Media Diet: Thomas Moore
(Page 2 of 3)
November/December 1996
By Joshua Glenn, Utne Reader
Are there any authors who have influenced you?
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Scores, but I'll just mention a few who appear in my new book. Marsilia Ficino, a 15th-century priest, philosopher, translator, musician, and magician, has been very influential because he wrote about the central place of the soul as a philosophy--and then he spelled out innumerable ways in which we can create a culture that is focused on soul. Another 15th-century writer I admire is Nicholas of Cusa, who writes with a great deal of verve and imagination on how games and art convey some of the great theological mysteries. Although Cusa was a great intellectual and wit--he invented words very much like James Joyce did--he thought that the most important thing was to recognize the limits of one's knowledge. Cultivating a certain kind of emptiness of mind is one of the fundamentals of creating a soul-focused life, which is different from the highly rational life that is the norm in modern society.
Do you watch television?
I've made quite a number of television programs and videos, but when I'm home I'm too busy being with my family, doing woodworking, playing the piano, and writing. Besides, most programs are so bad that whenever I'm tempted to look at television I'm disappointed. I don't object to the medium; I still have hope for it, but not enough to actually watch it. Also, we have two little kids, and we have to be very careful not to let them unconsciously become part of what I think of as a disenchanted culture.
Which artists have influenced you?
Woody Allen springs immediately to mind. He's humorous, both verbally and visually, but he also has intelligence and sophistication. My books are pretty heavy in some ways, but when I go out to talk about them, I'm doing stand-up comedy, not lecturing. I think that wit is a sign of soul; I like humor that isn't cynical. Also, I like how Allen keeps working no matter what. Some of his stuff is not as interesting as the rest, and that's just the way it is. You don't have to make a masterpiece every time.
Is there a film you'd like everyone to see?
The Secret of Roan Inish by John Sayles. It's full of fantasy and myth, but he uses simple images for the magical element. Another recent film I loved is Angels and Insects, by Philip Haas. It examines our humanity by exploring the meaning of winged figures, the natural and the supernatural. I don't remember the last time I saw a movie so well imagined and executed.
Which current trends in the media most trouble you?