By: Robert Livingston

Robert Livingston — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:05:18 +0000

Thanks Stephen. I’m afraid De Botton lost me completely with his next programme on what he called ‘museums’ but meant ‘galleries’–his idea of how ‘museums’ should teach us how to live veleft me feeling nauseous!

By: Stephen Belfield

Stephen Belfield — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:31:45 +0000

Hi Robert, that’s a really interesting post. I am drawn into Alain De Botton not just by his arguments but by how he argues…the ‘magic’ of his argument if you like: his voice, choice of words, easy humor and pace. I agree that there is something simply magical about ‘A Kings Speech’ and that when you see great art be it film, music, photography or literature, strange things happen. I must have heard “can’t stand me now” by the libertines a million times, but that line “you tried to pull the wool, I wasn’t feeling to clever” gets me every time. Why? I have no idea. Sometimes you can’t express what art does to you or why it does it. And you’re right it’s not simply it’s utility. Having said that I feel Alain De Botton does have a point about the use of art – it can and does make us better people, even if it’s not ‘prescribed’ in that way. Should we prescribe books and music in that way? I’m not sure. Anyhow, both A point of View and The Kings Speech are fantastic!

Comments on: It’s a Mystery!

By: Robert Livingston

By: Stephen Belfield