Aldous Huxley the English intellectual had, as a result of his incessant reading, the right idea about everything. Here is the tone of his Brave New World:
"The liftman was a small simian creature, dressed in the black tunic of an Epsilon-Minus Semi-Moron."
In the early thirties of the last century he wrote "Universal education has created an immense class of what I may call the New Stupid." The intellectuals of the present forum, on the other hand, often bemoan the lack of education in certain subjects among the general population. Huxley went on to say "The gulf between the populace and those engaged in any intelligent occupation of whatever kind steadily widens. In twenty years' time a man of science or a serious artist will need an interpreter in order to talk to a cinema proprietor or a member of his audience." Such a state of affairs has indeed come to pass in our own day has it not. Huxley reflected further, "It's sad that all the things one believes in - such as democracy, economic equality, etc. - should turn out in practice to be so repulsively unpleasant." (Also true - and it should by the bye be said that in my own case one does not believe in democracy - it is by definition government by a rabble.)
Still in 1933, the T.L.S. reports Huxley as having written "About 99.5% of the entire population of the planet are as stupid and Philistine (though in different ways) as the great masses of the English. The important thing, it seems to me, is not to attack the 99.5% - except for exercise - but to try to see that the 0.5% survive, keep their own quality up to the highest level, and, if possible, dominate the rest."
Now the reason I quote all this is that it gives a clear indication of the correct stance to be taken towards Radio Three now and in the future. When something has deteriorated in the way that Radio Three has, we should not spend and disperse our energies in a vain attempt to patch it up. That way lies contamination. Rather recognise that the moment has come for the birth of a new entity of high quality. (And indeed this week I have been busy setting up a new web-site along those lines, inspired by the glory days of the old Third Programme. More in due course.)
"The liftman was a small simian creature, dressed in the black tunic of an Epsilon-Minus Semi-Moron."
In the early thirties of the last century he wrote "Universal education has created an immense class of what I may call the New Stupid." The intellectuals of the present forum, on the other hand, often bemoan the lack of education in certain subjects among the general population. Huxley went on to say "The gulf between the populace and those engaged in any intelligent occupation of whatever kind steadily widens. In twenty years' time a man of science or a serious artist will need an interpreter in order to talk to a cinema proprietor or a member of his audience." Such a state of affairs has indeed come to pass in our own day has it not. Huxley reflected further, "It's sad that all the things one believes in - such as democracy, economic equality, etc. - should turn out in practice to be so repulsively unpleasant." (Also true - and it should by the bye be said that in my own case one does not believe in democracy - it is by definition government by a rabble.)
Still in 1933, the T.L.S. reports Huxley as having written "About 99.5% of the entire population of the planet are as stupid and Philistine (though in different ways) as the great masses of the English. The important thing, it seems to me, is not to attack the 99.5% - except for exercise - but to try to see that the 0.5% survive, keep their own quality up to the highest level, and, if possible, dominate the rest."
Now the reason I quote all this is that it gives a clear indication of the correct stance to be taken towards Radio Three now and in the future. When something has deteriorated in the way that Radio Three has, we should not spend and disperse our energies in a vain attempt to patch it up. That way lies contamination. Rather recognise that the moment has come for the birth of a new entity of high quality. (And indeed this week I have been busy setting up a new web-site along those lines, inspired by the glory days of the old Third Programme. More in due course.)
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