Definition and Origin of the Western Canon:
– A classic is a work of art acknowledged as exemplary or noteworthy.
– The term ‘canon’ originated from the Greeks ranking cultural works.
– The Western canon defines the best of Western culture.
– The Bible, originating from ancient Jewish culture, has been influential in shaping Western culture.
– Not all classic works are necessarily Western; the concept can be applied globally.
Great Books Program:
– Inspired by the Great Books movement in the 1920s in the US.
– Aims to return higher education to broad cross-disciplinary learning.
– Focuses on primary texts, such as Plato’s ‘Republic’ and Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy.’
– Often exclusively focuses on Western culture.
– Over 100 institutions in the US offer some form of a Great Books Program.
Debate and Defense of the Western Canon:
– Some champion a high conservative modernism believing in universal truths.
– Harold Bloom strongly supports the canon in his book ‘The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages.’
– Allan Bloom argues that ignorance of classics leads to moral degradation.
– Bernard Knox highlighted the importance of the classics containing timeless values.
– The canon remains a represented idea in many institutions.
– Defenders argue for the liberating and critical role the canon played historically.
Criteria and Lists of Classic Books:
– Early classification of classics began with the Greeks ranking their cultural works.
– The term ‘canon’ was used by early Christian Church Fathers to rank authoritative texts.
– Various authors have pondered on what makes a book a classic.
– Lists like ‘Great Books of the Western World’ and ‘Modern Library’ compile essential works.
– The terms ‘classic book’ and ‘Western canon’ are closely related but not synonymous.
Cultural Diversity and Challenges to the Western Canon:
– Recent discussions emphasize cultural diversity within the canon.
– Canons of music and visual arts have broadened to include overlooked periods.
– Criticism arises over changes prioritizing activism over aesthetic values.
– Some critique a narrow interpretation of the West dominated by British and American culture.
– Calls have been made for a more diverse canon.
– Challenges include questioning the authority behind selecting canonical works and debating the evolving nature of canons.
This article possibly contains original research. (December 2021) |
The Western canon is the body of high-culture literature, music, philosophy, and works of art that are highly valued in the West; works that have achieved the status of classics. However, not all these works originate in the Western world, and such works are also valued throughout the globe. It is "a certain Western intellectual tradition that goes from, say, Socrates to Wittgenstein in philosophy, and from Homer to James Joyce in literature".
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Recent discussions on it emphasize cultural diversity within the canon. The canons of music and visual arts have broadened to encompass overlooked periods, while newer media like cinema grapple with a precarious position. Criticism arises, with some viewing changes as prioritizing activism over aesthetic values, often associated with Marxist critical theory. Another critique highlights a narrow interpretation of the West, dominated by British and American culture, prompting calls for a more diverse canon.
