ART & ORGANISM
IMAGINATION
is the source of the creative self: perspiration theory and inspiration theory
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The idea of divine inspiration was contradicted by Edison’s crediting his creativity breakthroughs to the sweat of his brow!
“Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration” (quoted by M. A. Rosanoff in Harper’s Monthly Magazine Sept. 1932, as having been said by Edison c.1903)
Painting: Jean d’Arc at the coronation of Charles VII, by Ingres.
Robert Beaudricourt, the Inquisitor, is speaking to Joan, and she replies:
. . . you must not talk to me about my voices.
Robert: How do you mean? Voices?
Joan: I hear voices telling me what to do. They come from God.
Robert: They come from your imagination.
Joan: Of course. That is how the messages of God come to us.
(Bernard Shaw, St. Joan 1923, scene 1)
“At the time of Joan’s childhood the land of France was caught up in the Hundred Year’s War. Joan’s home town of Domremy was placed somewhat in between the forces of the English and the French. Although Joan had a relatively peasant and simple childhood, occasionally she and her family had to flee from armies passing through their town.
“Joan started hearing voices at the age of 13. These voices originally only exhorted her to pray often and attend church. After a year or two they started telling her that she must help the dauphin, or future king, of France be crowned. The dauphin, Charles VII, had to be coronated at Reims by tradition, but at that time Reims was held by the English, with their own hopes of crowning Henry VI, who was but a child, when he was old enough.
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NEXUS