Which Art, Music or Literature Has Inspired Your Life and Philosophy, and Why?

[JackDaydream]

The reason why I ask this question is related to the way in which the arts can be complementary to philosophy. When I am feeling low or having difficult life experiences it is not simply reading philosophy which helps but arts as well. For example, I often start looking for new music for the healing level of music. This is because music and the arts can touch the emotions profoundly. This is about mythos as well as logos, as two aspects of seeking truth.

So, this question may be about asking about your desert island discs. I find it so hard to narrow it down. Some of my favourite albums include some by U2, especially 'Achtung Baby'. I bought it when I was feeling low in mood and spent an evening lying in bed playing it over and over again. I love Bob Dylan for his lyrics and my favourites include ' Blood on the Tracks', 'Shot of Love' and 'Oh Mercy'. Psychedelic music is probably my favourite genre, including Hawkwind, The Doors, The Psychedelic Furs, The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and many more, as part of my inner searching.

The art and writing of William Blake was so inspiring when I discovered him during adolescence. I count 'Thus Spake Zarathustra' by Nietzsche as a classic piece of literature, not simply as philosophy but as a work of art. Cult fiction also inspired me greatly. Having studied English literature in sixth form, I didn't read any fiction for a long time because I had to read authors who were not the ones for me at that time. Cult fiction brought me back to reading fiction again, including the writing of Irvine Welsh, Jack Keroac, Tom Wolfe and some cyberpunk authors, including William Gibson.

So, I am asking you about the way in which you are influenced by the arts, including visual art, music and literature. You may also wish to include films. How have these influenced or even changed your life?

[stevie]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

[JackDaydream]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

I am wondering why you have become alienated from listening to and writing music when you had done so previously. It can be hard to get into the creative state of mind. I don't make music but do paint and draw, as well as experiment with fiction. I haven't done drawing and painting and part of the problem is that I find it hard to do by myself alone in a room and do hope to find a group space to do such activities as lockdown is eased now.

Do you feel that miss music? I try to listen to a couple of albums a day, preferably before bedtime, and if I can't do this I notice it missing. What music did you enjoy and what kind of music did you like making?

[stevie]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

I am wondering why you have become alienated from listening to and writing music when you had done so previously.

I am not wondering since speculation isn't my business.

[JackDaydream]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

I am wondering why you have become alienated from listening to and writing music when you had done so previously.

I am not wondering since speculation isn't my business.

I know that you find my writing and approach as being alien, but in this thread I am not even trying to speculate because the arts are about appreciation not about explanations. Also, in wondering about one's own life it is more about psychological awareness which involves reflection as a basis of self knowledge. I am not sure that science can help too much here. Of course, I would not wish to tell you how one should approach understanding of oneself, but I am simply making a case for the validity of the arts, as an aspect of philosophy discovery to complement the science. Even science may draw upon the appreciation of the arts.

[LuckyR]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

I could have written this post. The difference being that after several decades of not critically listening to music, I have recently gotten back into it and am happy to report that it still can be as beneficial as it ever was.

[JackDaydream]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

I could have written this post. The difference being that after several decades of not critically listening to music, I have recently gotten back into it and am happy to report that it still can be as beneficial as it ever was.

So you have got back into music! I am unable to live without it. Some people don't follow new music. I listen to music from many eras but do like to listen to new releases and read reviews. I am currently listening to a couple of 2022 albums including The Wombats', 'Fix Yourself, Not the World.' The title in itself includes a philosophy. Lyrics are important but music may conjure up symbolic images too. It may be that music can open doorways in the human imagination, but this is probably more likely if it is listened to mindfully, rather than just remaining as background noise.

[LuckyR]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

I could have written this post. The difference being that after several decades of not critically listening to music, I have recently gotten back into it and am happy to report that it still can be as beneficial as it ever was.

So you have got back into music! I am unable to live without it. Some people don't follow new music. I listen to music from many eras but do like to listen to new releases and read reviews. I am currently listening to a couple of 2022 albums including The Wombats', 'Fix Yourself, Not the World.' The title in itself includes a philosophy. Lyrics are important but music may conjure up symbolic images too. It may be that music can open doorways in the human imagination, but this is probably more likely if it is listened to mindfully, rather than just remaining as background noise.

I am diving deeper into the music I grew up with but could not afford to purchase at the time. Some new stuff, but not much.

[JackDaydream]

There's been a period when music strongly influenced my life, both as a listener to music and as a musician. But an alienation has taken place. Now music is as alien as philosophy is.

I could have written this post. The difference being that after several decades of not critically listening to music, I have recently gotten back into it and am happy to report that it still can be as beneficial as it ever was.

So you have got back into music! I am unable to live without it. Some people don't follow new music. I listen to music from many eras but do like to listen to new releases and read reviews. I am currently listening to a couple of 2022 albums including The Wombats', 'Fix Yourself, Not the World.' The title in itself includes a philosophy. Lyrics are important but music may conjure up symbolic images too. It may be that music can open doorways in the human imagination, but this is probably more likely if it is listened to mindfully, rather than just remaining as background noise.

I am diving deeper into the music I grew up with but could afford to purchase at the time. Some new stuff, but not much.

It can be good to get music out that hasn't been listened to in ages. When I was working I used to buy so much music and I do have some fantastic bargain music basements not too far away. I think that many people have begun listening to stuff they grew up with during lockdown. Sometimes, I spend a long time selecting what music to listen to, then play it on headphones during the night. But, getting the right music for the mood can be difficult. I hop genres a lot but try not to have anything too heavy in the night.

[LuckyR]

I could have written this post. The difference being that after several decades of not critically listening to music, I have recently gotten back into it and am happy to report that it still can be as beneficial as it ever was.

So you have got back into music! I am unable to live without it. Some people don't follow new music. I listen to music from many eras but do like to listen to new releases and read reviews. I am currently listening to a couple of 2022 albums including The Wombats', 'Fix Yourself, Not the World.' The title in itself includes a philosophy. Lyrics are important but music may conjure up symbolic images too. It may be that music can open doorways in the human imagination, but this is probably more likely if it is listened to mindfully, rather than just remaining as background noise.

I am diving deeper into the music I grew up with but could afford to purchase at the time. Some new stuff, but not much.

It can be good to get music out that hasn't been listened to in ages. When I was working I used to buy so much music and I do have some fantastic bargain music basements not too far away. I think that many people have begun listening to stuff they grew up with during lockdown. Sometimes, I spend a long time selecting what music to listen to, then play it on headphones during the night. But, getting the right music for the mood can be difficult. I hop genres a lot but try not to have anything too heavy in the night.

Yeah, it's all about mood. There is something hauntingly beautiful about the hopeful uncertainty of youth that I am seeking to recreate in my elder years.

[JackDaydream]

So you have got back into music! I am unable to live without it. Some people don't follow new music. I listen to music from many eras but do like to listen to new releases and read reviews. I am currently listening to a couple of 2022 albums including The Wombats', 'Fix Yourself, Not the World.' The title in itself includes a philosophy. Lyrics are important but music may conjure up symbolic images too. It may be that music can open doorways in the human imagination, but this is probably more likely if it is listened to mindfully, rather than just remaining as background noise.

I am diving deeper into the music I grew up with but could afford to purchase at the time. Some new stuff, but not much.

It can be good to get music out that hasn't been listened to in ages. When I was working I used to buy so much music and I do have some fantastic bargain music basements not too far away. I think that many people have begun listening to stuff they grew up with during lockdown. Sometimes, I spend a long time selecting what music to listen to, then play it on headphones during the night. But, getting the right music for the mood can be difficult. I hop genres a lot but try not to have anything too heavy in the night.

Yeah, it's all about mood. There is something hauntingly beautiful about the hopeful uncertainty of youth that I am seeking to recreate in my elder years.

A few years ago, I was running a music appreciation group in a unit for older people' s mental health care, and found how the music of their youth had a transformative factor. Some people who were experiencing depression or even dementia were so cheered up by listening to music, especially Bill Hailey's, ' Rock Around the Clock'. Some began singing and dancing and it seemed that such musical memories went deep into the core of personal meaning for them.

[LuckyR]

I am diving deeper into the music I grew up with but could afford to purchase at the time. Some new stuff, but not much.

It can be good to get music out that hasn't been listened to in ages. When I was working I used to buy so much music and I do have some fantastic bargain music basements not too far away. I think that many people have begun listening to stuff they grew up with during lockdown. Sometimes, I spend a long time selecting what music to listen to, then play it on headphones during the night. But, getting the right music for the mood can be difficult. I hop genres a lot but try not to have anything too heavy in the night.

Yeah, it's all about mood. There is something hauntingly beautiful about the hopeful uncertainty of youth that I am seeking to recreate in my elder years.

A few years ago, I was running a music appreciation group in a unit for older people' s mental health care, and found how the music of their youth had a transformative factor. Some people who were experiencing depression or even dementia were so cheered up by listening to music, especially Bill Hailey's, ' Rock Around the Clock'. Some began singing and dancing and it seemed that such musical memories went deep into the core of personal meaning for them.

Bill Haley was before my time. Just sayin'.

[JackDaydream]

It can be good to get music out that hasn't been listened to in ages. When I was working I used to buy so much music and I do have some fantastic bargain music basements not too far away. I think that many people have begun listening to stuff they grew up with during lockdown. Sometimes, I spend a long time selecting what music to listen to, then play it on headphones during the night. But, getting the right music for the mood can be difficult. I hop genres a lot but try not to have anything too heavy in the night.

Yeah, it's all about mood. There is something hauntingly beautiful about the hopeful uncertainty of youth that I am seeking to recreate in my elder years.

A few years ago, I was running a music appreciation group in a unit for older people' s mental health care, and found how the music of their youth had a transformative factor. Some people who were experiencing depression or even dementia were so cheered up by listening to music, especially Bill Hailey's, ' Rock Around the Clock'. Some began singing and dancing and it seemed that such musical memories went deep into the core of personal meaning for them.

Bill Haley was before my time. Just sayin'.

I definitely didn't wish to imply that you could go back to the time of Bill Hailey! If anything, apart from the CDs which were on the ward, I brought some in and got told they didn't go back far enough. I was bringing in some music compilations from the 60s, 70s and 80s. The people did remember them and liked them, but I had one man who kept asking me if I had any by Max Bygraves. When I was playing the music from the late 60s, a colleague told me that I was waiting for aging hippies to be admitted to the ward...

[Nightmare]

Poetry.

[JackDaydream]

Poetry.

Which poets do you like. I read Blake and TS Eliot. I haven't written poetry as an adult, except through playing with a magnetic poetry kit.