The Comfort of Art II

Okay, I promised to share more from Conversations with John Gardner.  Every once in a while my own well begins to run dry and at such times I visit Gardner for help and support.  Conversations is a new book of mine, and I'm finding it very useful.  I've read Gardner's works on writing for years, but the interviews in this book really help to bring out Gardner's personal side, his humanity.

The first interview in the book was done in 1973.  Gardner was interviewed by Joe David Bellamy.

During the interview, Bellamy asked what Gardner meant when he claimed that fiction should perpetuate "positive" moral values.  (People who know Gardner, know he wrote a book called On Moral Fiction, which caused an uproar when it came out.  The book suggested that much of our modern literature had lost its way, its purpose.).  Gardner was quick to point out that he wasn't advocating that writers should be judgmental or preachy.  Gardner replied that by "positive" he meant that the author should believe in generosity and hope and truth. 

He told Bellamy:  "The ultimate moral value, the moral value I really look for beyond anything else, is to be exactly truthful--seeing things clearly, the process of art."

I like this idea that the process of art helps us to see things clearly.

He then said he believed there comes a point in a writer's life when he or she becomes able to see the world clearly enough to write about it and to express something hopeful.  He said it feels to the writer as though he or she has flown above the world and is looking down on it from a high place. 

I have had this feeling!  But only within the last five or six years have I felt it.

Gardner said that  The writer uses his or her imagination to "redeem the world."

Isn't this the most amazing statement?

In order to be thiskind of writer, Gardner said, one needs faith.  This is what he said about faith:

"Faith and despair have always been the two mighty adversaries.  You don't have to see it in the way of a Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or any other system.  A healthy life is a life of faith; an unhealthy sick, and dangerous life is a life of unfaith. ...Faith is a physical condition, a feeling of security which enables you to think about what you're doing and yet be subconsciously alert.  Whereas unfaith, paranoia, is a total concentration which makes it impossible for your psyche and body to be alert."

Writing is an act of faith--this is what I think Gardner was saying.  Through writing, we show our ability "to be patient, to be tolerant, to try to understand and empathize."  And this, he said, is "the highest kind of imagination." 

Moreover, writing displays the author's faith, his or her faith in what holds us together, in what gives life meaning.

Then he said something that just blew me away:

"The ability to make up grand images and to thrill the reader is a nice talent, but if it doesn't include love, it's nothing--mere sounding brass."

To that I say, Amen.

I probably won't post again until I return from Big Sur.   The days will be very full.  I'll be the leader for three workshops, one on finding significance in one's writing, one on the "shadow" in writing, and one on autobiographical fiction.  I will take lots of photos and share the experience with you when I get back.

Take care of yourselves, everyone.