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Introduction
As a historian with a lifelong
care for the metropolis, I'm glad
to welcome you to "Aesthetic Realism
Looks at New York City: Landmarks,
Poetry, Painting, History,
Photography." This website looks at
the great city, whose beauty is explained
by Aesthetic
Realism, the philosophy founded
by Eli
Siegel
(1902-1978), the noted American poet
and educator who stated: "All
beauty is a making one of opposites,
and the making one of opposites is
what we are going after in ourselves."
Every city, like every person, is
a unique relation of
opposites. The way hardness and
softness, past and present, sameness
and difference, rest and motion,
vertical and horizontal come together
in New York is what makes this city
great. For example, the city
consists of about 300 neighborhoods in
all 5 boroughs making for its
rich diversity—each
of which is like the others, yet is
also
different.
Mr.
Siegel loved the city. He lived in New
York most of his life, taught
Aesthetic Realism here, walked on its
streets, wrote poetry, and
lectured on the city—its history, its
economy, its poets, writers, and
artists—and
much, much more. To hear him speak
about New York and its
people was an unforgettable
experience, mingling as he always did
the
utmost in feeling and the greatest
exactitude, wide range and great
depth. He made New York, its people,
and all they had to do with alive and
permanent to me.
What
you will see here are a selection of
poems about New York City by Eli
Siegel and other poets; talks by
architects about landmarks such as
Central Park and the Chrysler
Building; discussions of works of art
in
New York City museums including
"Opposites in the Life and Art of
Edward Hopper,— the famous "Madame X"
by John Singer Sargent; and the
moving photograph by Nat Fein, "Babe
Ruth's Farewell."
These talks have been given
publicly in the metropolitan region,
and speakers are available upon
request.
John
Stern
Aesthetic Realism
Consultant
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