E.M. Forster
"Order, I suggest, is something evolved from within, not something imposed from without; it is an internal stability, a vital harmony, and the social and political category, it has never existed except for the convenience of historians." -E.M. Forster This quote explains how a man can find harmony with his surroundings, even though he constantly alters them. Forster describes attaining this by finding it in what you know or enjoy. This leads me to believe that harmony is based upon a psychological perspective. A person's sense of order truly exists, only if there is order internally. Each person has a unique way of finding his or her order. For example, a person may rely on music, religion, personal beliefs, talents, hobbies, etc. to feel a sense of harmony. This idea of order could also be easily defined as happiness. This is the happiness that one feels when life is content and forgiving. This exists when there is no turmoil and only calmness surrounds the person. Although there are several ways that a person can find this, music can be considered an open median for harmony in one's life. This is basically because music is composed of harmony. According to the American History and Encyclop
Society does not help individuals realize how out of rhythm we really are. Culture places great emphasis on our roles in society. These roles, whatever they may be, add to people's confusion. For example, a person may constantly ponder the questions: what religion should I be? What job should I have? How should I raise my children? These questions are an added burden to a person's life. Ronald Fernandez says, "in fact, others (for example, a husband, a father, a mother, a mother-in-law) may put considerable pressure on the person to conform to societal patterns (204)". This external influence can come from anybody or anything. Society also places great emphsis on marriage. Everybody should get married, have kids, and own a house. These pressures can cause strain on ones self to be like everybody else. To conform to the rest of society, everything an artist tries not to be. Psychology is the study of the mind. Psychologists are always searching for answers to lifes little problems. Terms such as self-realization and self-determination define harmony one way or another in psychology. George F. McLean refers to "circumstantial freedom of self-realization." He says, "to be free is to be able, under favorable circumstances, to act as one wishes for one's own individual good as one sees it'" (Chapter 3). McLean uses freedom to define harmony. Both Forster and McLean discuss an internal drive that promotes satisfaction. Does this self-realization define art? Because McLean begins with the word "circumstantial," he is saying that this freedom only happens at certain times in one's life. Forster mentions that art "is the only material object in the universe which may possess internal harmony. All the others have been pressed into shape from outside, and when their mold is removed they collapse" (329). For example, an artist may feel this freedom only when he or she is creating. Forster is referring
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1309
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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