Herne has a heart! A heart of gold!
A heart that beats for society through
his chosen medium – theatre! A heart that delights to be the conscience-keeper
of his times! the humanitarian in Herne lub
tubs through his heart all the way! And therein lies the success of Herne’s
oeuvre!
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| Just a rehash for y'all from the counterfactual world of the Thomson and Thompson's! |
As testament to his credo, on what he believed in, on what he delighted in, is made manifest in his amazing manifesto of sorts to the concept of ‘Art for Truth’s Sake’, an intriguing article that he wrote for Arena, way back in 1897.
Such simple language, such lucid style,
with such conviction!
First for a kutty little note on Herne and his art!
Well, James Herne has been instrumental
in the development of realism in drama, and is also supposed to have
foreshadowed the development of naturalism in drama! Herne took to the stage as
an actor when he was twenty years old. Moving on, in 1874, his rendezvous with writer/director
David Belasco, proved to be a vital turning point to his life and career. Interestingly,
this wonderful association resulted in the duo together writing the play, Hearts of Oak, wherein Herne acted along
with his wife Katherine!
Herne had on him the noble vision of
advancing theatre amongst the intellectual life of society.
To Herne then, theatre should not be a
mere diversion, but prove to be vital sources of societal guidance, sound
values and instruction as well. Hence, theatre should have a social commitment,
he affirmed.
His thoughts, he laid down in his
delightful 1897 manifesto titled, “Art for Truth’s Sake in the Drama”, in which
he outlines his credo for theatre. Well, I’m sure, you’d love these Herne-ian
lines of high renown that sums up to a tee on his credo! Yes! You’d sure love
the import of this lines! [And yes, thank me later, folks! ;-) ]
Here goes Herne for us all -
It is generally held that the province of
the drama is to amuse. I claim that it has a higher purpose - that its mission
is to interest and to instruct. It should not preach objectively, but it should
teach subjectively.... It sets forth clearly that the concern of one is the
concern of all. It stands for the higher development and thus the individual
liberty of the human race.
Art for art’s sake, then, to Herne is
aesthetic. He says -
Art for art’s sake is aesthetic. It
emphasizes beauty. It aims to be attractive. It must always be beautiful. It
must contain no distasteful quality. It never offends. It is highbred, so to speak.
It holds that truth is ugly, or at least is not always beautiful. The
compensation of the artist is the joy of having produced it.
“Art for truth’s sake”, on the other hand, emphasizes humanity. It is not sufficient that the subject be attractive or beautiful, or that it does not offend. It must first of all express some large truth. That is to say, it must always be representative. Truth is not always beautiful, but in art for truth’s sake it is indispensable.
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| Art for Art's Sake ;-) My good ol' classmates! ;-) |
“Art for truth’s sake”, on the other hand, emphasizes humanity. It is not sufficient that the subject be attractive or beautiful, or that it does not offend. It must first of all express some large truth. That is to say, it must always be representative. Truth is not always beautiful, but in art for truth’s sake it is indispensable.
Art for art’s sake may be likened to the
exquisite decoration of some noble building; while art for truth’s sake might
be the building itself.
Art for truth’s sake is serious. Its
highest purpose has ever been to perpetuate the life of its time.
Herne is simply amazing, and amazingly simple! Ain’t he?
To be continued…
image(s): Herge’s Tintin & this blogger’s! ;-)
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