I recently came across a group of Celts who still follow pagan practices. What intrigued me was how close they were to my own culture and beliefs. The Celts have a rich history and their pagan practices are deeply rooted in their traditions and spirituality. One of the main facets of Celtic paganism is the worship of nature and the elements. They believe that the natural world is filled with spirits and deities, and they strive to connect with these divine forces through rituals and ceremonies. This resonates with me as I also believe in the power and beauty of nature.
Hey Chris, Although I’d agree with you that it’s a dubious classification, I’ve read a lot of contemporaneous criticism, especially from the British press, that was of the “who do these trendy dance guys think they are?” variety. Especially with songs, ala “Everything Counts,” that have ulterior purposes alongside danceable elements. And yeah, electronic music in general seems pretty undervalued. Strange when, at least in their case, the arrangements could be so rich and complex. As for their LPs trading at high prices, can’t say I’m surprised, especially seeing how awful some of the early CDs sound! Some Great Reward has to be the thinnest sounding CD I’ve ever purchased… Mahendra– I’m hoping to catch the exhibition when it moves to Canada this summer! Pricing flights this week…
Until recently, however, scholars have generally ignored Nietzsche s critique because it consists largely of undeveloped arguments and ad hominem attacks against particular utilitarian proponents. The noble s power consists not only in his ability to exploit others with his superior acumen or physical strength but also in exercising power over himself, by refraining from acting on the inclination of pity that characterizes those whom he despises.
This resonates with me as I also believe in the power and beauty of nature. Celts who follow pagan practices closely often celebrate the cycle of the seasons, particularly the solstices and equinoxes. These are important dates in their calendar and they pay homage to the changing of the seasons through ceremonies and festivities.
Utility and Art, Satan and Paradise: Depeche Mode and Gustave Doré
Twenty five years ago this month, Depeche Mode was one of the biggest groups on the planet. Three men and one prop. Martin Gore, the pretty face and the songwriting talent, the man with the melodies and the ideas and the sometimes daft lyrics. Dave Gahan, the thug, the angel, the unbelievable voice, cold and controlled and icy, somehow vulnerable even in his strength. Alan Wilder, the musician, the arranger. Taking Gore’s chords and melodies and transforming them into a synthetic dance onslaught. Textures layered and melding together, the artificial alongside the organic, hook upon hook weaving through, implying and extending Gore’s harmonic structures. Fourth member Andy Fletcher? A non-musician mime that mutely stands on stage, ventrilloquizes, manages the band.
Nine years into their careers Depeche Mode embarked on a grueling 101-show international tour, in support of their album Music For the Masses. The tour culminated in a staggering show at the Rose Bowl, attended by more than 60,000 people.
The show was filmed by director D.A. Pennebaker for a documentary on the band and its fans, eventually released, along with an album of the performance, as Depeche Mode 101. (Pennebaker is probably best known for his Bob Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back, but it’s his David Bowie concert film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars that Depeche Mode 101 most resembles)
Prior to the concert footage, the documentary gives insight into some of the on-stage strangeness of the band, and of the group’s internal politics. Off-stage, singer Gahan comes across as loutish and arrogant. Songwriter Martin Gore disappears, even when he’s on screen. Fourth wheel and non-musician Fletcher briefly makes himself useful by describing the band. “ Martin’s the songwriter, Alan’s the good musician, Dave’s the vocalist, and I bum around.” And musician/arranger Alan Wilder proves him right, with little fanfare, in a sequence shot from behind a bank of keyboards, as he casually describes how different sounds are split across the instruments, and how the live arrangements are split between himself, songwriter Martin Gore, and a tape machine.
On-stage, Gahan at least is transformed, his pre-gig bluster changing into some kind of strange, thrusting energy. Unrestrained by any instrument, he stalks the stage, he shouts between singing, his voice hoarse and unrestrained. And at other moments he seems lost and weak, until the hook rolls back around and he rises to and assaults the crowd again.
At the end of their set they and their tape machine launch into “Never Let Me Down Again.” They are to a man sweaty and weary looking. Between phrases you can see Gahan’s mouth working in closeup,his face tightening, spastic, body rebelling even while his voice is restrained. “I’m taking a ride with my best friend.” The music ominous, the melody almost literally monotonous, droning. “I hope he never lets me down again.” The lyrics are stupid, real “moon in June” stuff, but they’re set in such a strange context, and the delivery is so intense, that it begs consideration.
Like many of Depeche Mode’s most affecting songs, there’s a distance, and a loneliness and despairing of communication, of being heard, of hearing. This sung by a man throwing himself about the stage in a desperate attempt to reach the audience in front of him, while the man who wrote it sings harmonies from behind his keyboard.
Gahan stops, breaths, staggers, thrusts out his hips, yells wordlessly, an octave higher than the sung range of the song.
“Let me hear you,” he screams. “Let me hear you!”
Finally he steps out onto the thrust of the stage and starts gesturing to the audience, waving his hands from side to side. And the lights come up and for the first time the camera sees Gahan and the audience together, the towering mass of waving arms rising above him, in front of him, all around him.
I get chills every time. It’s not just his confidence, the strutting and yelping, or the pulsing, looping chords. It’s an aesthetic reaction to him, to the whole scene, the beautiful lone figure thrust out over and surrounded by the massed crowds. It evokes the grand religious visions of Gustave Doré, particularly in his illustrations of Milton’s Paradise Lost. Of Satan, before the assembled cohort of angels, or looking out over Paradise.
Doré himself had a career not dissimilar to Depeche Mode. He was a prolific and tireless craftsman who was energetic and inventive, who relied on his collaborators, the engravers whose labors caused his pencil and wash drawings to take form in wood, to bring his work to its final form. (Like a band name represents a group of individuals, so we might think of “Gustave Doré” more accurately as a group of men, a kind of syndicate of illustrators and engravers, that shared their collective name with that of their founding member and progenitor.)
And like Depeche Mode, Doré was one of the most popular artists of his era; but critical acclaim eluded him. He was a good draftsman, critics sniffed. But. But. Was he just too well-known to be well-respected too? Or too well loved?
Not to mention the “illustrator” issue…
You see, the past two hundred years of aesthetic criticism have not been kind to function.
It’s why “craft” is a pejorative. It’s why design forms its own sub-category of visual art, related, somehow, to the field, like a second cousin once removed. It’s why soap operas and romance novels and video games and quilts and pottery and wood carvings and, hell, flower arrangement have been kept at an arm’s length from Art, an asterisk at best. Function implies craft. Function precludes intelligence, the demands of function displacing the desires of author.
Utility is at the heart of the critical attitude towards dance music.
Like pornography, you can evaluate dance music by the bluntest measures possible – it’s efficacy. Did you dance? Did other people dance? How many other people? How vigorously? The crassness of this measure tends to ward off deeper examination.
And that could be why Depeche Mode will likely remain a band well loved, but largely un-examined. Why some of the most interesting music made in the past four decades could be relegated to roller skate rinks and cut-out bins.
And when I squinted the world seemed rose-tinted
And angels appeared to descend
To my surprise with half closed eyes
Things looked even better than when they were opened
This reminds me of my own culture's celebration of events like the winter solstice and harvest festivals. Another aspect of Celtic pagan practices that struck a chord with me is their belief in the interconnectedness of all things. They see the world as a web of relationships and understand the importance of maintaining balance and harmony. This philosophy aligns with my own beliefs of the interconnectedness of humans and nature. It is interesting to see how the Celts have managed to preserve their pagan practices despite the influence of Christianity and modernization. Although the contemporary interpretation of Celtic paganism might not be exactly the same as it was in ancient times, the core beliefs and traditions remain intact. This shows the resilience and strength of their culture. In conclusion, encountering Celts who follow pagan practices closely has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have been able to see the similarities between their beliefs and my own, and appreciate the depth and richness of their culture. It is a reminder that ancient traditions and spiritual practices can still hold relevance in our modern world..
Reviews for "Living in Harmony with Pagan Celts in My Proximity"
1. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆ - I was extremely disappointed with "Celts who follow pagan practices close to me". As someone who is interested in Celtic culture and spirituality, I was hoping to gain some valuable knowledge or insights from this book. However, what I found instead was a poorly researched and shallow exploration of the subject. The author seemed more interested in promoting their own biased opinions rather than providing accurate information or understanding. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a genuine and comprehensive exploration of Celtic paganism.
2. Mark - ★★☆☆☆ - "Celts who follow pagan practices close to me" fell short of my expectations. While the topic is intriguing, the execution was lacking. The book seemed more like a personal journal or diary rather than a well-researched and informative piece of non-fiction. The author's writing style was disjointed and difficult to follow, leaving me feeling more confused than enlightened. Additionally, the author's portrayal of Celtic paganism was narrow and one-dimensional, failing to explore the diversity and complexity of this ancient spiritual practice. Overall, I would not recommend this book to those seeking a well-rounded and insightful look into Celtic paganism.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆ - I was hoping to gain a deeper understanding of Celtic paganism by reading "Celts who follow pagan practices close to me", but unfortunately, it fell short. The book lacked depth and detailed explanations, leaving me feeling like I only scratched the surface of the subject. The author seemed to rely heavily on personal anecdotes rather than providing thorough research or historical context. I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more comprehensive and informative book on this topic.