English, poets and the Imagination

"When nations grow old, the arts grow cold,

And commerce settles on every tree..."

William Blake (1757-1827)

Here are some slightly edited thoughts from the Temenos Academy Review by John Carey, published in 2017.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1guXsWFdWli6lxximrUp3dFdDSh96iNsI/view?usp=sharing

He inquires into the nature of "the politics of time" and "the politics of eternity", expressions coined by the Irishman AE (George Russell), poet, painter and activist, and friend of W. B. Yeats. Kathleen Raine would quote them, in reference to the work of artists in relation to modern politics, and the world situation. Carey articulates some interesting thoughts, because there is an obvious tension between the artist and politics, or what some might see, even, as complete disconnection. Is art just for entertainment, or the sugar coating on a harsh reality? Do artists work in an ivory tower, in a world of disconnected fantasy? Perhaps many do. But some of the greatest amongst them have been politically involved, or made strong political statements. Yeats was an Irish Senator. And the Romantics like Shelley felt close to many of the revolutionary ideas of their time in France, although some, like Blake, became quickly disillusioned. Blake also took up arms in his poetry against social injustice. However, it is more than this; what if, and many artists have believed this, the Imagination itself (a sphere outside time) can be an active principle in the world, in our consciousness, and in due course influence our minds and hearts, thereby bringing about renewal within society? What is the connection? Traditionally, the poets and the philosophers had their place within the City, and it was of the highest order. For Blake, the artist labours for the advent of a new age. If not, when art declines, society declines. In his Prophetic Book Jerusalem, he envisions the mythical Giant Albion's inner history as that of the sleeping, and awakening, nation of Britain. From its inner awakening, he shows, outer changes will follow, whereas our society is for ever thinking only in terms of changing outer circumstances.