October 31, 2012

A story with a double-edged moral

Two articles in NY Times, december 1988, by John Gross and Michael Brenson reviewing ''Golem! Danger, Deliverance and Art,'' an exhibition at the Jewish Museum, NY. 

"A story with a double-edged moral. On the one hand the golem is the longed-for champion of a defenseless people, triumphant testimony to the power of faith. On the other hand he is a reminder that creation is God's prerogative, not man's, and that trying to emulate God is a presumptuous and dangerous business."
John Gross article

"What makes this a provocative art show is that the golem can also be a symbol of art. Art, too, is a human creation that may seem to be born of magic. Once a work of art leaves its maker's hands and enters the world, it, too, may take on a life of its own and serve functions very different from those for which it was intended."
Michael Brensons article

These articles also refers to the Golem legend as an inspiration for Mary Shelleys Frankenstein.

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