Loved this canto. So sensuous and full of light. I'm not a visual thinker but I could see the sphere of Venus so clearly. When I read Dante I'm trying to imagine a contemporary poet / politician / scientist who is able to weave an explanation of how our personalities are influenced alongside an account of a statesman who they feel has been wronged.... He is such a polymath / genius and is very courageous.
Light, music, dancing--this canto is a keeper! Finding one's "thing" or "things" in life can take a whole lifetime, and I like your outlook on it in that whatever our thing might be it's what makes us productive, useful, worthy of our place on the planet. In keeping with the music game, I just spent an hour watching Janet Jackson videos, so THANK YOU for that. I don't know why she popped into my head while reading, but she did. She's SO wonderful it's hard to pick one, but for some reason All Nite and That's the Way Love Goes give me the most in terms of sensuality, rhythm and beauty.
I know the second one of those songs and it’s great - if you have a chance, check out Curtis Harding, great recent artist (“Need Your Love”, etc.). Would love to know what you think of his work.
@@tomlabooks3263 He's got a real 70's soul vibe, reminiscent of the O'Jays and the Spinners--reminds me of high school dances in the gym--some of which was mixed in with disco and anything to which we could do the Bump, the Hustle, or the Electric Slide.
I missed the name of the author of the illustrated Paradiso! I didn't know there was such a thing! I am so glad you brought up line 113 and Aristotle. This was exactly my thought--the Greek word, 'phusis' (or sometimes 'physis') was taken more than how we use "nature" today. It had the meaning of 'growth from origin' and this is how Aristotle often used it, (the seed metaphor to ask the question in 91)--and in line 97-99 is a direct reference to the way Aristotle used this term 'phusis' in Physics, where he talks about the element or inanimate body is attracted upwards to its proper region, growing toward what is 'good.' That was my first thought when reading 97-99, then it is all confirmed when quoting Aristotle in line 113. Definitely a highlight in Paradiso! Thank you! 😊
@@tomlabooks3263 I tried to keep my comment short, but it really is all over this Canto, and could have gone on for much longer 😅 And thank you! I will look that name up!
Catching up with this. I appreciate the different approaches Dante takes to convey a message about how he thinks we should live our lives. He comes back to things from a slightly different angle. There's a lot of happiness and light in this canto.
Everything about the Christian tradition crashes against today's modern culture, including the "telling how to live life" part. It's a fascinating conflict.
In a way he is saying that people are not supposed to be like their parents because each of us is a unique individual. Is that what he’s saying? That book!! How wonderful it must be (the one with Moëbius pictures)!!
Yes. This topic seems to be very important to Dante, maybe also because he felt like he belonged to nobility, while his father didn’t. That’s why he later brings up an ancestor of his who, allegedly, was knighted by the emperor.
That is such a hot topic for SO many people. But we need to be realistic and admit that it’s not a binary problem, like Dante might make it sound (to be fair, in his times the explosion of the tertiary sector hadn’t happened yet, so it makes sense that he says that). It’s much more a “shades of grey” type of issue, and I guess most of us are not in the “right” or “wrong” place, but simply on a point along a curve that gradually makes its way from right to wrong…. we can only try to do what we can to get as near as possible to that ideal spot, while hoping that we actually are right about ourselves.
@@tomlabooks3263 Tom, I read your comment last night and right after I picked up this book I’m reading, it’s called A cup of Tea by Osho, and I got up to the part that says: ‘’ …life is its own purpose… Live! Isn’t living itself enough? The desire to have more than just life is a result of not properly living.’’ I thought it was so interesting that I read that right after watching your video and reading the comment! I agree with what you said too, a lot of things were definitely different in Dante’s times, but surprisingly the same as now at the same time (concerning other stuff).
Amazing as always, Tom👏 what an interesting canto, I liked learning about Charles Martel, and all the Aristotle references. Oh and talking about Sicily, I can’t help but say how much I love it😍 I spent two weeks in Cefalù and it was the absolute best.
Thank you my friend - I’m so glad you’re following Paradiso without being bored or overwhelmed by it (some readers and friends of mine are!). A holiday in Sicily is probably unbeatable when it comes to : beauty, weather and food !! Cefalù is gorgeous. I spent a summer near Agrigento, where Pirandello was born. Seeing some of those places is like going back in time.
@@tomlabooks3263 I definitely don’t think it’s an easy read for me, I have to admit, but I just love discovering all about it! I’m really enjoying the experience, even when it gets hard at times. Your videos help a ton. Thank you! Ohh Sicily was perfect in so many ways. My two weeks in Cefalù definitely did feel like going back in time - especially when we went up to La rocca. 😍
Perhaps another reason Dante so often discusses the subject of good people coming from bad stock is because he had a negative relationship with his father and/or other relatives, or at least felt alienated from them on account of having a much different personality and interests. That also might be one of the reasons he depicts Virgil as a loving surrogate father, as an idealized version of the kind of father he never had. I agree about how many people don't do the things they were created to want to do, even when they don't feel happy and fulfilled in a certain career or degree. Since I have such strong working-class roots, I understand why people would care more about doing something to earn money than spending years earning an advanced degree in something like Russian history (my passion) or Chinese literature, or pursuing a career as a full-time artist or writer, but it doesn't have to be so rigidly either-or. Many people are very happy and earn decent money in such careers, or directly or indirectly related fields like working in an art museum or the Slavic section of an academic library. I can imagine Dante's father and stepmother having a similarly discouraging attitude towards his focus on writing poetry and studying philosophy and the seven liberal arts instead of getting a "real" job.
Oh yes, I didn’t think of it from this angle but his own relationship (or non-relationship) with his father must have driven a big part of his psychology. Also in the sense that since he thought of himself as a genius and as someone of much greater value than his parents, he couldn’t easily reconcile that with his “medium” level roots. Hence the big role of Cacciaguida later on. P.S. the “career choice” issue, the more I think about it, the more I realize it’s changed immensely since Dante’s times. After the explosion of the tertiary sector, the majority of people have been sucked into undefinable jobs that Dante would never have even imagined. Rather than a clear-cut binary problem, like it probably (often) was in his times, today for us it’s more typically a matter of shades of grey, and how close you can get to doing what you were born to do, even if you are one of the billions of people with a desk job. Not to mention the difficulty of proving that you were actually born to do what you think you were born to do!!
Thanks for the commentary. The Final Countdown video was quite fun, but I’d give the soundtrack of this Canto to Gustav Holst. ruclips.net/video/RuGrYRqES2w/видео.html
Oh yes that is such a great one! I should take some time to listen to the full suite of the planets. The last movement features a wordless choir, so evocative.
lol..could you get more contemporary a theme than celebrating diversity? and i appreciate the comparison you draw between believe our fate lies in the stars or dna which to an ordinary understanding like mine are both equally mysterious!
I have a friend who’s a neurobiologist, and he tells me “Here’s what we know about our brain today: nothing.”. He’s probably exaggerating, but not far from the truth. And even if we knew more, how could science ever explain our existence? If you never heard about it, I would suggest a beautiful book by David Bentley Hart, called “The Experience of God”, that articulates this concept very well.
I love your new intro, Tom. It is quite beautiful and draws you in. Well done.
@@lauramcweeney4648 Thank you! 🙏🏻 So glad you find my passion project interesting.
Loved this canto. So sensuous and full of light. I'm not a visual thinker but I could see the sphere of Venus so clearly. When I read Dante I'm trying to imagine a contemporary poet / politician / scientist who is able to weave an explanation of how our personalities are influenced alongside an account of a statesman who they feel has been wronged.... He is such a polymath / genius and is very courageous.
Oh yes - VERY unique!
Light, music, dancing--this canto is a keeper! Finding one's "thing" or "things" in life can take a whole lifetime, and I like your outlook on it in that whatever our thing might be it's what makes us productive, useful, worthy of our place on the planet.
In keeping with the music game, I just spent an hour watching Janet Jackson videos, so THANK YOU for that. I don't know why she popped into my head while reading, but she did. She's SO wonderful it's hard to pick one, but for some reason All Nite and That's the Way Love Goes give me the most in terms of sensuality, rhythm and beauty.
I know the second one of those songs and it’s great - if you have a chance, check out Curtis Harding, great recent artist (“Need Your Love”, etc.). Would love to know what you think of his work.
@@tomlabooks3263 He's got a real 70's soul vibe, reminiscent of the O'Jays and the Spinners--reminds me of high school dances in the gym--some of which was mixed in with disco and anything to which we could do the Bump, the Hustle, or the Electric Slide.
@@TootightLautrec Yes, definitely a retro style. Maybe not much originality, but those bass lines and that voice…. wow.
I missed the name of the author of the illustrated Paradiso! I didn't know there was such a thing! I am so glad you brought up line 113 and Aristotle. This was exactly my thought--the Greek word, 'phusis' (or sometimes 'physis') was taken more than how we use "nature" today. It had the meaning of 'growth from origin' and this is how Aristotle often used it, (the seed metaphor to ask the question in 91)--and in line 97-99 is a direct reference to the way Aristotle used this term 'phusis' in Physics, where he talks about the element or inanimate body is attracted upwards to its proper region, growing toward what is 'good.' That was my first thought when reading 97-99, then it is all confirmed when quoting Aristotle in line 113. Definitely a highlight in Paradiso! Thank you! 😊
I knew you would have liked this one … it’s such an Aristotle smoothie! The artist’s name is MOEBIUS. His work is astonishing.
@@tomlabooks3263 I tried to keep my comment short, but it really is all over this Canto, and could have gone on for much longer 😅 And thank you! I will look that name up!
Catching up with this. I appreciate the different approaches Dante takes to convey a message about how he thinks we should live our lives. He comes back to things from a slightly different angle. There's a lot of happiness and light in this canto.
Everything about the Christian tradition crashes against today's modern culture, including the "telling how to live life" part. It's a fascinating conflict.
Interesting discussion. The "why does bitter fruit come from sweet seeds" question is something I've seen far too many parents have to deal with.
Hi John - me too ! It’s not easy to come to terms with this, as a fact of life.
In a way he is saying that people are not supposed to be like their parents because each of us is a unique individual. Is that what he’s saying?
That book!! How wonderful it must be (the one with Moëbius pictures)!!
Yes. This topic seems to be very important to Dante, maybe also because he felt like he belonged to nobility, while his father didn’t. That’s why he later brings up an ancestor of his who, allegedly, was knighted by the emperor.
Also, that part about finding your purpose really resonated with me!
That is such a hot topic for SO many people. But we need to be realistic and admit that it’s not a binary problem, like Dante might make it sound (to be fair, in his times the explosion of the tertiary sector hadn’t happened yet, so it makes sense that he says that). It’s much more a “shades of grey” type of issue, and I guess most of us are not in the “right” or “wrong” place, but simply on a point along a curve that gradually makes its way from right to wrong…. we can only try to do what we can to get as near as possible to that ideal spot, while hoping that we actually are right about ourselves.
@@tomlabooks3263 Tom, I read your comment last night and right after I picked up this book I’m reading, it’s called A cup of Tea by Osho, and I got up to the part that says: ‘’ …life is its own purpose… Live! Isn’t living itself enough? The desire to have more than just life is a result of not properly living.’’ I thought it was so interesting that I read that right after watching your video and reading the comment! I agree with what you said too, a lot of things were definitely different in Dante’s times, but surprisingly the same as now at the same time (concerning other stuff).
@@serenesloth4312 Beautiful. I haven’t read anything by Osho, thanks for putting him on my radar.
Amazing as always, Tom👏 what an interesting canto, I liked learning about Charles Martel, and all the Aristotle references. Oh and talking about Sicily, I can’t help but say how much I love it😍 I spent two weeks in Cefalù and it was the absolute best.
Thank you my friend - I’m so glad you’re following Paradiso without being bored or overwhelmed by it (some readers and friends of mine are!). A holiday in Sicily is probably unbeatable when it comes to : beauty, weather and food !! Cefalù is gorgeous. I spent a summer near Agrigento, where Pirandello was born. Seeing some of those places is like going back in time.
@@tomlabooks3263 I definitely don’t think it’s an easy read for me, I have to admit, but I just love discovering all about it! I’m really enjoying the experience, even when it gets hard at times. Your videos help a ton. Thank you! Ohh Sicily was perfect in so many ways. My two weeks in Cefalù definitely did feel like going back in time - especially when we went up to La rocca. 😍
Perhaps another reason Dante so often discusses the subject of good people coming from bad stock is because he had a negative relationship with his father and/or other relatives, or at least felt alienated from them on account of having a much different personality and interests. That also might be one of the reasons he depicts Virgil as a loving surrogate father, as an idealized version of the kind of father he never had.
I agree about how many people don't do the things they were created to want to do, even when they don't feel happy and fulfilled in a certain career or degree. Since I have such strong working-class roots, I understand why people would care more about doing something to earn money than spending years earning an advanced degree in something like Russian history (my passion) or Chinese literature, or pursuing a career as a full-time artist or writer, but it doesn't have to be so rigidly either-or. Many people are very happy and earn decent money in such careers, or directly or indirectly related fields like working in an art museum or the Slavic section of an academic library. I can imagine Dante's father and stepmother having a similarly discouraging attitude towards his focus on writing poetry and studying philosophy and the seven liberal arts instead of getting a "real" job.
Oh yes, I didn’t think of it from this angle but his own relationship (or non-relationship) with his father must have driven a big part of his psychology. Also in the sense that since he thought of himself as a genius and as someone of much greater value than his parents, he couldn’t easily reconcile that with his “medium” level roots. Hence the big role of Cacciaguida later on.
P.S. the “career choice” issue, the more I think about it, the more I realize it’s changed immensely since Dante’s times. After the explosion of the tertiary sector, the majority of people have been sucked into undefinable jobs that Dante would never have even imagined. Rather than a clear-cut binary problem, like it probably (often) was in his times, today for us it’s more typically a matter of shades of grey, and how close you can get to doing what you were born to do, even if you are one of the billions of people with a desk job. Not to mention the difficulty of proving that you were actually born to do what you think you were born to do!!
Tom, I think you were born to be a teacher 😊
😅 Thank you, that is in fact a great compliment!! And thanks for supporting this series 🙏🏻
Thanks for the commentary.
The Final Countdown video was quite fun, but I’d give the soundtrack of this Canto to Gustav Holst.
ruclips.net/video/RuGrYRqES2w/видео.html
Oh yes that is such a great one! I should take some time to listen to the full suite of the planets. The last movement features a wordless choir, so evocative.
lol..could you get more contemporary a theme than celebrating diversity? and i appreciate the comparison you draw between believe our fate lies in the stars or dna which to an ordinary understanding like mine are both equally mysterious!
I have a friend who’s a neurobiologist, and he tells me “Here’s what we know about our brain today: nothing.”. He’s probably exaggerating, but not far from the truth. And even if we knew more, how could science ever explain our existence? If you never heard about it, I would suggest a beautiful book by David Bentley Hart, called “The Experience of God”, that articulates this concept very well.
@@tomlabooks3263 thanks..i'll be on the look out for a copy..and i think your friend is probably quite right!