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"Erotics of Aesthetics"

by Burning Pyre

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about

'Burning Pyre is C. M. Owen, an experimental sound artist currently situated in the West Midlands and the North East of England. Primarily working through digital production techniques, he combines dark ambient rhythmic drones and subtle noise.

“Erotics of Aesthetics” is fundamentally about denying interpretation. The title itself is a direct quotation from Susan Sontag’s essay Against Interpretation, where in which she argues specifically against the consumer’s desire to interpret and focus on what she defines as “latent content” over “manifest content”. When regarding art, the critic (the role the listener fulfils), tends to favour desperately searching for this “latent content”; the hidden meaning that supposedly gives value to art. Sontag argues against this, stating that “the interpreter, without actually erasing or rewriting the text, alters it.” As a remedy to this problem of altering art through interpretation, she suggests that we focus on form, or “manifest content”, over meaning, or “latent content,” allowing us to truly appreciate art for its aesthetic.

As a central text and inspiration in the conception of “Erotics of Aesthetics”, Sontag’s essay forms the basis on which I shall discuss my art. In this light, greater meaning hidden beneath the surface level of my art should not be investigated; instead it should be digested as a purely emotional experience, with each individual piece designed to elicit a specific emotional response. However, whilst the 5 pieces that make up “Erotics of Aesthetics” have been written to conjure certain feelings, should the emotional response that you encounter feel inadequate to the more evident atmosphere of the piece, then do not suppress such emotion. My intention does not render any listener’s response redundant. As a result of this, I will not outline the specific emotions I was attempting to elicit during each piece, nor shall I discuss what specifically informed these pieces further than Sontag’s essay, for if I were to divulge my own personal understanding of my work, it would alter the response of the listener. Each listener’s unique reaction to my art is just as valuable as the art itself, however minute or great. For that reason, I request that each listener anonymously send me a short paragraph outlining a specific emotional response they experienced upon completing a primary listen of “Erotics of Aesthetics”, without specifying which piece it related to. These responses will be included in a small booklet that I shall be producing, should I receive enough responses.

Please email any responses to chrismacowen@msn.com. '

credits

released June 16, 2015

Music by Chris Owen
Artwork by Reece Thomas Green

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