[Milton-L] Attacks on Milton and Civility on Milton-L

[FLANNAGAN, ROY]

Dear Mr. Lindall,
 
Well, I read your essay, and it says, among other things,
 
Before the Death of Art, there was the Death of God. This occurred when thinkers began to rely more on a created system of value than on the absolute and unchangeable Values of the idea of God. Humanism was born and Nihilism was at the door. The value of anything became interpretable. Belief systems were to take the place of God's Word. Think about this. I have more to say at another time. 

Mr. Lindall, I have no bone to pick with what you consider to be your art, but your current show is supposed to celebrate the birth of a poet who did NOT believe that God was dead and did NOT believe that "the value of anything became interpretable."  You are riding on Milton's reputation to call attention to your show and your enterprise.  I imagine that your soliciting reviews of the show and your promoting of the show does make the exhibits there more valuable than they were before the show, right?  An exhibit of art helps make the art profitable, as well it should.  Please don't say that publicity does not have monetary value: the adage is "There is no such thing as bad publicity."  So, Mr, Kirmss was pictured triumphantly with the "armed guard" you hired to protect his statue against a bunch of wild, uh, Miltonists.
 
Mr. McGrath's article distorted Milton's reputation and his biography. and that is what many of of us scholars have the argument with: there is no biographer of Milton living today who would agree with anything McGrath wrote about Milton's supposed contempt for women.  So, according to educated and well-informed opinion, McGrath was spreading false information, in the name of supporting your show.
 
Your show itself showed little respect for the dead poet whose birthday you were riding to success.  The Kirmss sculpture seemed ridiculously inappropriate to apply to the historical Milton, and a long, stuck out tongue always represents ridicule in our society.  Your paintings may represent your "channeling" of Milton, and you are entitled to paint them and sell them, but no one has to believe you are the reincarnation of Milton or that Clive Milton is a collateral descendant of the poet's brother.  Don't promise lack of greed and then promote yourself over the dead body of the poet you claim to inhabit.
 
Roy Flannagan
 
 
________________________________

From: milton-l-bounces at lists.richmond.edu on behalf of Yuko Nii
Sent: Mon 9/29/2008 4:23 PM
To: John Milton Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Milton-L] Attacks on Milton and Civility on Milton-L



Sorry to add another email. Roy Flannagan defames me personally and my museum. We are a not for profit organization. We do not sell art. I am opposed to the association of art and money that has lowered standards and I oppose the idiocy of the so called  "avante-garde." Please see my essay on A New International Surrealist's Look at Progress, Overcoming and the Irreversibility of the Avante-garde, Massurrealism and The Death of Art: http://beinart.org/info/essays/terrance-lindall-avant-garde.php

If we all got our facts straight, as scholars are REQUIRED to do if they wish to retain their reputations, we could have a civil discussion. You can attack my stated ideas. But at least find out what we are a;ll about. . 
 
Terrance Lindall
On Sep 29, 2008, at 10:37 AM, FLANNAGAN, ROY wrote:


	This is a list that I helped to found, alongside Kevin Creamer, many, many years ago, and I certainly value its usual civility and intellectual integrity.  John Leonard's suggestion to send only one message a day (which I just this minute violated) is a good one, and I admire the suggestions for moderate and cool-headed interchanges from Gardner Campbell.
	
	When I saw the NY Times review of the Williamsburg show, I was affronted by the unjust picture of Milton put out as truth by Charles McGrath, and I admit I felt immediate distaste for what others have called the ugly sculpture that illustrated McGrath's provoking article.  I did want to go on the attack, because "our" poet was being unjustly defamed in print in an article in one of the best-respected newspapers in the country.
	
	I continue to believe that Milton has been defamed and devalued in the process of celebrating him at a pop art birthday party in New York, and I do think it is our business at least to correct the misapprehensions that seem to be promoted by the continued publicity.  Of course we are playing into the hands of a publicity machine designed to make money for the gallery owners and the "artists" on display there, and that is a sad and fallen process, as we well know from studying Paradise Lost.
	
	Roy Flannagan
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