A Modern Saint: The Enduring Legacy of David Bowie Through Peter Ormerod's Lenses
The passing of David Bowie in 2016 sparked a familiar narrative among fans – that his death marked the end of an era, one lost to chaos and fragmentation. However, this perspective misses the point: instead of being the last bastion of a crumbling liberal order, Bowie prophesied the very mayhem that has ensued.
Ormerod's book delves into the intersection of music and spirituality in Bowie's oeuvre, illuminating how his art explored themes of mortality, existential dread, and a search for meaning in a postmodern world. The author skillfully weaves together Bowie's diverse spiritual influences – from Anglicanism to Tibetan Buddhism and Aleister Crowley's occultism – to form a rich tapestry of artistic expression.
What sets Ormerod's analysis apart is his ability to parse the intricacies of Bowie's later work, particularly in albums like Heathen, The Next Day, Blackstar, and Lazarus. By viewing these works as texts ripe for close reading, Ormerod offers an unparalleled insight into the artist's creative process.
The author astutely identifies two primary drivers behind Bowie's artistic drive: life and love. His music oscillates between the exhilaration of existence and the pain of isolation, often expressed in stark, yearning melodies. Bowie's quest for transcendence is exemplified by his embracing both familial devotion and the transcendent beauty found in the human experience.
A striking thread throughout Ormerod's analysis is the presence of apophaticism – a tendency to negate propositions – in Bowie's work. This phenomenon can be observed across his discography, particularly in the haunting final song from Blackstar. By embracing this mode of negation, Ormerod positions Bowie alongside medieval Christian mystics like Marguerite Porete.
Ultimately, Peter Ormerod's book becomes an ode to Bowie's enduring legacy as a spiritual iconoclast. Like a modern-day saint, Bowie inspires devotion and pilgrimage, with his music serving as the conduit for a profound existential exploration.
In deciphering the labyrinthine paths of David Bowie's art, Peter Ormerod not only sheds light on the enigmatic artist but also offers a profound reflection on the nature of life, love, mortality, and the search for transcendence in an increasingly chaotic world.
The passing of David Bowie in 2016 sparked a familiar narrative among fans – that his death marked the end of an era, one lost to chaos and fragmentation. However, this perspective misses the point: instead of being the last bastion of a crumbling liberal order, Bowie prophesied the very mayhem that has ensued.
Ormerod's book delves into the intersection of music and spirituality in Bowie's oeuvre, illuminating how his art explored themes of mortality, existential dread, and a search for meaning in a postmodern world. The author skillfully weaves together Bowie's diverse spiritual influences – from Anglicanism to Tibetan Buddhism and Aleister Crowley's occultism – to form a rich tapestry of artistic expression.
What sets Ormerod's analysis apart is his ability to parse the intricacies of Bowie's later work, particularly in albums like Heathen, The Next Day, Blackstar, and Lazarus. By viewing these works as texts ripe for close reading, Ormerod offers an unparalleled insight into the artist's creative process.
The author astutely identifies two primary drivers behind Bowie's artistic drive: life and love. His music oscillates between the exhilaration of existence and the pain of isolation, often expressed in stark, yearning melodies. Bowie's quest for transcendence is exemplified by his embracing both familial devotion and the transcendent beauty found in the human experience.
A striking thread throughout Ormerod's analysis is the presence of apophaticism – a tendency to negate propositions – in Bowie's work. This phenomenon can be observed across his discography, particularly in the haunting final song from Blackstar. By embracing this mode of negation, Ormerod positions Bowie alongside medieval Christian mystics like Marguerite Porete.
Ultimately, Peter Ormerod's book becomes an ode to Bowie's enduring legacy as a spiritual iconoclast. Like a modern-day saint, Bowie inspires devotion and pilgrimage, with his music serving as the conduit for a profound existential exploration.
In deciphering the labyrinthine paths of David Bowie's art, Peter Ormerod not only sheds light on the enigmatic artist but also offers a profound reflection on the nature of life, love, mortality, and the search for transcendence in an increasingly chaotic world.
just read about this book that's all about how David Bowie was like a modern-day saint 
his music is like a spiritual journey, exploring themes of mortality and existential dread 
I love how the author analyzes his later work, like Heathen and Blackstar 
it's crazy to think that Bowie's art can be seen as apophaticism, which means negating propositions 
like, what even is that? 
but seriously, this book seems like a deep dive into Bowie's creative process and I'm here for it 
. but what's remarkable about this analysis is how ormerod takes those ephemeral threads and weaves them into a rich tapestry that reveals the depths of bowie's creative psyche 
. it's almost as if bowie was a modern-day mystic, searching for meaning in the cracks between the beats of existence 
. and ormerod's parsing of his later work is like deciphering an ancient code – you have to pay close attention to the lyrics, melodies, and rhythms to unravel the mysteries 
. The author is totally spot on about how Bowie's music was all about exploring the human experience - like, his songs are literally a rollercoaster of emotions 
. And I love how he weaves together all these different spiritual influences to create this rich tapestry of artistic expression 
. Like, Bowie was literally ahead of his time and we're only now catching up to what he was trying to say all along 
has anyone else read it yet? what did u think of his analysis on blackstar? and btw, how do ppl even interpret apophaticism in music? 
bowie wasn't afraid to explore dark themes but also found beauty in love & human connection 
his music is like the ultimate reflection of our struggles & triumphs - it's all so relatable 
gotta give props 2 peter ormerod for breakin down bowie's discography like a pro 
. Anyway, I'm definitely adding this book to my reading list ASAP 
his art is so much deeper than that. i mean, have you seen the lyrics to "blackstar" or " Lazarus"? they're like poetry, fam