Considerations and reflections by Hatto Fischer

Considerations and reflections by Hatto Fischer

Normal departure points for life are to be found at the beginning of democratic practices, in short Ancient Greece. Whether now an idealised version or not, it is equated with the start of Western Civilization. Within such a context, culture expresses itself through values and art works, but also equally by certain attitudes prevailing, e.g. one does not shun the complexity of life itself.

Since then the relationship between culture (s) and civilization has to do with the upkeep up these values and therefore definite standard. Such a life affiliated with the arts can be best found in Ancient Greek theatre. It set the stage for moral contemplations. Thus the freeing of space to contemplate the moral foundations of the society, meant to allow writers like Sophocles to work in freedom on the substance of such a democratic society. It reflects, therefore, as much the Rights of the King as of the people and seeks to locate the mediation point after which the 'Right to Equality' begins. More of that kind of moral institution would mean Ancient Greek theatre evolved as a way to show how society can avoid the kind of hubris which goes with arrogance and therefore brings about self destruction.

If one is to describe civilisation in its foremost manifestations, then as a form of living and practice which uses tools according to a certain knowledge passed on from generations to generations. The source of inspiration seems to be here the ancient wisdom not neglected but very much respected as still having something to say on how to navigate the boat when the winds blow from a certain direction.

All this dialectic between culture and civilization says things of concern to mankind go well beyond beyond mere survival. Although the present sense is crucial to capture moments of life, still the rhythm and the knowledge of the past as of the future means to inquire further and to question basic assumptions. For instance, Herodotes did refute to the Greeks the belief that their Gods was a creation by them; rather he showed that these Gods existed before and could be found in Egypt. To take a particular society beyond its own narrow horizon is quite a task and demands a lot of courage to stand up to the make beliefs of the day, but in the end an open horizon is what makes cultures live up to the demands of civilization. It is about society taking on a human face.

There are many descriptions of man living on earth. Most of the time, it does not look desireable for the outsider. Too often the constraints of the outside world, and the hardships which go with it, are immediately there to be felt. Often in philosophy that has been reduced to the necessity and dictates in turn what is possible, what not. This has transformed the theatrical reflection of morality into a strict compliance to law as if mankind sought refuge in a kind of certainty which does not exist in a sea of uncertainties.

A sad tone of resignation mixes in with many modern descriptions of reality. However, such sadness does not fill books nor does it make an organ begin to play music by itself. There is still a need for human voices as discovered by Bach or Vivaldi, even though nowdays the commercialisation of classical music by many conductors like Karajan leaves music to be heard only according to the wishes to those who produce these 'sounds'.

"Sad to say, I am on my way..." Belafonte would sing that song to the girl in Kingstontown, a heart beat away from being either a pirate or a coloniser. Parting meant seperation. It left souls hurt and also frightened if they consider themselves to be abandoned in such a world of sad tones. Yet these frightening prospects which seem to dim out the light are not of individual nature, but they are also not collective attributes. Rather it is like someone going astray in a strange city and then comes upon a friendly tavern where people invite the stranger to join them.

Most of the time, they are all strangers to one another and yet thirsty for stories which tell them how some overcame the big, wide oceans or did walk through deep, dark forests. Since in those days projections was linked to a rich imagination casting doubt upon the unknown, that relict of past times became a sound, a whistle, a characteristic shout just birds whistling off a tree at a certain time during the day. It is the sound of recognition before it becomes a melody which matters to how hearing becomes the sound underlining our spreech. If that speech has, however, a dangerous undertone, then because certain anticipations are not heard. Basically it does matter if culture and civilizations do not conjoin. If not, then it leaves at best the most important things to be decided on in the realm of uncertainty. Instead of activity, people will grow restless in their inactivity but by doing nothing, they use boredom like a tranquilizer to fix their gaze on that bottle gone empty a long time ago. It leaves fear to decide what they shall do with the rest of their lives and not always do they make it out of that undercut in the tone to find again their voice, in order to sing and to feel free.

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Considerations and reflections by Hatto Fischer