. :)
Diogenes, the Greek Philosopher and founder of Cynicism, preached simplicity and thrift. He lived in an old barrel outside of Corinth, and ate nothing but lentils. One day, his fellow philosopher Aristippus told him. “Diogenes, if you would learn to flatter the king, like I do, you wouldn’t have to live in a barrel and eating nothing but lentils.”

“And if you would learn to live in a barrel and eat nothing but lentils,” replied Diogenes, “You wouldn’t have to flatter the king.”
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Grecorivera5150 »

I think it is a complete lack of connection with art that leads to losing everything. If there is still art you don't lose. You have a way to express yourself or to evoke emotion as long as you can enjoy or create art. It the art is gone its gone and what is left is someone who needs a pick me up.
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Bermudj »

XavierAlex wrote:Is there an art to losing everything? Often people will describe in all seriousness that business is an art, that science is an art, that gardening is an art, etc.

What about the art of getting lost, losing family and friends, losing societal credibility and then losing your mind? In other words, is there some sort of techique for total alienation and abandonment?

If so, what path would one take? Where would it lead one to? Could this art be the reason behind homelessness, panhandling, petty crimes, and other dead ends in life?
To completely dissapear, never leave a trace, no one ever noticies, no one misses you, no one ever remembers you, that requires much skill.
Do whatever you do, do what a good man would do, and what is a good man?, I do not know, but at every point, every turn, do what a good man would do.

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Grotto19
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Grotto19 »

XavierAlex wrote:Is there an art to losing everything? Often people will describe in all seriousness that business is an art, that science is an art, that gardening is an art, etc.

What about the art of getting lost, losing family and friends, losing societal credibility and then losing your mind? In other words, is there some sort of techique for total alienation and abandonment?

If so, what path would one take? Where would it lead one to? Could this art be the reason behind homelessness, panhandling, petty crimes, and other dead ends in life?
Certainly it could be an art. If one did so not out of desperation but by choice. One could make an art of anything I suppose if one applied the principle to it. I suspect as others have mentioned Diogenes did do exactly that. However I would say when one chooses to do so he has not lost anything, he had given it away, or he may claim it was never his to begin with. But these are only my thoughts, I am certainly unknowledgeable about what is truly to be called an art.
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Misty
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Re: The Art of Losing

Post by Misty »

XavierAlex wrote:Is there an art to losing everything? Often people will describe in all seriousness that business is an art, that science is an art, that gardening is an art, etc.

What about the art of getting lost, losing family and friends, losing societal credibility and then losing your mind? In other words, is there some sort of techique for total alienation and abandonment?

If so, what path would one take? Where would it lead one to? Could this art be the reason behind homelessness, panhandling, petty crimes, and other dead ends in life?

Is mental heath an art? Bad luck or no luck seems to play a part in losing ones life, be it addictions, stupidity, being too nice to others and losing all by giving it away, etc.. Don't we all lose everything in the end by dying, be it natural or otherwise? When all people die who have surrounded another person who is remembered in history - is that memory really true? We all live dead-end lives :!: :roll:
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