DOC I Can't Make You Love Me by Allen Shamblin; Bonnie Lynn Raitt; Mike Reid in Arts-Photography

Review

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. An intriguing inquiry into the relationships among novella; film and operaBy Michael GreenebaumThis is a fascinating; and sometimes infuriating; book. Real and fictive people; past and present; music and text all co-exist in an imagined space in which they can inform and elucidate one another. The use of one work of fiction to explicate another is common enough; as is the use of an authors life to explicate a text (and occasionally the other way around); but it makes me uneasy nonetheless.In this case; the author considers Mann; Visconti and Britten and their interpretations of Aschenbach. He makes it easy to imagine Aschenbach as a real person interpreted in various ways by the author; film-maker; and composer. But he isnt; he is Manns creation. Mann is quite clear about how much of his own experience is the basis of the novella; and how much the death of Mahler may have inspired it. Nonetheless; Aschenbach is a fictional character; Visconti and Britten are interpreting a work of fiction; no matter how much their own lives may be implicated in their work. Philip Kitchers strategy; while intriguing and frequently illuminating; does not allow these works; two of which (the novella and the opera) are masterpieces; to stand on their own.It is disappointing that he has so little to say about Brittens opera - it is clear that he would much rather talk about Mahler. It is particularly regrettable since he raises the issue of whether Aschenbach succumbs to the plague or to a weak heart; and he seems to come down on the side of the heart. Brittens opera comes down on the side of the plague (even though the composer wrote it with a failing heart) and I wish Kitcher had devoted more attention to it.My occasional impatience with this book is more than balanced by what I learned from it and what it forces me to think about. The author writes well and I will return to his work with pleasure.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Very Interesting and Unusual; 4.5 StarsBy R. AlbinThis very interesting book is an unusual combination of intellectual history; art criticism; and philosophical reflection. The quality of writing is excellent and like all of Kitchers work; the analysis is meticulous. Kitchers conclusions are based on careful examination of primary sources and secondary literature. Enthusiasm for this book will probably be a function of enthusiasm for Mann; Britten; and Mahler; but if you enjoy the work of these artists; this book will be a very enjoyable read.Since Manns Death in Venice is the armature of this book; Mann is the primary subject of Kitchers analysis. Kitcher argues that Mann had explicitly philosophical intentions in writing Death in Venice. In particular; Mann is focusing on the existensial question of what is a meaningful life? Kitcher has a detailed; very interesting; and thoughtful analysis of how Mann drew on the work of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche to address this question. Manns particular preoccupation with the roles of artists; and the tension between art and the ethical demands of a more conventional life. Kitcher provides a very close reading of Death in Venice; pointing to Manns use of philosophical themes from Schopenhauer and Nietzsche and .also with important aspects of his personal life and experience. Manns ambiguous sexuality and the clear parallels with von Aschenbach are explored but in way that stresses how this aspect of Death in Venice and Manns life should not overshadow the more philosophical aspects of Death in Venice. There is a lot of interesting information about subsequent; interesting aspects of Manns life and work.Kitcher has similar; thoughtful treatments of Brittens and Viscontis treatments of Death in Venice. The different aspects of Death in Venice emphasized in these 2 rather different works are discussed nicely. The discussion of the Visconti film leads to an interesting discussion of Mahler. Kitcher points to how Manns depiction of von Aschenbach; and particularly von Aschenbachs death; drew on Mahlers unfortunate demise. This leads to an interesting discussion of Mahlers philsophical intentions and reflections on existential questions; bringing the book back to the theme of what is a meaningful life. Kitcher discusses the role of great art as a meaningful answer to this basic question.