This seems mostly accurate, although from the language, you can tell that the writer is under the mistaken impression that the hedonistic chess player ought to care what society thinks of his pursuit.
1984 Chess observation
Sort:
"they are naughty curiosities, children who never grew up, outrageously self-involved people who spend their days hedonistically" is the author speaking about 'American society' or chess players ?
"learning a useful trade, building a career, getting on with life" and look on tv, consume and be a good sheep. If you're not a good sheep then you're just a stupid autist and 'American society' will eternally laught at you.
Jan 19, 2014
0
#4
de_la_maza_student wrote:
"American society tends to regard serious players as an eccentric group whose intelligence is useless. They are treated as if they are naughty curiosities, children who never grew up, outrageously self-involved people who spend their days hedonistically playing a game instead of learning a useful trade, building a career, getting on with life. Unlke poets or painters, American chess players can't defend themselves with the claim that they are pursuing an art; our culture simply doesn't consider chess art."
~ Extract from page 58 of 'Searching for Bobby Fischer' by Fred Waitzkin (1984).
I think American culture considers chess a game, and treat it like a sport. Sports entertain, and they can provide a living for the skillful. The "intelligence" used for chess is, of course, not going to be able to make moral, cultural, political, or mystical statements which "art" is able to make. American culture, really, is mostly concerned with wealth. Freedom here, is the freedom to make money. Opportunity here, is the opportunity to make money. Success here, is whether or not you make money. That's the essence of American culture, in my view;)
And to add, American culture also looks upon art as whether or not it can make money;)
Jan 19, 2014
0
#5
MrBlunderful wrote:
Volcano738 wrote:
Well... Chess is an art form in a sense, but a very misunderstood fact about Americans (US dwellers) is that there is a very strong sense of providing for your families, and being able to live your life as you choose regardless of what you persue. However, contrary to what most of the (ignorant) world citizens believe, Americans are a very self-interested in that they do not want to provide for others when others have the means to provide for themselves. Of course persuing a passion or art form is encouraged, but not at the expense of every body elses' tax dollars. There is an ongoing problem in American culture in that seemingly very few of us (Americans) are willing to accept our place in society and act our wage. As with other art-forms, don't be fooled by the American media. The romanticism of being an artist isn't bought into so much by us Americans rooted in reality.
This is the conservative/Fox News/Ayn Rand worship view. And it is a minority.
More popular view than you think or have been lied to about.
Jan 19, 2014
0
#6
trysts wrote:
de_la_maza_student wrote:
"American society tends to regard serious players as an eccentric group whose intelligence is useless. They are treated as if they are naughty curiosities, children who never grew up, outrageously self-involved people who spend their days hedonistically playing a game instead of learning a useful trade, building a career, getting on with life. Unlke poets or painters, American chess players can't defend themselves with the claim that they are pursuing an art; our culture simply doesn't consider chess art."
~ Extract from page 58 of 'Searching for Bobby Fischer' by Fred Waitzkin (1984).
I think American culture considers chess a game, and treat it like a sport. Sports entertain, and they can provide a living for the skillful. The "intelligence" used for chess is, of course, not going to be able to make moral, cultural, political, or mystical statements which "art" is able to make. American culture, really, is mostly concerned with wealth. Freedom here, is the freedom to make money. Opportunity here, is the opportunity to make money. Success here, is whether or not you make money. That's the essence of American culture, in my view;)
Excellent points trysts.
Volcano738 wrote:
Well... Chess is an art form in a sense, but a very misunderstood fact about Americans (US dwellers) is that there is a very strong sense of providing for your families, and being able to live your life as you choose regardless of what you persue. However, contrary to what most of the (ignorant) world citizens believe, Americans are a very self-interested in that they do not want to provide for others when others have the means to provide for themselves. Of course persuing a passion or art form is encouraged, but not at the expense of every body elses' tax dollars. There is an ongoing problem in American culture in that seemingly very few of us (Americans) are willing to accept our place in society and act our wage. As with other art-forms, don't be fooled by the American media. The romanticism of being an artist isn't bought into so much by us Americans rooted in reality.
1.I'd rather have our tax dollars going to Nakamura's plane tickets and hotel lodging than killing people just for the owning class oil profits. Let the oil executives spend their own money and fight for their oil.
2.Act your wage? What the "fudge" is that supposed to mean?! Someone can be a jerk if they're a bagger or CEO.
" Freedom here, is the freedom to make money."
The thing is, you need "freedom" to earn freedom in this country.
LePontMirabeau wrote:
"they are naughty curiosities, children who never grew up, outrageously self-involved people who spend their days hedonistically" is the author speaking about 'American society' or chess players ?
"learning a useful trade, building a career, getting on with life" and look on tv, consume and be a good sheep. If you're not a good sheep then you're just a stupid autist and 'American society' will eternally laught at you.
Since when is autism an insult? May as well take it out and insert German, Canadian, schizo, histrionic, philosophy major, lawyer, Christian, Muslim, etc. I know most of those aren't mental "disorders" but still.
I was expecting some Big Brother connection. How dissapointing.
"American society tends to regard serious players as an eccentric group whose intelligence is useless. They are treated as if they are naughty curiosities, children who never grew up, outrageously self-involved people who spend their days hedonistically playing a game instead of learning a useful trade, building a career, getting on with life. Unlke poets or painters, American chess players can't defend themselves with the claim that they are pursuing an art; our culture simply doesn't consider chess art."
~ Extract from page 58 of 'Searching for Bobby Fischer' by Fred Waitzkin (1984).