Chapter X

The most significant tendency of art and the greatest danger, which operates in all fields, is, therefore, that commercialism, mass-production, standardization, and the heeding of large volumes of demand will lead to an increase in the quantity of art-production but a decrease in the average of its quality, unless the evils of the system are counteracted by certain developments, the chief of which are education, co-operation, and the birth of a new attitude with regard to art-ideals.

Our attitude towards the arts must lead us to relate them more closely to our other interests and, as a corollary, the different kinds and different values of artistic enjoyment must be synthesized. We desire neither to set art upon a pedestal of superiority nor to despise it as a recreative frivolity. We need to realize on the one hand that all human activities possess of a necessity positive or negative artistic significance which we cannot avoid; even though we consciously ignore art, we are subconsciously and indirectly influenced. Further, we cannot disregard the close economic relationship between the artistic and the merely utilitarian.

We have seen something, but only one aspect, of this when discussing applied art; the relation is wider than this, since, for example, the amount of time, energy, money, and material available for artistic purposes is closely connected with material economic conditions. And, still further, there is the psychological or spiritual element, art satisfying human needs which are unsatisfied by other activities, supplementing, filling the gaps in our personal development. We cannot put art into a watertight compartment. The extent to which art appeals to an individual, and the particular way in which and the special medium through which artistic impulses find expression, will depend very largely upon biological and social factors, upon the materially ordered associations of the individual, his work, his health, everything that impinges upon his life. Further research will expose the fundamental reasons for this, but even now we realize that a love of dancing, of the theatre, of poetry, of sculpture is not a mere gift or genius or taste or predilection but also something which is fostered and directed by material environment. Confronted with this realization, we must regard art as an inseparable organic element in life, not as a superimposed culture which may or may not exist in any individual or take any form.

And the corollary of this, as said before, is that, since artistic potentialities exist in all men according to their being and environment, the realm of art will present as large a variety of values, types, and manifestations as does our life itself. Yet all these manifestations are part of one. Good, bad, or indifferent, they represent the best, most suitable art that different men at any time are capable of appreciating or desirous of cultivating. This is the excuse for our plea for broadmindedness.

_Each, pott 8vo, 2/6 net_ _Occasionally illustrated_

TO-DAY AND
TO-MORROW

This series of books, by some of the most distinguished English thinkers, scientists, philosophers, doctors, critics, and artists, was recognized on publication as a noteworthy event. Written from various points of view, one book frequently opposing the argument of another, they provide the reader with a stimulating survey of the most modern thought in many departments of life. Several volumes are devoted to the future trend of Civilization, conceived as a whole; while others deal with particular provinces, and cover the future of Woman, War, Population, Clothes, Wireless, Morals, Drama, Poetry, Art, Sex, Law, etc.

It is interesting to see in these neat little volumes, issued at a low price, the revival of a form of literature, the Pamphlet, which has been in disuse for 200 years.

_Published by_
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD.
Broadway House: 68-74 Carter Lane, London, E.C.4

_VOLUMES READY_

=Daedalus=, or Science and the Future. By J. B. S. HALDANE, Reader in
Biochemistry, University of Cambridge. _Sixth impression._

“A fascinating and daring little book.”--_Westminster Gazette._
“The essay is brilliant, sparkling with wit and bristling with
challenges.”--_British Medical Journal._ “Predicts the most
startling changes.”--_Morning Post._

=Callinicus=, a Defence of Chemical Warfare. By J. B. S. HALDANE.
_Second impression._

“Mr. Haldane’s brilliant study.”--_Times Leading Article._ “A book
to be read by every intelligent adult.”--_Spectator._ “This
brilliant little monograph.”--_Daily News._

=Icarus=, or the Future of Science. By BERTRAND RUSSELL, F.R.S.
_Third impression._

“Utter pessimism.”--_Observer._ “Mr. Russell refuses to believe that
the progress of Science must be a boon to mankind.”--_Morning Post._
“A stimulating book, that leaves one not at all
discouraged.”--_Daily Herald._

=What I Believe.= By BERTRAND RUSSELL, F.R.S. _Second impression._

“One of the most brilliant and thought-stimulating little books I
have read--a better book even than _Icarus_.”--_Nation._ “Simply and
brilliantly written.”--_Nature._ “In stabbing sentences he punctures
the bubble of cruelty, envy, narrowness, and ill-will which those in
authority call their morals.”--_New Leader._

=Tantalus=, or the Future of Man. By F. C. S. SCHILLER, Fellow of
Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

“They are all (_Daedalus_, _Icarus_, and _Tantalus_) brilliantly
clever, and they supplement or correct one another.”--_Dean Inge_,
in _Morning Post_. “Immensely valuable and infinitely
readable.”--_Daily News._ “The book of the week.”--_Spectator._

=Quo Vadimus?= Glimpses of the Future. By E. E. FOURNIER D’ALBE,
D.Sc., author of “Selenium, the Moon Element,” etc.

“A wonderful vision of the future. A book that will be talked
about.”--_Daily Graphic._ “A remarkable contribution to a remarkable
series.”--_Manchester Dispatch._ “Interesting and singularly
plausible.”--_Daily Telegraph._

=Lysistrata=, or Woman’s Future and Future Woman. By ANTHONY M.
LUDOVICI, author of “A Defence of Aristocracy”, etc.

“A stimulating book. Volumes would be needed to deal, in the
fullness his work provokes, with all the problems raised.”--_Sunday
Times._ “Pro-feminine, but anti-feministic.”--_Scotsman._ “Full of
brilliant common-sense.”--_Observer._

=Hypatia=, or Woman and Knowledge. By MRS. BERTRAND RUSSELL. With a
frontispiece. _Second impression._

An answer to _Lysistrata_. “A passionate vindication of the rights
of women.”--_Manchester Guardian._ “Says a number of things
that sensible women have been wanting publicly said for a long
time.”--_Daily Herald._ “Everyone who cares at all about these
things should read it.”--_Weekly Westminster._

=The Mongol in our Midst=: a Study of Man and his Three Faces. By
F. G. CROOKSHANK, M.D., F.R.C.P. With 28 Plates. _Second edition,
revised._

“A brilliant piece of speculative induction.”--_Saturday Review._
“An extremely interesting and suggestive book, which will reward
careful reading.”--_Sunday Times._ “The pictures carry fearful
conviction.”--_Daily Herald._

=The Conquest of Cancer.= By H. W. S. WRIGHT, M.S., F.R.C.S.
Introduction by F. G. CROOKSHANK, M.D.

“Eminently suitable for general reading. The problem is fairly
and lucidly presented. One merit of Mr. Wright’s plan is that he
tells people what, in his judgment, they can best do, _here and
now_.”--From the _Introduction_.

=The Passing of the Phantoms=: a Study of Evolutionary Psychology and
Morals. By C. J. PATTEN, Professor of Anatomy, Sheffield University.
With 4 Plates.

“Readers of _Daedalus_, _Icarus_ and _Tantalus_, will be grateful
for an excellent presentation of yet another point of
view.”--_Yorkshire Post._ “This bright and bracing little
book.”--_Literary Guide._ “Interesting and original.”--_Medical
Times._

=Perseus=: of Dragons. By H. F. SCOTT STOKES. With 2 illustrations.

“A diverting little book, chock-full of ideas. Mr. Stokes’
dragon-lore is both quaint and various.”--_Morning Post._ “Very
amusingly written, and a mine of curious knowledge for which the
discerning reader will find many uses.”--_Glasgow Herald._

=Wireless Possibilities.= By Professor A. M. LOW. With 4 diagrams.

“As might be expected from an inventor who is always so fresh, he
has many interesting things to say.”--_Evening Standard._ “The
mantle of Blake has fallen upon the physicists. To them we look for
visions, and we find them in this book.”--_New Statesman._

=Narcissus=: an Anatomy of Clothes. By GERALD HEARD. With 19
illustrations.

“A most suggestive book.”--_Nation._ “Irresistible. Reading it
is like a switchback journey. Starting from prehistoric times we
rocket down the ages.”--_Daily News._ “Interesting, provocative, and
entertaining.”--_Queen._

=Thamyris=, or Is there a Future for Poetry. By R. C. TREVELYAN.

“Of high authority.”--_Saturday Review._ “Very suggestive.”--_J.
C. Squire_, in _Observer_. “A very charming piece of work. I agree
with all, or at any rate, almost all its conclusions.”--_J. St. Loe
Strachey_, in _Spectator_.

=Proteus=, or the Future of Intelligence. By VERNON LEE, author of
“Satan the Waster,” etc.

“We should like to follow the author’s suggestions as to the
effect of intelligence on the future of Ethics, Aesthetics,
and Manners. Her book is profoundly stimulating and should be
read by everyone.”--_Outlook._ “A concise, suggestive piece of
work.”--_Saturday Review._

=Paris=, or the Future of War. By Captain B. H. LIDDELL HART.

“A gem of close thinking and deduction.”--_Observer._ “A noteworthy
contribution to a problem of concern to every citizen in this
country.”--_Daily Chronicle._ “There is some lively thinking about
the future of war in _Paris_, just added to the set of live-wire
pamphlets on big subjects, called collectively ‘To-Day and
To-Morrow.’”--_Manchester Guardian._

=Hephaestus=, the Soul of the Machine. By E. E. FOURNIER D’ALBE, D.Sc.

Hephaestus is the god of fire, the incarnation of the machine age of
to-day. He is now master of the world. How this came about, what
will be the results of this increasing domination of our planet, is
the theme of the book.

=Thrasymachus=, the Future of Morals. By C. E. M. JOAD, author of
“Common-Sense Ethics,” etc.

A penetrating study of the herd, or conventional, morality of the
day, prophesying a Puritan revival in morals, with intolerance and
heresy-hunting. This will lead to the Americanization of England and
a great increase in irregular sexual relationships. In the end a new
religious revival is foreseen.

=Lycurgus=, or the Future of Law. By E. S. P. HAYNES, author of
“Concerning Solicitors,” etc.

An analysis of the present condition of Law in England, dealing with
legislation, the law-courts, criminal law, family law, land-laws,
costs, international law, individual liberty, and such subjects.

=Prometheus=, or Biology and the Advancement of Man. By H. S.
JENNINGS, Professor of Zoology, Johns Hopkins University.

A lucid summary of the recent striking advances in biological
knowledge, genetics, and the theory of evolution, with numerous
concrete illustrations. The conclusions are applied to the problem
of improvement in the human race.

=Timotheus=, the Future of the Theatre. By BONAMY DOBRÉE, author of
“Restoration Drama,” etc.

Traces the possible developments of the theatre, not only along
mechanical lines, but upon those which playwrights, actors, and
psychologists might achieve, were their idiosyncracies given scope.
The whole forms a comment on the theatre of to-day.

=Pygmalion=, or the Doctor of the Future. By R. MCNAIR WILSON, M.D.

The author foresees an evolution in the personality of the doctor,
who will become less of a scientist, more of a humanist, and use
every spiritual agency, as well as every practical measure, to
restore the human body and soul to health.

_READY SHORTLY_

=Cassandra=, or the Future of the British Empire. By F. C. S.
SCHILLER, D.Sc.

A penetrating analysis of the disruptive influences of work in the
Empire.

=Gallio=, or the Tyranny of Science. By J. W. N. SULLIVAN, author of
“A History of Mathematics.”

=Euterpe=, or the Future of Art. By LIONEL R. MCCOLVIN, author of
“The Theory of Book-Selection.”

Shows how economic factors influence artistic production and affect
artistic methods.

=Artifex=, or the Future of Craftsmanship. By JOHN GLOAG, author of
“Time, Taste, and Furniture.”

Indicates how the machine may be used to extend the glory of
craftsmanship.

=Pegasus=, or Problems of Transport. By Colonel J. F. C. FULLER,
author of “The Reformation of War,” etc.

An account of “cross-country” vehicles, which will achieve a
revolution as great as that caused by the railway.

=Atlantis=, or the United States and the Future. By Colonel J. F. C.
FULLER.

A witty and penetrating analysis of the American spirit.

=Midas=, or the Future of the United States. By C. H. BRETHERTON,
author of “The Real Ireland,” etc.

A companion volume to _Atlantis_, written from a different
viewpoint.

=Nuncius=, the Future of Advertising. By GILBERT RUSSELL.

=The Future of the English Language.= By BASIL DE SELINCOURT.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:

Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

Emboldened text is surrounded by equals signs: =bold=.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.

Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.

The cover image for this eBook was created by the transcriber and is
entered into the public domain.