What is a cynic? A cynic is someone that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing! O. Wilde Thank God i read this quote very early in my youth and my life is good!
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it several times. I am always amazed at how many people have never read this. There are so many good conversations to be had in today's world from this book. I homeschool my teenage grandson. He is a deep thinker and an advanced reader. We read this together and discuss not only the literature of the time and vocabulary but we look at it through today's lens as compared to the time of Oscar Wilde. The messages feel just as relevant today as it was when written. It is not for every young person but I feel that when you read the book with them and have discussions, it has true value for a young person as they analyze world views.
I've been wondering what happened to Will Witt. The Florida Standard disappeared without notice, just when it was gaining some real traction. I know Mr. Witt has a lot of opportunities in his career, but I'll tell you what...... I was floored when "Will & Amala Live" ended. He made that show, and it was one of the few shows I looked forward to every day. I hope he doesn't decide to become a politician. The radical left would probably try to do to him what they've done to so many others..... especially in Pennsylvania.
Book Recommendations: Pensees by Blaise Pascale, Confessions by St. Augustine, On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius (which would be great for Christmas time). Lighthearted Book Recommendations: Anne of Green Gables, The Wind in the Willows, Tom Sawyer, any number of things by G.K. Chesterton (top three: Manalive, Orthodoxy, The Innocence of Father Brown).
"the book contains much of me in it - Basil Hallward is what I think I am; Lord Henry, what the world thinks me; Dorian is what I would like to be - in other ages, perhaps" Oscar Widle in a letter from 1894 Make of that as you will.
Actually, my sister wrote a satirical song once about the shallow relationship between Dorian and Sybil: th-cam.com/video/a6yeVyIjfJA/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=3RingsLeft
Urgent emergency please join me in prayer for all those affected families children animals massive suffering hurting all around the world having all medical problems having difficult situations paying rent bills evictions homeless hungry prayer for the lost to get saved facing all difficult situations fighting to survive keep the faith God will show you the way in the end we will be victorious with the Lord praise God praying for everyone Everyday God bless you all...
"All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors." - Wilde This is what Wilde meant when he said Art is not ethical. He means it simply casts your own reflection back at you and does not make value judgements in and of itself. He held this view as he was being prosecuted because the original version of the book depicted homosexual acts. So they forced him to edit it out and republish the book. And in the second edition he laid out those aphorisms as his argument against their accusations. Saying you are the one applying your own morals onto the book which is incapable of making a moral statement itself. And that's the whole metaphor of the painting turning decrepit in the narrative, that art shows your true reflection and that's why you hate it.
@@sandraelder1101 Because the people who were trying to censore him hated his work because they thought it was disgusting and immoral. Which is always the argument for banning Art going all the way back to Plato. But he is saying anyone who hates Art is merely projecting their own insecurities onto it and it illuminates these insecurities to them and that's why they have such a vitriolic reaction to it.
Wilde's view of art was derived from Poe's. In Poe's conception, Beauty itself is a divine attribute, so there is an additional layer to the inherent value of art. The creation of beauty then is Man exercising a divine gift.
Jesus Christ died for our Sins according to the scriptures and that he was Buried and he rose Again The Third day praise God praying for everyone Everyday God bless you all...
I am quite the opposite, i have a picture from when i was about in my mid twenties, that i often gaze upon and reminisce about my youth. while i watch this beaten and battered and worn down old man grow in my mirror.
This book isn’t simply about Dorian’s physical health and beauty. It was Dorian’s soul that was disfigured. The picture is a kind of place for his sins. It becomes diseased, distorted, disfigured only because his soul is marred while Dorian himself remains physically beautiful and most everyone thinks he is good. All his sins are hidden and placed on the picture. By the end of the story and Dorian’s life, Dorian’s sins become known. He ends up killing the painter and himself. I think as we age, we do lose health, lose innocence, and our sins stack up making us long for our youth in both the physical and spiritual manner. I just said today that I want my youth back. This book isn’t just about that, though. It is about deliberately avoiding accountability, living a completely selfish life, an almost sociopathic or psychopathic life. It is quite the little book!
Honesty (or commitment to realism) can sometimes be sufficient to infuse the work of even a very immoral author with truth. (E.g. Brave New World, 1984, sitcoms like Friends)
Great review. I like Will Wit However just one point. Will Witt is very naive. I have seen many give their lives to God on their death bed. Kit was real and it was meant. Who can act as judge and jury? Only Jesus.
I want to disapprove, I do disapprove, but this is deeply moral, salutary book, contrary to Wilde's life and 'art for art's sake'. Before the aesthetic movement, art had a moral AND an aesthetic quality - hence art critics, like Ruskin, who helped interpret, were household names in Victorian England. Wilde and a chap called Walter Pater rejected this, to our detriment IMO, and the arts began to lose their popular appeal which continued into the 20th century. Wilde himself was not an innocent victim of bigoted laws, he not only flaunted his homosexuality but abused young boys - he held up the ancient Greek pedastry as an ideal to justify his squalid perversions (he abused, for example, the young boys who delivered telegrams). He is no Gay icon. Art for art's sake was the beginning of the long descent of what we now call 'high' culture. Yet this book is profoundly moral (and the plays are clever and brimful of drollery).
I've discovered a soundtrack to all this loony leftie woke nonsense - an album called The Voice Of Reason by a band called UNIT, based in (I think) Scotland. Almost every track is inspired by Prageru, The Daily Wire or TSUSA. Their playlist appeared in my 'recommended' feed so it shows (probably by accident) even You Tube has its uses. I think you can find them easily enough by typing UNIT Salute The Flag Andy Martin. That's how I returned to the channel anyway. I've found a few more of their tracks which feature the voices of Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Brandon Tatum and others...but please don't ask. I know nothing about the group except their stuff has some excellent anti-woke lyrics and unusually original music. Relevant to this interesting book review, it features a track called Will Witt Goes To Canada!
Marry a beautiful woman and have kids. Did not Will marry Eva, the Brain with Beauty? She has the appearance of a Lady Clairol commercial. Erudite, dies not use slang or profanity. Converted to Catholicism. Now, babies, lots of babies. 🙂🙂
Art without meaning or connections doesn't link us to God, fellow people, or society. And indeed, can it even exist? Wilde writes with such contradictory elegance and ugliness.
What are your thoughts on Oscar Widle's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘺? Drop your comment below 👇
Dorian and basil oiled up on the couch in the kitchen on the floor
Do Ayn Rand’s Anthem
I love the story of Dorian Gray. A classic that every student should be required to read.
I hope Will Witt comes back to PragerU!! Will, you're missed!
What is a cynic? A cynic is someone that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing!
O. Wilde
Thank God i read this quote very early in my youth and my life is good!
Wilde said, "Basil Halworth is what I think I am, Lord Henry what the world thinks me, Dorian what I would like to be -- in other ages, perhaps."
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it several times. I am always amazed at how many people have never read this. There are so many good conversations to be had in today's world from this book. I homeschool my teenage grandson. He is a deep thinker and an advanced reader. We read this together and discuss not only the literature of the time and vocabulary but we look at it through today's lens as compared to the time of Oscar Wilde. The messages feel just as relevant today as it was when written. It is not for every young person but I feel that when you read the book with them and have discussions, it has true value for a young person as they analyze world views.
I've been wondering what happened to Will Witt. The Florida Standard disappeared without notice, just when it was gaining some real traction. I know Mr. Witt has a lot of opportunities in his career, but I'll tell you what...... I was floored when "Will & Amala Live" ended. He made that show, and it was one of the few shows I looked forward to every day. I hope he doesn't decide to become a politician. The radical left would probably try to do to him what they've done to so many others..... especially in Pennsylvania.
We need MORE good people in politics. Bad people get in with little opposition and thus here we are now... paying the price for that.
Wait is Will Witt back with PragerU? PLEASE SAY IT IS SO!
Book Recommendations: Pensees by Blaise Pascale, Confessions by St. Augustine, On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius (which would be great for Christmas time). Lighthearted Book Recommendations: Anne of Green Gables, The Wind in the Willows, Tom Sawyer, any number of things by G.K. Chesterton (top three: Manalive, Orthodoxy, The Innocence of Father Brown).
Great recommendations! I really enjoy listening to discussions of brilliant literature from wise and noble minds.
Orthodoxy isn’t a “lighthearted” book. Manalive and the Ball and the Cross are lighthearted only on the surface. Nothing about Chesterton is simple.
Lighthearted is the wrong adjective. Sorry I didn't have the endurance to come up with the right one. Still don't. Again, sorry! (No sarcasm.)
I miss seeing Will Witt on PragerU!
Love you, Michael...but we needed more from Will.
"the book contains much of me in it - Basil Hallward is what I think I am; Lord Henry, what the world thinks me; Dorian is what I would like to be - in other ages, perhaps" Oscar Widle in a letter from 1894
Make of that as you will.
I surprisingly loved reading this book, (I had the same feelings). I will need to watch this.
Bring more of Will Witt to videos like this, I haven’t seen him anywhere for a while.
A wonderful novel. His only one. The wit of Wilde is brilliant in that book.
Love this conversation, gentlemen. You're both very interesting.
I've been obsessed with this book since I was a teenager. Seeing them analyze it is so cool.
Actually, my sister wrote a satirical song once about the shallow relationship between Dorian and Sybil: th-cam.com/video/a6yeVyIjfJA/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=3RingsLeft
Great conversation
Book Recomendation: Wild at Heart
Great discussion 🙏🏾
This was a great discussion!
PRAGERU!!!!!
God is my safe place praise God praying for everyone Everyday God bless you all
They say that art is food for the soul, I find it ironic that art has not been able to provide food for the artist.
Perhaps the "artists" have veered too far from the didactic and enlightenment that art was always intended to encourage.
Urgent emergency please join me in prayer for all those affected families children animals massive suffering hurting all around the world having all medical problems having difficult situations paying rent bills evictions homeless hungry prayer for the lost to get saved facing all difficult situations fighting to survive keep the faith God will show you the way in the end we will be victorious with the Lord praise God praying for everyone Everyday God bless you all...
Urgent?
“Madam, this is the book club. Preacher’s Corner is the next door down.”
Michael Knowles is cool
based
I read this years ago but recently listened to an audiobook of it. So much insight into human depravity can be illustrated in it.
Who knows where I can watch michael knowles lecture on dante in the recent isi honors appearance, is it private and not recorded ?
Great conversation. You have proved one thing, that this is a book that makes people think.
It's one of my favorite books as well.
One of the novels I had my AP lit students read, analyze, and discuss.
Excellent choice. Oscar Wilde is an excellent author for young students to read and study.
Do they announce ahead of time which book they'll be reading for the book club?
"All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors."
- Wilde
This is what Wilde meant when he said Art is not ethical. He means it simply casts your own reflection back at you and does not make value judgements in and of itself. He held this view as he was being prosecuted because the original version of the book depicted homosexual acts. So they forced him to edit it out and republish the book. And in the second edition he laid out those aphorisms as his argument against their accusations. Saying you are the one applying your own morals onto the book which is incapable of making a moral statement itself. And that's the whole metaphor of the painting turning decrepit in the narrative, that art shows your true reflection and that's why you hate it.
“That’s why you hate it”? We don’t hate art. I don’t understand your point.
@@sandraelder1101 Because the people who were trying to censore him hated his work because they thought it was disgusting and immoral. Which is always the argument for banning Art going all the way back to Plato. But he is saying anyone who hates Art is merely projecting their own insecurities onto it and it illuminates these insecurities to them and that's why they have such a vitriolic reaction to it.
I miss Will Witt. Is this a new video or was it filmed a while ago?
The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde by Joseph Pearce is a very illuminating biography on the moral struggle in Wilde's soul. I think of it all the time.
I haven't read the book yet, but this discussion has convinced me to read it. On a side note what watch is Michael wearing? I'm a watch afficionado.
This is one of my very favorite horror classica, cant wait to heat your take on this excellent short novel.
This is one of my favorite books.
Good discussion, excellent novel.
Thanks for another great installment!
Wilde's view of art was derived from Poe's. In Poe's conception, Beauty itself is a divine attribute, so there is an additional layer to the inherent value of art. The creation of beauty then is Man exercising a divine gift.
I saw the movie on the amc channel years ago and liked it enough to get the book, well worth it
Virture over happiness ❤
I can’t believe I have something in common with both of you gentleman. Btw, you, Will, are the beautiful Dorian Gray on the surface at least.
Jesus Christ died for our Sins according to the scriptures and that he was Buried and he rose Again The Third day praise God praying for everyone Everyday God bless you all...
Great book if you've never read it. Really should be mandatory literature for high school students.
Just saw a trailer for an upcoming movie, "The Substance" with Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid. Sounds like a similar hedonistic storyline.
I am happy to see you supporting a book and reading. Censorship and book banning is terrible.
There's no book banning in the U.S.
I just watched the movie on TH-cam
Now do Paradise Lost.
Pedro Sánchez is Dorian Gray.
I am quite the opposite, i have a picture from when i was about in my mid twenties, that i often gaze upon and reminisce about my youth. while i watch this beaten and battered and worn down old man grow in my mirror.
This book isn’t simply about Dorian’s physical health and beauty. It was Dorian’s soul that was disfigured. The picture is a kind of place for his sins. It becomes diseased, distorted, disfigured only because his soul is marred while Dorian himself remains physically beautiful and most everyone thinks he is good. All his sins are hidden and placed on the picture. By the end of the story and Dorian’s life, Dorian’s sins become known. He ends up killing the painter and himself.
I think as we age, we do lose health, lose innocence, and our sins stack up making us long for our youth in both the physical and spiritual manner. I just said today that I want my youth back. This book isn’t just about that, though. It is about deliberately avoiding accountability, living a completely selfish life, an almost sociopathic or psychopathic life. It is quite the little book!
Honesty (or commitment to realism) can sometimes be sufficient to infuse the work of even a very immoral author with truth. (E.g. Brave New World, 1984, sitcoms like Friends)
If you like that book, then you should read about King Solomon or King David in the Bible.
Read The Hapoy Prince and The Selfish Giant.
A good gateway book to reading the Bible. Specifically the poetry books of the Bible.
Was just going to comment that Ecclesiastes is a shorter read. 😊
I just read this coincidentally.....
Anyone else watch League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
Great review. I like Will Wit However just one point. Will Witt is very naive. I have seen many give their lives to God on their death bed. Kit was real and it was meant. Who can act as judge and jury? Only Jesus.
I want to disapprove, I do disapprove, but this is deeply moral, salutary book, contrary to Wilde's life and 'art for art's sake'. Before the aesthetic movement, art had a moral AND an aesthetic quality - hence art critics, like Ruskin, who helped interpret, were household names in Victorian England. Wilde and a chap called Walter Pater rejected this, to our detriment IMO, and the arts began to lose their popular appeal which continued into the 20th century. Wilde himself was not an innocent victim of bigoted laws, he not only flaunted his homosexuality but abused young boys - he held up the ancient Greek pedastry as an ideal to justify his squalid perversions (he abused, for example, the young boys who delivered telegrams). He is no Gay icon. Art for art's sake was the beginning of the long descent of what we now call 'high' culture. Yet this book is profoundly moral (and the plays are clever and brimful of drollery).
4th, 19 August 2024
*Durian* (Yeah, that smelly but tasty fruit) Grey be like 😅
No, it doesn't "be like". That's hood speak.
@@broeheemed32Maybe he’s from the hood
I've discovered a soundtrack to all this loony leftie woke nonsense - an album called The Voice Of Reason by a band called UNIT, based in (I think) Scotland. Almost every track is inspired by Prageru, The Daily Wire or TSUSA. Their playlist appeared in my 'recommended' feed so it shows (probably by accident) even You Tube has its uses. I think you can find them easily enough by typing UNIT Salute The Flag Andy Martin. That's how I returned to the channel anyway. I've found a few more of their tracks which feature the voices of Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Brandon Tatum and others...but please don't ask. I know nothing about the group except their stuff has some excellent anti-woke lyrics and unusually original music. Relevant to this interesting book review, it features a track called Will Witt Goes To Canada!
Comment for traction
Marry a beautiful woman and have kids. Did not Will marry Eva, the Brain with Beauty? She has the appearance of a Lady Clairol commercial. Erudite, dies not use slang or profanity. Converted to Catholicism. Now, babies, lots of babies. 🙂🙂
I adore this book. Dorian Gray is a masterpiece.
PragerU: "Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah..."
Sorry. I loathe this book. It's so...vapid.
What a blase cover for the book.
Art without meaning or connections doesn't link us to God, fellow people, or society. And indeed, can it even exist?
Wilde writes with such contradictory elegance and ugliness.
Michael know-less
"I hate trump!!! I hate Trump!!! WAAAHHH!!!"
@@broeheemed32 Everybody should hate Trump. But we should hate Kamala even more.
"Epicurean" does not mean hedonism, that is a well knowm misconception. Michael Knowles showing his ignorance yet again.
He said “Epicurean at best” to distinguish it from pure hedonism, not conflate it with. Nice typo too, o brilliant critic