Beyond ricorso: are we in a new Golden Age?

Bob and Ben explore whether we have transcended Vico’s cyclical “ricorso” stage of cultural evolution, suggesting we’re in a new phase, likening it to a new Golden Age. They also discuss the role of art in society, and the value of personal art interpretation.

Bob Dobbs is a McLuhan Scholar and Zappa researcher.
Ben Watson is the author of Frank Zappa: The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play.

0:00 – Intro

3:00 – Fanaticism, Meta Thinking, and Pitfalls
The dangers of fanaticism, the value of “meta thinking”, and the challenges of understanding the world from different perspectives.

6:04 – Time, Art, and Interpretation
Time and the role of art, with references to drawing techniques and William Blake’s art.

9:37 – Language, Consciousness, and Dialogue
Metaphors, consciousness, and the essence of dialogue, emphasizing understanding as a two-way process and the role of external reference points.

13:25 – Role of Art and Critics
Art’s role in society, the challenges faced by critics in a fragmented media landscape. The work of Frank Zappa is highlighted as an example of art that prompts discussion.

16:40 – Language, Ambiguity, and Understanding
Exploring linguistics, the importance of ambiguity in language for fostering meaningful dialogue and understanding.

20:12 – Critique of Expertise and Music’s Role
The dominance of expert opinions in art and emphasize the democratizing and communicative power of music.

23:16 – Valuing Personal Interpretation
The value of personal interpretation and challenge in art, contrasted with the established norms of academic formalism.

26:21 – Sensory Engagement and Reality in Art
Chysical and emotional connection to art, contrasting the raw essence of hand-drawn art with the smoothness of digital imagery.

29:40 – Modern Art, Expression, and Interactivity
Delving into collage and modern art, they stress the importance of self-expression and how art should provoke reactions from its audience.

32:00 – Cultural Evolution and the Recorso Concept
Cyclical nature of cultural evolution, referencing the “recorso” stage, and claim to have transcended this phase.

43:06 – Music’s Democratizing Effect
The democratizing power of recorded music, the capitalist commodification of talk, and “Finnegans Wake” as a counter-solution.

Recorded December 2, 2009