As we continue to witness abuses of power at the highest levels of our society, I find myself thinking more and more about the relationship between power and art, specifically poetry. Here is an excerpt of comments made by JFK on 10/26/63 at Amherst College to honor Robert Frost some months after Frost's death:
"Our national strength matters, but the spirit which informs and controls our strength matters just as much...Robert Frost coupled poetry and power, for he saw poetry as the means of saving power from itself. When power leads men towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses. For art establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment. Read More
"Our national strength matters, but the spirit which informs and controls our strength matters just as much...Robert Frost coupled poetry and power, for he saw poetry as the means of saving power from itself. When power leads men towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses. For art establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment. Read More