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

Tue Sep 30 00:08:40 EDT 2008

Yesterday was the saddest day ever for Milton studies--in MY lifetime.  Well... so far.  JW

________________________________

From: milton-l-bounces at lists.richmond.edu on behalf of Yuko Nii
Sent: Mon 9/29/2008 6:05 PM
To: John Milton Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Milton-L] Attacks on Milton and Civility on Milton-L

Dear (Professor??) Flannagan:

I am sorry that my essay is over your head.  When I talk about the 
"Death of God," I am referring to a point in the history of 
philosophy.  Also, I do not own anything, not even my paintings. So I 
do not make any money from them.  I do not paint any more. I gave a 2 
million dollar collection of art and antiquities to the Yuko Nii 
Foundation and I now live in poverty on social security. I am given a 
free apartment by Yuko Nii, a philanthropist. You do not undertstand 
my motives, so you should not be addressing them. That, to me, is 
STUPIDITY. I know that I am being "uncivil." But I am responding to an 
uninformed, licentious, unbridled, ignorant attack upon my integrity.

My apologies to the list!

Terrance Lindall
On Sep 29, 2008, at 5:25 PM, FLANNAGAN, ROY wrote:

>
> 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
>       <winmail.dat>_______________________________________________
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>
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