Does Power Destroy Creativity?
Serge Schmemann offers us a rather odd comment in his editorial in NYT about the passing of Alexander Solzhenitzyn:
“… moral authority gained through prophetic and powerful writing undermines … creativity at its source. Like many great Russian writers, Solzhenitsyn achieved immortality before he became conscious of his power, which then turned into pedantry. ”
Hello ….err…. then Serge, to retain their creative powers, writers must remain blind to the effects of what they do? Does anyone agree with this? Or is this an idea that might apply to Russian writers named Solzhenitzyn only?
FOLLOW - QT would pay (if it had any money) to know what Mr. Putin was thinking as he lay roses at the foot of Mr. Solzhenitzyn’s coffin
August 7th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Serge Schmemann is just sore that the vision of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn for Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church is becoming a reality.
Serge’s father, the priest, Fr. Alexander Schmemann (pictured in the New York Times piece) had this to say about Solzhenitsyn:
“For [Solzhenitsyn] there is only Russia. For me, Russia could disappear, die, and nothing would change in my fundamental vision of the world. ‘The image of the world is passing.’ This tonality of Christianity is quite foreign to him.”
and then this:
“In these days spent with him, I had the feeling that I was the older brother dealing with a child, capricious and even spoiled, who will not ‘understand’-so better for me to give in (‘you are older, so give in!’) for the sake of peace, agreement, and in the hope that ‘he might grow up and understand.’ I am a student from a higher grade dealing with a younger one for whom one needs to simplify, with whom one has to speak ‘at his level.’”
A revitalized Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church both taking their places on the world stage have cemented Solzhenitsyn’s reputation as a modern prophet have put the lie to, Fr. Alexander Schmemann’s heartless anti-Russianism and his smarmy, self-satisfied and patronizing attitude towards his “friend”.
What has become of Fr. Alexander’s jaundiced vision of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church? Who’s schooling whom now?
The American Orthodox Jurisdiction (called the “Orthodox Church in America”) that Fr. Alexander Schmemann birthed in 1970 has been reduced to a paltry 20,000 members with membership dropping yearly. Still, he has a cult following in American Orthodox Church circles who are seeking to make him out to be some kind of saint or American Church Father. One can argue that Fr. Alexander has achieved immortality through the power of pedantry.
You’ve gotta acknowledge the chutzpah of a son like Serge who wants to boost his Father’s reputation by liking him to a Great even whilst trying to tear down the Great at the same time!
August 7th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Hi Ioann - Nice comment. I wonder why NYT ran such a weird editorial? Perhaps their editorial board may wish to reflect a bit whether Solzhenitzyn’s faith deserved more respect.
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