The Belly of the (Wagner) Beast














I've buckled and decided to take a weekly 3-hour seminar course on Wagner's Ring for 3 credits at the University. It's from my (sometimes unfoundedly) dreaded Cultural Studies department, but I've heard great things about the Professor. And plus, if you are going to locate a composer in the Historical/Political/Philosophical perspective let it be Wagner. For all my tired complaint of Deconscruction and Historicism, ignoring these contexts with Herr Wagner is impossible, and indeed harmful for a full understanding. Surely, I hardly know enough about the music or the man. But until now, I've avoided it like plague (which I do try to avoid).