4 ms·
I agree with this list being of questionable value, at least to myself. I must add though that I have learned that it is important to not fill in what people's
by mosselman 6y ago
I agree with this list being of questionable value, at least to myself. I must add though that I have learned that it is important to not fill in what people's intentions are. I have not mastered this skill though and perhaps it remains a life-long battle against the impulses.
The author says:
" I have chosen six that can tell us something about a “new” Vincent, the real man behind the often-exploited scenes of his life. This Vincent is a far-cry from the impulsive artist he has frequently been depicted as."
So if we take this at face value, which I have no reason not to as I am unfamiliar with the website and author, the intention does not seem to simply provide a list of the author's favourites.
- JoeAltmaier 6y agoNevertheless, they are necessarily chosen by the author's goals and biases. At the very least the list is colored by the author's notions. Again, had it been possible to show the set of books in toto, that might have told us more.
- mosselman 6y agoOf course whatever information we get is biased and it is valid to discuss this, but I just meant that filling in the author's intentions is not something we should do. It makes it seem like this article used van Gogh's list of favourite books in bad faith just to gain attention to the author's own favourite books, which I think is unfair.
- JoeAltmaier 6y agoNah. Never attribute to maliciousness, what mere incompetence will cover.
- ianai 6y agoBut should we attribute malice to?