Dry Bones of Contention: The Critic or the Critique

Writers tend to be critical of critics. One must ask whether they should be criticizing the critique instead.

As readers, we wade through lengthy loads of literary luggage, with long lists of contents and dictionary definitions. Are these necessary in literature, one must ask?

We might suggest that combination lock numbers, used to unravel time in transit and old, worn out, doggy-bone arguments of indifference, are kind of like a literary plague at times, or at least it seems that way. We patiently read these too.

Then of course, there is the regressive, retentive element of history that keeps on popping up like huge cigars of wisdom that have been puffed to death. The ancient allegations with their decrepit denials and defenses argued relentlessly are ready to wrinkle Father Time's face further. We accept those quite willingly too.

How many times do we read dank and disgusting revelries, drab descriptions and look at fuzzy faces fading on the walls, as some kind of a flip-flop in reality's square? These are like ‘weighty, wordy weapons’ against ‘the reptiles that are replicating relentlessly’.

Much of what we read is more like eating pretzels without salt or playing slippery, slovenly scrabble, while we wade through contemporary, crisscross critiques about deep-fried dragons, full of fractured and fragmented fantasies.

Oh, the world of wild and wonderful words, but it can prove questionable at times.

Oh, I would the harshest critic be, if were to be one. Should we not criticize the critique, rather than the critic?

These all appear to be ‘dry bones of contention’.

On the other hand, does it not take a bit of courage to stand up as a critic, even knowing that as the critic you could wind up being the object of a critique instead?

At least to some degree, we all stand in our own element of understanding in terms of how we comprehend what we read. Even the critic has to stand somewhere. Part of what makes life interesting is the reality that there is such a complexity and diversity in what we do get to read.

Imagine for just one moment a world where there were no critics and no critiques. It might be great for a while, but it would not take long before boredom would set in. In itself, that might prove to be an even worse plague.

Reluctantly, we wrestle with critiques and critics, but we have to face it. Reality demands both. Should we be so critical of the critics? Maybe we are not critical enough. Who knows? Remember that even dry bones are good for flavoring soup!

Inquiry Into The Origin of the Tabula Rasa

A comparison of the blank page concept in the western and eastern realms of thought may lead to the conclusion that the tabula rasa originates with the word of God. Both the eastern and the western world have the concept of an open and free realm, or the blank page that intellectual discovery is destined to fill during the course of history.

In the western world, there is the concept of the tabula rasa, which originated in 1607. This is a hypothetical smooth or erased table. Essentially, it also refers to the mind prior to any receiving any kind of impressions at birth. The word tabula rasa also refers to that which is still in its original pristine state. (1)

This leads to several possible options. Either no one wrote on the blank tablet or the writing that was there, had to have been erased, at some point in time. This is important in the realm of intellectual discovery.

In the eastern world, the void depicts something similar, but in terms of total absence. It depicts utter darkness into which the light of enlightenment allows one to become aware of intellectual awareness.

With reference to the western world of thought, one cannot help but think of the tablet on which Moses wrote the Ten Commandments. It begins as a blank slate that became God's Word for the people of Israel, or the Law. Prior to that time in history, this kind of law did not exist in that kind of a format. 

The eastern void does not depict a written word of any kind in its actual void, but enlightenment comes from the divine and man appears to document it for humankind, over time.

In both instances, one can suggest that there is the emergence of transcribed words. 

In western world history, it is God's Word and His Divine presence documented while in the eastern world, words come through divine enlightenment.

The western world takes this further with the personification of the Word, when Jesus Christ appears on the horizon of history and claims His divine personification, as the Truth.

This kind of personification does not exist in the eastern world, although there are many historical figures during the course of history that appear to be recognized as having received some form of divine enlightenment.

The western world documents ongoing revelation by God's Holy Spirit, while the eastern world does not claim actual revelation from God. At no point in time is there only one name given to a distinct person in the eastern world, although there are many who receive some form of enlightenment accredited to the divine.

There are some other important realities to consider. It would appear that for the western world, Jesus Christ represents wisdom. In the eastern world, there are many different personalities depicted in terms of wisdom.

One might also suggest that there are pages filled by sages and may be more blank pages in both realms.

From a western perspective, one might argue that through Jesus Christ the act of salvation has wiped the slate clean once again for all believers. Thus, the slate returns to its original pristine state simply because of God's grace and forgiveness acknowledged in the religious thought of the western world.

This same kind of salvation is not present in the eastern realm of the void. Absence suggests that everything including forgiveness, is absent.

In the western world the three wise men led by the stars, realized their own ‘well-spring’ of knowledge from God. In the eastern world, the divine is the source of their knowledge.

One might ask what still awaits discovery in the western and eastern worlds. Maybe both realms still have room for more intellectual discovery and enlightenment. Perhaps one should also ask what really lies in the recesses of the deep in terms of the western realm of intellectual discovery and revelation, as well as what still lies undiscovered in the void of the eastern world?

There may be no perfect answer, but it would seem that the tabula rasa originates from the Word of God.

(1) Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam and Webster, Inc., Springfield, M.A., 1983