Maybe 'tension' isn't quite the right word here, though I agree on the
point of the relationship between Lovecraft's mechanistic materialism and
his aesthetics. Interestingly it is a 'gnostic' sensibility that I see as
being core to Lovecraft's personal aesthetics.
Although (as I think Joshi notes) Lovecraft sought to frame this in terms
of a 'non-supernatural cosmic art', which I think he did more or less
effectively, but I'm rather intrigued by the occasional slippage back into
what I interpret as a kind of supernaturalism or even Machenesque
mysticism - the closing paragraphs of 'At the Mountains of Madness'
being a case in point. In fact, it has always intrigued me that most
analyses of the tale have focused on its science-fictional and
demythologising aspects, but have never adequately addressed how this
seems to be subverted by the notion that there exists some ultimate horror
to which the coldly rational Elder Thing scientists are in awe of and even
make obeisance to.
Justin
--
Dr. Justin Woodman
Programme Convenor
Integrated Degree in Social Anthropology
Department of Professional and Community Education
Goldsmiths College
New Cross
London SE14 6NW
> I wouldn't put it quite in those terms. I see there being numerous
> different "Lovecrafts" - the Lovecraft of "The Dunwich Horror", the
> Lovecraft of "The Hound", the Lovecraft of "At the Mountains of Madness",
> the Lovecraft of his letters (who could in turn be several Lovecrafts) -
> and different people take the Lovecraft they want. Sure, Lovecraft says
> in "At the Mountains..." that the Old Ones are aliens, but you don't have
> to listen to him.
>
> Plus, it might not be quite so much of a tension. Lovecraft himself used
> his mechanistic materialism to justify his personal aesthetics - if the
> universe really doesn't have a special place for humanity, then seeking
> out enjoyment and fulfillment in art is perfectly justifiable. I think
> the chaos magicians differ from him insofar as they do not turn to
> traditional forms as Lovecraft did, and that they believe their art work
> on a level other than the artistic.
>
> Dan Harms
> Coordinator of Instruction Librarian
> State University of New York - Cortland
> Memorial Library B-110
> (607) - 753-4042
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
> From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic on behalf of Justin Woodman
> Sent: Sun 2/17/2008 5:42 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Lovecraft- was A question about Ganesh
>
>
>
>
> I pretty much agree with much of the below - the use of the
> Derleth-influenced Simon Necronomicon as the 'authoritative' text on the
> Lovecraft mythos being a case in point.
>
>
> Although I tend to think of Lovecraft as being either misread or
> misunderstood in many occultural recensions of his work, I do think that a
> tension exists between Lovecraft's mechanistic materialism and a kind of
> romantic Gnostic sensibility sometimes found in his letters and fiction -
> a tension which inadvertantly allows for a more 'supernaturalist'
> interpretation of his work.
>
> Justin
>
>
>> I've noticed that those enthusiastic about Lovecraftian magical
>> activities often disregard the considerable and growing body of
>> Lovecraft
>> (literary) criticism.
>> And, although I
>> tend not to look to an author's intentions for an appreciation of her or
>> his works, Lovecraft seems not to have been successful at getting the
>> supernatural out of his stories, as far as many of his readers are
>> concerned.
>>
>> Another observation. The version of the Mythos that magical
>> practitioners (that I've met) often turn to is not strictly Lovecraft's.
>> It
>> is the later expansion and reorganization carried out by August Derleth
>> and the Arkham House editions. Derleth had no issue with the
>> supernatural in the Mythos, and regularized the Mythos pantheon
>> according to widespread occultural notions.
>>
>> Musing I Have Met Yog-Sothoth & ........ Rose,
>>
>>
>>
>> Pitch
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Dr. Justin Woodman
> Course Convenor
> Integrated Degree in Social Anthropology
> Department of Professional and Community Education
> Goldsmiths College
> New Cross
> London SE14 6NW
>
>
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