Nietzsche's Birth of Tragedy

I have just dipped into this and I'm much impressed by Nietsche's enthusiasm. Unfortunately I have never actually read the Greek plays he refers to, and I suspect contemporary scholarship would fault much of what he says, but Nietzsche is a stunningly passionate writer.

The thesis, as I understand it, is that classical tragedy was born out of the rites of Dionysus. Chanting (the chorus), dancing, and acting-out. Gradually, the rational took over primary importance, the chorus became secondary to the actors on stage. Tragedy gave way to drama, a visual and dialectical creature, tamed and reasonable.

He has much admiration for the unreasonable, the Dionysian. It's interesting, Dionysus a nature god representing a sort of nature that I think has become unfamiliar to us. Nature as savage, threatening, an overwhelming life force that is destructive in its superabundance. It's very far from the romantic view of nature that still seems to dominate.

Nietzsche seems to have tremendous respect for art, tremendous expectations. Art is a primal force to him, something essential to humanity, not merely something we indulge in our spare time. Nietzschean art supersedes culture.

I think Nietzsche has it right about nature. And I absolutely agree that the romantic view of nature has dominated for far too long. Nature is not like that. It is a brutal world, though filled with beauty. Ever watch the tiger chase down the antelope-looking thing on the nature channels? It is horrifying.

Anyway, I don't know how much N. you may have read, but if you haven't read Twilight of the Idols, I strongly encourage you to do so.

I have great admiration for the man and his philosophies. I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone greater than him when it comes to art and humanity.

i agree with both curly q and cellar door (the most beautiful phrase in the english language). If you want a more complete version of the nietzche dionysus view check out the last chaper of will to power, its tremendous.

I didn't read all of The Birth of Tragedy either, but I likd it too. I did read all of Twilight of the Idols, though, that remains my favourite Nietzsche also.