Book Musik 030 - "Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music" by Alex Ross

Tosh and Kimley discuss "Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow
of Music" by Alex Ross. A famous quip goes “Wagner’s music is
better than it sounds.” Whether you find Wagner’s music to be
sublime or bombastic, this is an essential read. It is not a
biography or an examination of his music but, more interestingly,
it’s a very deep dive into the enormous cultural and political
influence Richard Wagner has had on his contemporaries and everyone
since, from writers to painters, dancers, philosophers,
politicians, and filmmakers. The diversity of those who’ve come
under the spell of Wagnerism is beyond compare. And this is despite
Wagner’s well-known antisemitism and association with Hitler and
the Nazi regime. Cancel culture hasn’t quite figured out what to do
with Wagner but Ross leaves no stone unturned in this enormous and
hugely satisfying read.

Theme music: "Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts"
by LG17

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