There are times when the troubles swirling around us seem overwhelming. When the last thing we seem able to do is stop and see with openness and clarity. When in the midst of chaos, active, in-the-streets resistence looms paramount while art – and philosophy – often feel like rarified responses. In the recent issue of Poet’s Country Sam O’Hana sits down with American philosopher and gender theorist, Judith Butler to discuss an analysis of poetry at Guantanamo and International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs. Judith offers the following on just why and how we need art so badly in times like these. [Read the whole interview if you can – or at least part of it edited for Lit Hub. I’ve known Judith since we went to college together. Her words are always fascinating, thought provoking, and well worth your time.]
“Finally, it is hard to stay sensate during these times, to see and feel and hear what is happening. There is always the temptation to turn it all off, to exit, to suspend the knowledge of reality, to take leave. In some ways, literature and the arts help to make the world bearable so that we can tarry there longer with the desire to know and understand, to engage, and to transform what calls to be transformed.”
…Judith Butler, Philosopher/Gender Theorist
Poet’s Country No.2
Off the Rails - Track 451 
Wise words indeed.
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Brilliantly stated. I remember her well at Yale. It is tempting to turn off the sounds of the world. But as an artist . poet . and writer . one can not abstain their purpose . to resist the darkness and set free the Truth. (I would get corny and say “It’s the American way”) . but in actuality it should be the way of the world to pursue Truth at any cost.
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Every once in a while, I get tired of it all. It seems another horrible event from our White House every day. I do turn it off, here and there, but come up fighting. Renewed today as a matter of fact – more letters to my reps today!
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