high art vs. low art

calvin and hobbes on artan extraordinarily profound view on art brought to you by none other than calvin & hobbes, the brainchild of the understandably reclusive bill watterson. i cannot think of a cartoon that was able to transfigure such prolific ideas so seamlessly; a multifarious array of philosophical, cultural, and political commentary. by sv

“to be worth something or nothing…

albert camus and his twins…to create or not to create. in the first case everything is justified. everything, without exception. in the second case, everything is completely absurd. the only choice then to be made is of the most aesthetically satisfying form of suicide: marriage, and a forty-hour week, or a revolver.” 

when i was sixteen years old, scrummaging through my high school library while i was supposed to be researching some project; i came across the journals of albert camus. i had just read the stranger, which was quite impactful on an indignantly naive teenager, so my intrigue was boundless. to this day, it is my most cherished piece of literature, one i go back to more than any other. next thursday, the seventh of november being what would have been albert’s centenary, the journal’s message and presence in my handbag is incumbent. in other news, i thought dd would appreciate the photograph, camus and his twin daughters, catherine and jean. by sv