it is obvious that art cannot teach anyone anything, since in four thousand years humanity has learnt nothing at all. we should long ago have become angels had we been capable of paying attention to the experience of art, and allowing ourselves to be changed in accordance with the ideals it expresses. art only has the capacity, through shock and catharsis, to make the human soul receptive to good. it’s ridiculous to imagine that people can be taught to be good… art can only give food – a jolt – the occasion – for psychical experience.
(via notational)
