hazal deniz’s Reviews > The Glass Bead Game > Status Update

hermann hesse bitmeyen kitap yapmış çok sıkıldım çooook

Finally, transracialism was not on my bingo card for this book. I don’t think I’ve read anything more pretentious than a German and a German-turned-Chinese talking in Chinese with each other inside a Chinese garden in Castalia. Why does being an outsider to Castalia mean you will never be able to appreciate the society but being an outsider to China means you have a superior understanding of the culture??? UGH

I haven’t made an update in a while and I really should before I read more because so much has happened. Chronologically:
First, I ship Plinio and Joseph!!
Second, I suppose I was wrong to think Hesse dismissed all criticism of Castalia and what it represents but still the criticism is forced to be in the form approved by Castalian traditions e.g. Plinio’s arguments. So I think it’s still close minded. Ugh

I truly wish there were women in this book, but most probably if this book wasn't excluding women it could not be written.
European idealism and/or intellectualism is so strangely close-minded. The idea of submitting to something sublime, which is quite Christian, creates an oppressive and insular culture. This should disqualify you from being 'intellectual' if you categorize all criticism as frivolous. Frustrating.

Thoughts on the introduction: It’s fascinating to read The Glass Bead Game in tandem with Plato’s Republic because there’s the same belief that music is necessary for/indicates a healthy society. But overall Hesse sounds like an unoriginal and unenlightened conservative old guy! He insists on intellectualism as an ideal but looks down at how society as a whole might interact with these ideals. meh

I think if Herman Hesse knew about the Internet and AI he would k*ll himself.