Cresendo of Frenzied Gesticulation
A reflection on Chapter Three: Ritualized Gestures and Expression in Art
from The Image and the Eye- By: Sir Ernst Gombrich
"He was also right in stressing the dangers that arose in art through an inflation of these gestures, that cresendo of frenzied gesticulation that characterizes some of the Baroque. It was an inflation that inevitably produced the reaction of a return to the gold standard of classical restraint, the taste of our generation for Piero della Francesca's calm." E.H. Gombrich 1909-2001
When we compete for all the same resources, we actually hurt each other’s chances. Gombrich notes that there are dangers in the inflation of gestures in art. I think the danger he is suggesting is much like this power struggle we feel on an individual basis.
Let’s suppose I choose a vibrant jade necklace from the jar. I want to express myself, to stand out and be different. When Mary picks a jade necklace too, I now feel the need to grab an additional pair of earrings to feel special and unique. My jade necklace was drowned out, depreciated, in light of Mary’s.
Words and gestures are in the same “jar” as my jade necklace. Gombrich points out “…when we stand face to face with the performer we are embarrassed to hear everyone say, ‘thank you for a most interesting lecture’,” because, first there is a man who sincerely wants to convey his unique appreciation to the lecturer. He wants to express himself, to stand out and be genuine. He wants to pick the words “Thank You” from the jar because that is how he feels, but someone already picked Thank You! The words “Thank You” were cheapened, depreciated, with each person who decided to choose the same phrase. Hell, I say “Thank You” every time someone holds the door for me, even when I’m not paying attention. “Thank You” eventually became cheap enough to be thrown around without meaning. Thus we are embarrassed to say “Thank You” to a most interesting lecturer “precisely because it is a ritual and we know that it is used after good and bad lectures alike.” So, “We try as we approach [the lecturer] to make our voices more charged with symptoms of sincere emotions.” It is like those earrings I bought to try to one-up Mary’s jade necklace.
In striving to express ourselves, we have inadvertently been trying to outdo each other. We have inflated our gestures to a “crescendo of frenzied gesticulation.” The problem with inflation, in economy as well as gesture, is that you loose a standard of value. Before inflation, a lollypop would require one dollar. Likewise a sincere appreciation would require one “Thank You.” In inflation, a lollypop will now require two dollars, and a sincere appreciation will require a “So Much” in addition to the “Thank You”. Inflation cheapened the value of the dollar bill and cheapened the value of a “Thank You.” We no longer have a way to measure these values.
“Thank You” is no longer full of value. "I want to express my most sincere thanks" "thank you so so so very much!" In American language and culture we have so many options but it never seems enough.. Our words and gestures and our art and our money mean less. We have reached the crescendo of frenzied gesticulation. and to think Gombrich thought it happened 70 years ago...
