I am now reading The Air Conditioned Nightmare, by Henry Miller
Interesting observations by Mr Miller 50 years ago.
“..America is no place for an artist: to be an artist is to be a moral leper, an economic misfit, a social liability. A corn-fed hog enjoys a better life than a creative writer, painter or musician. To be a rabbit is better still.
When I first returned from Europe I was frequently reminded of the fact that I was an ‘expatriate’, often in an unpleasant way. ‘Aren’t you glad to be back in the good old USA?’ was the usual greeting. ‘No place like America, what?’
To this you were expected to say “You betcha!” Behind these remarks there was of course an unacknowledged feeling of disappointment; the American artist who had been obliged to seek refuge again in his native land was angry for his European friends for having deprived him of the privilege of leading the life he most desired.
Our world is a world of things. It is made up of comforts and luxuries, or else the desire for them. What we dread most is that we shall be obliged to give up our gew-gaws, our gadgets, all the little creature comforts which have made us so uncomfortable. There is nothing brave, chivalrous, heroic or magnanimous about our attitude. We are not peaceful souls; we are smug, timid, queasy and quaky….”
Such observations are good food for thought. we ignore them at our peril.
_EOF