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Alex Ross / Farrar, Straus and Giroux / 2020年09月15日
"Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music" by Alex Ross, a New York Times Notable Book of 2020, delves into the enduring influence of Richard Wagner and his music. Ross examines how Wagner's life and works have shaped art and politics, from his controversial ideas about race and society to the powerful music dramas that continue to captivate audiences today. The book explores the complex legacy of Wagnerism, tracing its impact on subsequent generations of artists, thinkers, and political movements. With insight and depth, Ross sheds new light on the enduring relevance of Wagner's music and ideas in our own time.
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Book Summary
Chapters Overview
Chapter 1: The Man and His Work
**Personal Background**: Ross begins with Wagner's early life and influences, including his rocky relationship with his family and his early forays into composing.
**Artistic Development**: This section traces Wagner's development as a composer and the evolution of his unique approach to opera.
**The Birth of Wagnerism**: Defines the term "Wagnerism" and the cultural impact of Wagner's work soon after its composition.
Chapter 2: The Music and the Myth
**Opera as Mythmaking**: Discusses how Wagner's operatic works create a cohesive mythological world, beginning with *The Ring of the Nibelung*.
**Musical Innovations**: Explores the ways in which Wagner revolutionized Western music through his use of leitmotifs, harmony, and musical drama.
**The Bayreuth Festival**: Details the creation of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus and its significance as a platform for Wagnerian performances.
Chapter 3: The Artistic Aftershocks
**Imitators and Innovators**: Examines the composers who were influenced by Wagner, including Bruckner, Mahler, and Strauss.
**The Visual Arts**: Describes how painters, sculptors, and architects adapted Wagnerian themes and aesthetics in their work.
**Literature**: Discusses the impact of Wagner's operas and his theoretical writings on fin de siècle European literature.
Chapter 4: The Politics of Aesthetics
**Right-Wing Wagnerians**: Analyzes the appropriation of Wagner's mythical narratives by nationalist and right-wing groups, particularly in Germany.
**Leftist Interpretations**: Considers how socialist and leftist thinkers have engaged with Wagner's work, often reinterpreting it to fit their own political ideals.
**The Modern Legacy**: Discusses the persistence of Wagnerism in contemporary culture, including its influence on film, television, and music.
Key Points Expansion
Chapter 1 Key Points
**Early Turmoil**: Wagner's contentious relationship with his stepfather and his flight from Dresden due to debt shaped his view of personal and creative independence.
**Operatic Vision**: His desire to reform opera led to the development of the Gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art, which blended music, drama, and visual spectacle.
**Cultural Disruption**: Wagner's works ignited a cultural shift that resonated with Romantic longings for the ideal and the sublime.
Chapter 2 Key Points
**Mythic Universe**: *The Ring* and other operas construct a mythical cosmos that comments on human nature and modernity.
**Musical Revolution**: Wagner's leitmotifs, chromaticism, and use of the orchestra mark a break from classical conventions.
**Cultural Epicenter**: Bayreuth became an international pilgrimage site for Wagner enthusiasts, solidifying his status as a cultural icon.
Chapter 3 Key Points
**Musical Echoes**: Composers built on Wagner's chromatic language and thematic techniques, developing new genres and expressions.
**Visual Aesthetic**: Artists such as Kandinsky and Klimt were inspired by Wagner's use of color and symbolism in his stage designs.
**Literary Adaptations**: Novels, plays, and poetry from the late 19th century often borrowed themes from Wagner's operas, exploring themes of love, power, and redemption.
Chapter 4 Key Points
**Nationalist Interpretations**: Wagner's works were used by the likes of Hitler to promote Aryan superiority, despite Wagner's own complex views on race.
**Marxist Readings**: Communist scholars found in Wagner's critiques of industrial society parallels with their own critique of capitalist exploitation.
**Contemporary Resonance**: Themes of power, love, and transformation in Wagner's operas continue to inspire artists and filmmakers today.
