In an era marked by chaos and social collapse, David Bowie's art still manages to captivate audiences with its prescience and genius. The life and work of the legendary musician are re-examined in Peter Ormerod's latest book, which probes the profound impact of faith on Bowie's creative output.
Bowie's world was always one of destruction and fragmentation. His music, from the haunting melancholy of "Space Oddity" to the apocalyptic landscape of "Blackstar," is a testament to his uncanny ability to capture the essence of our disorienting times. The singer-songwriter prophesied the rise of Trumpworld in songs like "Under the God," which eerily predicted the toxic rhetoric and xenophobia that would come to define the era.
Yet, despite this bleak outlook, Bowie's art is not without its message of hope. It is a celebration of life, love, and connection – qualities that have long been at odds with his notorious reputation as a rebel. In Ormerod's book, we discover that Bowie's most profound work is driven by two essential sources: the human experience of mortality and the transformative power of love.
The author's engaging prose brings to light new insights into Bowie's life and art, from his Anglican upbringing in Bromley to his later explorations of Tibetan Buddhism and Aleister Crowley's occultism. However, it is the book's analysis of Bowie's later work – particularly "Heathen," "The Next Day," and "Blackstar" – that truly sets it apart.
Here, Ormerod employs close reading techniques to reveal the deeper meanings hidden within Bowie's music. He expertly unpacks the artist's use of negation and apophaticism, a philosophical concept that underlies much of his work. This notion of "decreation," or the act of saying no while affirming something profound, is eerily reminiscent of medieval Christian mystics like Marguerite Porete.
As we delve into Ormerod's book, it becomes clear that Bowie was more than just a rock star – he was a spiritual artist, one whose music serves as a kind of sacred text. His art continues to inspire devotion in his fans, who flock to the V&A East to experience the vast archive of memorabilia and artifacts. The author himself is a convert, having discovered Bowie's work in 1996, and shares this sense of awe and reverence for the singer-songwriter.
Ultimately, Ormerod's book offers us a profound meditation on the power of art to transcend our mortal limitations. It reminds us that, even in the darkest of times, there exists a beauty and a truth that can move us to tears, to joy, or to both.
Bowie's world was always one of destruction and fragmentation. His music, from the haunting melancholy of "Space Oddity" to the apocalyptic landscape of "Blackstar," is a testament to his uncanny ability to capture the essence of our disorienting times. The singer-songwriter prophesied the rise of Trumpworld in songs like "Under the God," which eerily predicted the toxic rhetoric and xenophobia that would come to define the era.
Yet, despite this bleak outlook, Bowie's art is not without its message of hope. It is a celebration of life, love, and connection – qualities that have long been at odds with his notorious reputation as a rebel. In Ormerod's book, we discover that Bowie's most profound work is driven by two essential sources: the human experience of mortality and the transformative power of love.
The author's engaging prose brings to light new insights into Bowie's life and art, from his Anglican upbringing in Bromley to his later explorations of Tibetan Buddhism and Aleister Crowley's occultism. However, it is the book's analysis of Bowie's later work – particularly "Heathen," "The Next Day," and "Blackstar" – that truly sets it apart.
Here, Ormerod employs close reading techniques to reveal the deeper meanings hidden within Bowie's music. He expertly unpacks the artist's use of negation and apophaticism, a philosophical concept that underlies much of his work. This notion of "decreation," or the act of saying no while affirming something profound, is eerily reminiscent of medieval Christian mystics like Marguerite Porete.
As we delve into Ormerod's book, it becomes clear that Bowie was more than just a rock star – he was a spiritual artist, one whose music serves as a kind of sacred text. His art continues to inspire devotion in his fans, who flock to the V&A East to experience the vast archive of memorabilia and artifacts. The author himself is a convert, having discovered Bowie's work in 1996, and shares this sense of awe and reverence for the singer-songwriter.
Ultimately, Ormerod's book offers us a profound meditation on the power of art to transcend our mortal limitations. It reminds us that, even in the darkest of times, there exists a beauty and a truth that can move us to tears, to joy, or to both.
. We're living in a time where people are more divided than ever, and it's like Bowie was a prophet of sorts, warning us about the dangers of fear-mongering and toxic politics 
. I mean, "Under the God" is like a scathing critique of the kind of rhetoric that's become all too common today 
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. It's like he was trying to tell us something about the power of love and connection in a world that's increasingly isolated and fragmented 
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. It's about how we respond to art that challenges our assumptions and pushes us out of our comfort zones 
. If we're not careful, we'll become like Trumpworld - all about division and hate rather than unity and love 
. We need more artists who are willing to take risks and challenge the status quo 
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he was like a prophet of our generation his music is still giving me chills "space oddity" is like the ultimate anthem for lost souls anyway check out this article on the psychology of creativity 
it's like he was a prophet or something, predicting all this chaos and destruction we're living through right now 
but what really gets me is how his art isn't just about the darkness, it's also about hope and love 
And I love how Ormerod breaks down all the symbolism and meaning behind Bowie's music, it's like a whole new level of depth and complexity 
anyway this book thingy sounds really interesting i'll have to check it out 
. His music was like a canary in a coal mine, warning us about the dangers of division and intolerance. It's no coincidence that songs like "Under the God" predicted Trumpworld's rise to power – this is what happens when you pit faith against reason. On the other hand, his exploration of love and mortality is all about human connection 
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and now i want to re-listen to all his albums with a new perspective on mortality & love being major themes 
what's your fave david bowie song btw 
but what's interesting is that even though his music can be super bleak, there's still this sense of resilience and determination to hold onto love and connection. like, we might not have all the answers, but art can help us feel less alone, you know? 
. He had this crazy ability to tap into the darkest corners of humanity and still create something beautiful & hopeful 
. I love how Peter Ormerod's book delves into his spirituality – it shows that Bowie wasn't just about rebellion, but also about finding hope in the human experience 
. What I love most is that Ormerod's book doesn't just focus on Bowie's dark side, but also his use of love & connection as a source of inspiration 
.
. I mean, his stuff is like a time capsule of our era, capturing all these feelings of disorientation and fragmentation that we're still dealing with now. But at the same time, I'm not sure I fully buy into the whole "Bowie was a spiritual artist" vibe 
. Don't get me wrong, he was definitely a genius, but I think his music is more complex than just some kind of sacred text 
. Ormerod's book does bring up some interesting points about Bowie's use of negation and apophaticism, though - that whole "decreation" thing is pretty thought-provoking 
, and it's amazing how much insight Ormerod brings to the table. His analysis of Bowie's later work is pure genius 
! he was like a prophetic genius or something, predicting all these crazy stuff that came true later on in life 
. but what i do know is that bowie's music is more than just a bunch of songs – it's an experience.
. The author's writing is so engaging, I felt like I was reading a personal diary entry or something