iMedia: The Genius of the Crowd

I have chosen to share with you something that has sparked a lot of curiousity in me, the reading of a poem by Charles Bukowski, "The Genius of the Crowd".

The first time I listened to this reading I was in awe of its ability to shake me. The first time I heard it I was mainly focused on the reader's deep, serious tone, but after listening to it a few time the language written by Bukowski became more clear, more meaningful; more powerful.

In a lot of ways this poem reminds me of my last blog entry that examined the idea of human nature, the idea of whether humans are naturally "good" or "bad". Through this poem Charles Bukowski communicated his belief that humans are, by nature, filled with hatred and treachery. What shook me was the fact that he placed all humans in the same category,

"There is enough treachery, hatred, violence, absurdity in the average human being to supply any given army on any given day".

While the word crowd is included in the title of this poem, its not representing the idea that when all humans are together we become haneous, but that even seperately we are all filled with hate. Through the use of contrasting and almost paradoxical statements he seems to be exculding no one from this opinion,

"beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone."

Bukowski states an entire list of types of people and what they are characterized by, and then what their actual intentions or motivations are. These statements suggest that the "average man" is in every man. This makes me wonder, is Bukowski really suggesting we are all creatures of hate, because the only exception he seems to allow would be a man that closely resembles a Jesus figure among men. He leaves me wondering, does that type of person exist?

Another thing that stuck out to me after listening to this poem was the idea of people not accepting that which is different from what they are used to. Bukowski writes,

"not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world."

In my mind this description screamed "PHILISTINE!" the term that we learned about in humanities earlier this year. Is Bukowski really saying we are all philistines in one way or another? Also, it seemed to me that a lot of Bukowski's personal experience shined through in this verse. The concept of people not being able to create are or understand are made me wonder if this was included in the poem due to Bukowski's experience with people who did not or chose not to understand his art.

The last verse in Bukowski's poem was even more dark and disturbing than the rest.

"and their hatred will be perfect

like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock

their finest art."

Bukowski suggests that our biggest talent, "our" being all of mankind, is hatred. That's a scary thought. We like to think we're full of love and acceptance, but when you think about it are you really an open and understanding person? or are you just putting up a facade so that others are lead to misread you? Are you the warrior that preaches peace? The hater that preaches love? Are you the hypocrisy?