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Art and the Game

From time to time, I wonder to myself, if -- as some say -- "art is the quality of communication" -- then will true, valuable, informative, communication win out, in the competition for attention, over "celebrities" who couldn't tie their own shoes, over "healthy living influencers" who eat junk food when they think no one is looking, over loud mouthed pundits who are simply following a script that someone smarter than they are, wrote for them.

In short, I wonder to myself, if "people" are as easily led into temptation as they seem to be and whether there is any point to trying to deliver them from evil ... as what used to be called "the Good Book" suggests might be the salvation of the human race.

And, then, following this introductory train of thought, I consider the 'ancient' civilization of "the Roman People" (that is actually what Romans called themselves. They didn't say "the United States of Rome" or "Rome". They called themselves "the Roman People"). There are many fine books written about the Roman People ... the first one I ever remember was called "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire". One I have read recently is "How To Stop A Conspiracy, An Ancient Guide to Saving a Republic" by Sallust, translated and introduced by Josiah Osgood, copyright 2022 by Princeton University Press. It's a little book, in pages and physical size (you can hold it in one hand. But, its quality of communication, its "art" is remarkable. Sallust's thesis, so far as I could recognize it is that the Roman People fell, as we now know, because, after conquering the world, and the hardships and efforts required to do so, having earned their leisure and their luxury (at least for true citizens), it ruined them. And, the "game", as it were, no longer being about getting others, came to be about getting each other. Amassing large fortunes, having fine clothes (with money stolen from their peers), amassing political power ... in short, the game came to be about nothing in particular. There was no longer any "game", and so the Roman People simply ate themselves up. The famous saying 'Nero fiddled while Rome burned', issued to suggest how morally bankrupt the Roman People had become that their leader would "fiddle" whilst they went down to ruin, is really saying that to remain great, a great people need a great game, and when the game is over, the game turns inward and self-destruction inevitably results.

So, dear friend, the next time you feel like you have accomplished something by reaching the 75th level of Dungeons and Dragons, ask yourself "What Game Is This I Am Playing?" Or more accurately, "Who's Game Am I A Pawn In?" And, if you don't like the answer, well, then, go on out and start a good game. One that actually builds something for you to pass on to your People, bye and bye.

Cheerio.