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The Symbolic Order: A Contemporary Reader On The Arts Debate
Alongside Living Powers and A is for Aesthetic this book is intended to establish a conceptual frame for the Arts in Education series. The first and primary aim of this symposium is to put teachers of all the arts in touch with some of the most recent and the best writing on the nature of art.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
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October 5, 2024
Peter Abbs’ The Symbolic Order: A Contemporary Reader on the Arts Debate emerges as a profound intellectual endeavor that seeks to restore the primacy of the arts within contemporary culture and education. With a refined elegance and a sharp critical lens, Abbs dissects the modern tendencies that have alienated the arts from both public discourse and pedagogical frameworks, arguing for their rehabilitation as central pillars of human experience. As a literary scholar, it is essential to appreciate not just the content of this collection but the underlying theoretical currents that sustain its arguments.
Reclaiming the Arts in a Postmodern Context
Abbs’ central thesis is unapologetically countercultural in its aspiration to restore a symbolic order in which the arts hold a formative place in human life. This re-establishment of an intellectual and moral order, as Abbs argues, opposes the postmodern turn that has reduced the arts to cultural artifacts, losing their deeper, transcendent meanings. The contributors he assembles—ranging from poets and philosophers to educators and critics—offer varying perspectives, but they all converge on the idea that the arts embody a mode of knowledge and self-understanding distinct from scientific rationalism or utilitarian thought.
From a scholarly standpoint, this critique of postmodernism stands as one of the book’s boldest and most controversial positions. Abbs seems to challenge not just the postmodern relegation of art to the status of “text,” but also the broader ideological fragmentation that comes with it. While postmodern theorists such as Derrida, Barthes, and Foucault deconstruct meaning and embrace pluralism, Abbs and his fellow contributors argue for a re-integrated vision of art as a sacred, unifying force. This debate forms the heart of the book, framing it as a battle over the soul of contemporary culture.
The Symbolic and the Real: The Depth of Artistic Experience
A remarkable feature of The Symbolic Order is its refusal to treat art as mere entertainment or subjective expression. Abbs and the authors included insist that the arts provide access to an existential depth that cannot be attained through other forms of knowledge. The symbolic, in Abbs' interpretation, points to something beyond the personal or political, gesturing toward universal truths about the human condition.
For instance, Abbs draws heavily on the philosophy of figures such as Martin Heidegger and Hans-Georg Gadamer, exploring how the arts allow us to encounter what Heidegger calls "Being"—a profound, almost sacred, engagement with existence. This concept of art as an unveiling of truth invites readers to reconsider their interactions with artworks, not as casual spectators, but as participants in a transformative process. From a literary perspective, this theme resonates with the notion of the sublime, a central concept in Romanticism, and later critical theory. Abbs’ focus on the aesthetic experience as a kind of spiritual communion offers a much-needed counterbalance to the political and materialist critiques that dominate much of contemporary discourse.
A Vision for Educational Reform
In addition to its philosophical inquiry, The Symbolic Order is a call to action, particularly within the realm of education. Abbs condemns the marginalization of the arts in educational institutions, arguing that the current systems of education are complicit in the devaluation of symbolic thought. He calls for a radical re-imagination of the curriculum, in which the arts are not sidelined in favor of STEM subjects but are placed at the very center of the learning process.
Abbs’ vision for educational reform, while idealistic, is deeply informed by the historical and philosophical traditions that underpin his work. Drawing from thinkers such as John Dewey and Rudolph Steiner, Abbs argues for a holistic education that recognizes the arts as a vital mode of knowing, alongside the sciences. As a literary scholar, I find this particularly compelling, given how the contemporary educational system often privileges quantifiable outcomes over qualitative understanding. Abbs’ insistence that the arts foster not just creativity, but also ethical and emotional intelligence, feels particularly timely as we grapple with the increasing mechanization of human experience in the digital age.
Scholarly and Stylistic Contributions
Abbs’ work is not just ideologically rich; it is also stylistically polished. His prose is elegant, concise, and evocative, capturing the urgency of his arguments without sacrificing nuance. From a scholarly perspective, Abbs has a talent for synthesizing complex theoretical frameworks with accessible language, making this collection not only relevant to academics but also engaging for general readers interested in the arts and education.
The diversity of voices within The Symbolic Order is another strength. The essays are carefully curated, providing readers with a wide range of perspectives on the role of art in society—from lyrical reflections by poets to analytical dissections by philosophers. This multidisciplinary approach mirrors the very essence of Abbs’ argument: the arts do not belong to a single field but cut across all domains of human thought and experience.
Critique and Reflection
Despite its many strengths, Abbs’ volume is not without limitations. Some critics may argue that his vision of the symbolic order verges on a kind of nostalgia, an idealization of a lost golden age of the arts. In advocating for a return to tradition, Abbs risks underestimating the genuine contributions of postmodernism and other contemporary movements that have challenged hierarchical structures within art and culture. Furthermore, the book's emphasis on Western philosophical traditions might feel limiting to those seeking a more global or pluralistic view of artistic practice.
However, these critiques only serve to underscore the depth of the debate Abbs has initiated. His work does not seek to offer easy answers, but rather to provoke thought and dialogue about the future of the arts in a rapidly changing world.
Peter Abbs’ The Symbolic Order: A Contemporary Reader on the Arts Debate is a powerful and timely book, one that invites readers to reconsider the role of the arts in shaping human consciousness and society. Its call for a revival of symbolic thought within both culture and education is a clarion call for a new era of artistic appreciation and integration. As a literary scholar, I find Abbs’ arguments both compelling and necessary, particularly in an age where the arts are increasingly marginalized. This book should be essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of culture, education, and the human spirit.
Reclaiming the Arts in a Postmodern Context
Abbs’ central thesis is unapologetically countercultural in its aspiration to restore a symbolic order in which the arts hold a formative place in human life. This re-establishment of an intellectual and moral order, as Abbs argues, opposes the postmodern turn that has reduced the arts to cultural artifacts, losing their deeper, transcendent meanings. The contributors he assembles—ranging from poets and philosophers to educators and critics—offer varying perspectives, but they all converge on the idea that the arts embody a mode of knowledge and self-understanding distinct from scientific rationalism or utilitarian thought.
From a scholarly standpoint, this critique of postmodernism stands as one of the book’s boldest and most controversial positions. Abbs seems to challenge not just the postmodern relegation of art to the status of “text,” but also the broader ideological fragmentation that comes with it. While postmodern theorists such as Derrida, Barthes, and Foucault deconstruct meaning and embrace pluralism, Abbs and his fellow contributors argue for a re-integrated vision of art as a sacred, unifying force. This debate forms the heart of the book, framing it as a battle over the soul of contemporary culture.
The Symbolic and the Real: The Depth of Artistic Experience
A remarkable feature of The Symbolic Order is its refusal to treat art as mere entertainment or subjective expression. Abbs and the authors included insist that the arts provide access to an existential depth that cannot be attained through other forms of knowledge. The symbolic, in Abbs' interpretation, points to something beyond the personal or political, gesturing toward universal truths about the human condition.
For instance, Abbs draws heavily on the philosophy of figures such as Martin Heidegger and Hans-Georg Gadamer, exploring how the arts allow us to encounter what Heidegger calls "Being"—a profound, almost sacred, engagement with existence. This concept of art as an unveiling of truth invites readers to reconsider their interactions with artworks, not as casual spectators, but as participants in a transformative process. From a literary perspective, this theme resonates with the notion of the sublime, a central concept in Romanticism, and later critical theory. Abbs’ focus on the aesthetic experience as a kind of spiritual communion offers a much-needed counterbalance to the political and materialist critiques that dominate much of contemporary discourse.
A Vision for Educational Reform
In addition to its philosophical inquiry, The Symbolic Order is a call to action, particularly within the realm of education. Abbs condemns the marginalization of the arts in educational institutions, arguing that the current systems of education are complicit in the devaluation of symbolic thought. He calls for a radical re-imagination of the curriculum, in which the arts are not sidelined in favor of STEM subjects but are placed at the very center of the learning process.
Abbs’ vision for educational reform, while idealistic, is deeply informed by the historical and philosophical traditions that underpin his work. Drawing from thinkers such as John Dewey and Rudolph Steiner, Abbs argues for a holistic education that recognizes the arts as a vital mode of knowing, alongside the sciences. As a literary scholar, I find this particularly compelling, given how the contemporary educational system often privileges quantifiable outcomes over qualitative understanding. Abbs’ insistence that the arts foster not just creativity, but also ethical and emotional intelligence, feels particularly timely as we grapple with the increasing mechanization of human experience in the digital age.
Scholarly and Stylistic Contributions
Abbs’ work is not just ideologically rich; it is also stylistically polished. His prose is elegant, concise, and evocative, capturing the urgency of his arguments without sacrificing nuance. From a scholarly perspective, Abbs has a talent for synthesizing complex theoretical frameworks with accessible language, making this collection not only relevant to academics but also engaging for general readers interested in the arts and education.
The diversity of voices within The Symbolic Order is another strength. The essays are carefully curated, providing readers with a wide range of perspectives on the role of art in society—from lyrical reflections by poets to analytical dissections by philosophers. This multidisciplinary approach mirrors the very essence of Abbs’ argument: the arts do not belong to a single field but cut across all domains of human thought and experience.
Critique and Reflection
Despite its many strengths, Abbs’ volume is not without limitations. Some critics may argue that his vision of the symbolic order verges on a kind of nostalgia, an idealization of a lost golden age of the arts. In advocating for a return to tradition, Abbs risks underestimating the genuine contributions of postmodernism and other contemporary movements that have challenged hierarchical structures within art and culture. Furthermore, the book's emphasis on Western philosophical traditions might feel limiting to those seeking a more global or pluralistic view of artistic practice.
However, these critiques only serve to underscore the depth of the debate Abbs has initiated. His work does not seek to offer easy answers, but rather to provoke thought and dialogue about the future of the arts in a rapidly changing world.
Peter Abbs’ The Symbolic Order: A Contemporary Reader on the Arts Debate is a powerful and timely book, one that invites readers to reconsider the role of the arts in shaping human consciousness and society. Its call for a revival of symbolic thought within both culture and education is a clarion call for a new era of artistic appreciation and integration. As a literary scholar, I find Abbs’ arguments both compelling and necessary, particularly in an age where the arts are increasingly marginalized. This book should be essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of culture, education, and the human spirit.
Displaying 1 of 1 review