Scan barcode
A review by carldietrich
Yaratıcılar by Paul Johnson
2.0
At the beginning of "Creators," Paul Johnson asserts that God is the source of all human creativity. This claim, which of course can neither be proved nor disproved, means that the book's chapters merely tell how the author thinks creativity works, not why. Yes, an occasional insight appears like a comet in heavens. For example, Johnson argues that Picasso's "genius" arose from a twisted megalomania, that only his vision mattered. From that, Picasso changed art in the 20th century. I can ponder that thought. Yet Johnson's assertion that creativity is a mystery nursed in the bosom of the deity means that we mortals merely drink the milk. Maybe. But a god as cosmological genius gurgles in this reader's mind like gas bubbles in the stomach after the lactose intolerant eat bad cheese.
These chapters encompass short biographies, revealing facts about creators' lives and work. Johnson does this well. He acts as biographer, music critic, and historian when he delves into, for example, J.S. Bach's life and work. Bach came from a musical family and sired one. Johnson offers several works as evidence of Bach's brilliance, namely, "St. Matthew's Passion." The author discusses why this work compelled critics' and music lovers' attention then and does now. Thus, Johnson puts Bach into his time and ably argues for the composer's relevance today.
These features contribute to this book's sole strength. Johnson might have been well served with a term in Plato's academy or even the experience of ancient Greeks' frat party--a symposium. Then maybe he would've reasoned out why creativity happens. Frankly, readers would've been better served had the deity in which Johnson professes belief doused him with a stainless steel bucket of divine moo juice.
These chapters encompass short biographies, revealing facts about creators' lives and work. Johnson does this well. He acts as biographer, music critic, and historian when he delves into, for example, J.S. Bach's life and work. Bach came from a musical family and sired one. Johnson offers several works as evidence of Bach's brilliance, namely, "St. Matthew's Passion." The author discusses why this work compelled critics' and music lovers' attention then and does now. Thus, Johnson puts Bach into his time and ably argues for the composer's relevance today.
These features contribute to this book's sole strength. Johnson might have been well served with a term in Plato's academy or even the experience of ancient Greeks' frat party--a symposium. Then maybe he would've reasoned out why creativity happens. Frankly, readers would've been better served had the deity in which Johnson professes belief doused him with a stainless steel bucket of divine moo juice.