Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-27
ART AND THE WAR

Certain works of fiction and cinematosraph, dealing
with phases of the great war, are just now enjoying an
unexceiled popularity throughout the county, and while
the literary of other artistic qualities are-generally
speaking-on no high plane, the success of many Of these
works is nothing short of phenomenal.
The questio has arisen in many minds: Why are tn.
written or the photographed war episodes so dear to the
with a highly developed technique than with elements of
true psychology?
In a book, written by a foreigner, and Just now is-
suing in translated edition after edition, there are certain
war details so depicted that they remain indelibly in the
mind OF the reader; and in a moving picture play which
is meeting with the enthusiastic plaudits Of the public
from coast to coast, similar scenes are recorded in such
a manner as to make the spectator remember them for
a long time.
sConnoisseurs may disagree as to the artistic merits
of the two productions, but the fact remains that the
public has accepted them rs true representations Of some
of that which has happened during the war.
1t will not do to say that such successes are due
solely to the craving for what is morbid and even grue-
some; there is such a craving among people everywhere,
but it is not the predominating factor. Nor will it do to
say that the realistically appearing scenes In the book or
in the picture are true to life. They/are not.
But the explanation may be that such scenes make
it possible for the imagination to picture incidents and
episodes that have been a thousand times more horrible
than ever an artist could dream Of reproducing them.
While gazing at the stirring details of a vast screen
drama, or while reading about such scenes and happen
ings in a mechanically well-wrought work of fiction. the
spectator or the reader realizes ali the time that even
though the incidents set forth are not the exact. nor the
whole truth, they are q reflection of such truths az can
be expressed by no master.
In other words--the works inspired by the war and
dealing arustically with the war, become successful be-.
cause they start that conflaeration of a soul which IA the
cause OF all enthusiasm or holy resentment. People
do not want the literal truths-and cannot stand tho con.
piete truths. They must have fragments, and the more
'lv1dly these fragments are presented, the keener il the
realization OF that which actually takes place.
There is much art of this kind, and more will BE-
produced. In order to place a true valuation n n II q ms,
De necessary to revise present standards, and It may prob.
ABLY become imperative to disregard a number Of h1ther.
TO servlceable criteria. But it will still remain a question
whether such works will enjoy everlasting fame There
may be a few that will because OF their inherent great.
ness. but it is pretty safe to say-on the basis Of similar
although smaller, experiences-that the literature AND
the art inspired by the war arc destined to comn.,ativt
OBLIVION not very long after the end of the war.
For this there is the obvious reason that o . 80,
mas been fought and things are becoming normal .xa,n
people prefer to be reminded of it as little a 1. nossih,t
ana VIII Turf rather to the tasks OF peace and reconstruc
ton and to the art that grows out Of such tasks.