Rhythms of Life
Class Readings: Gerardus Van Der Leeuw/Sacred and Profane Beauty
September 22, 2015
Gerardus Van Der Leeuw says that “the movements of life are perceived as an expression of a higher power which lies behind life.”(p.42) As humans, we feel the need for ordered movement. This desire can be manifestly observed through a football team executing a play, a car driving on the road, an athlete going out on a morning run, or a barista preparing a cup of coffee. All human activity exhibits and demands this inclination for ordered movement. Rhythm is the very pulse of life, beating in our hearts, reminding us that our existence is inextricably tied to the physical bodies we live in on this earth. Van Der Leeuw wisely observes that “life does not need to be stylized. It has its own style.”(p.43) The paradox of this statement is that through life does not need to be stylized, we make every attempt to give it style through, art, architecture, fashion, and many other mediums. It is not that the style of life is insufficient for us. We are deeply moved and inspired by the style of life. It is the inspiration we experience as observers of such a complex and simple world that drive us to become active participants in the style of life ourselves, through enactment.
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