The Cave of Apelles

Stephen Hicks is a professor of philosophy at Rockford University, U.S. and the author of several books, including the best-seller Explaining Postmodernism, which details the philosophical roots of today’s cultural climate. Mr. Hicks highlights Immanuel Kant's role in undermining objectivity and reason, showing how his ideas remain the corner stone of Post Modernism and "Fine Art" to this day. Giving an overview of Kant's aesthetics, metaphysics and epistemology, the conversation further explains how this cocktail necessarily cripples classically minded people: If we cannot know reality then the act of painting it becomes naive. If nothing is objective then we cannot trust the rules of any craft and if nothing is universal then we become estranged from the mythic perspective. You can listen to Hicks' lecture How Art Became Ugly or check out his appearances on various podcasts including his own Open College Podcast. His official YouTube-channel is CEE Channel (Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship). 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 200 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:30 Introducing Stephen Hicks 01:13 "Explaining Postmodernism" & the Enlightenment 04:59 The "Counter-Enlightenment" defense of irrationality 08:54 Dissolving reason and the individual 12:46 Postmodern philosophers 15:58 Arthur Danto, Clement Greenberg & Jackson Pollock 17:35 Kant's Metaphysics: we cannot know reality as it is 23:34 No voluptuous women, no muscular men 26:12 Turning concepts against themselves 27:07 Kant's Epistemology and the devaluation of classical painting 33:31 Quotation mark bonanza 35:30 Munch's green sky 40:01 Modernistic art: a grooming ground for Kantianism 41:26 The representational project must be abandoned 43:21 Kant's Aesthetics: the sublime 49:15 The sublime lets us access "real reality" 50:50 Romantic art and the sublime 52:59 Anti everything & the greatest compliment ever! 55:20 Kant undercuts the possibility of being classical 56:38 Jack Unterweger: a mass murderer genius? 59:58 Expressionism and Cubism: products of Kant? 1:03:08 Originality hinders your development 1:07:03 Aesthetic indifference negates the eternal perspective 1:10:59 Thou shalt not make any "graven image" 1:14:44 Disintegration and destruction of classical values 1:19:23 "Spirituality" or "reality"? 1:22:35 Read Kant to break out of the modernist box 1:30:05 The painter who stopped painting after reading Kant 1:30:33 Aristotle is the greatest philosophical genius of all time This episode featured Stephen Hicks and Jan-Ove Tuv and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a reproduction of Johann Christoph Frisch's 1768 oil painting of Immanuel Kant. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Diego Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Website: https://caveofapelles.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caveofapelles Instagram: instagram.com/caveofapelles/ For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

Three architecture enthusiasts sit down to discuss how to get people involved and interested in classical architecture. From left to right: Ruben Hanssen from @the_aesthetic_city , the Norwegian architect Kristian Hoff Andersen, and Michael Diamant (founder of https://newtrad.org/) 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 200 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:00 Getting people interested in classical architecture 07:05 The framework of classical architecture 10:52 A viable alternative 14:49 Learning online and questioning established truths 19:26 Activists and slacktivists 23:03 Developers are not ideologically motivated 25:28 Modernist dogma & cheap fossil fuels 27:32 Developers and architects follow the culture 28:36 More expensive to build classical? 35:33 The case for hand-made architectural details 38:05 Classical architecture can be profitable 43:34 The economy of natural materials and proper roofs 47:23 Natural stone, cement core and added "skin" 51:18 "Honest" and "sustainable" virtue signaling 53:05 Eco friendly: mill buildings reused as luxury hotels 55:47 Can you reform modernist architects? 1:00:28 Changing the moralistic perception of time 1:10:05 Pimping up modernist buildings 1:16:11 Embracing the toolbox of history 1:18:45 An exit strategy for modernists 1:22:30 Myth busting and bipartisanship This episode featured Ruben Hanssen, Kristian Hoff-Andersen & Michael Diamant and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a 19th century reproduction of G. F. Watts' Hope. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Diego Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Website: https://caveofapelles.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caveofapelles Instagram: instagram.com/caveofapelles/ For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

The fight for our cities has only just begun. Michael Diamant (founder of New Traditional Architecture on facebook) stresses the importance of being on the offense and not fall for false embraces to keep the movement afloat. The modernists cannot be reformed, they have to be removed. While studies of the human brain and how human beings react to their environment is a useful argument for the superiority of classical architecture, Diamant warns of "neuroscience architecture" and how it can alienate us from the slightly imperfect but unmatched quality which is the result of building things with our hands. 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 200 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:00 Diamant's viral interview in The Cave 02:21 We need to attack 04:57 A false embrace 07:47 A thousand different traditional styles 13:59 Beauty reduced to its biological component 19:55 Beautiful architecture vs philosophical masturbation 24:55 Pride in colonial architecture 26:30 Do not reform modernists — remove them! 33:05 Keeping the classical movement afloat 36:39 The "greenest" building is the one we want to preserve 45:01 Classical architecture attracts people 47:10 "Consumerist" modernism and the green movement 52:05 Classical architecture is not more expensive! 57:01 Beauty inspires everyone 1:04:55 Why "prove" what everyone knows is right? 1:07:11"Neuroscience architecture" vs giving hope 1:10:40 Late classical buildings became too dogmatic 1:13:06 Only talented people should break the rules 1:17:34 Modernist architects live in classical buildings 1:21:46 Classical architects know more This episode featured Michael Diamant & Carl Korsnes and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a 19th century reproduction of G. F. Watts' Hope. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Website: https://caveofapelles.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caveofapelles Instagram: instagram.com/caveofapelles/ For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

Jan-Ove Tuv sits down with two young painters who are currently studying with Odd Nerdrum to listen to their thoughts about their teacher, how he approaches painting and the greatest takeaways from being his pupil. Unfortunately, there was a technical issue with Hösel's microphone which got worse towards the ending. 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 180 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:00 You can always improve a work! 06:16 Planning in advance vs in the moment 09:37 Tight technique before loosening up 13:50 Nerdrum revitalized the workshop tradition 16:10 Nerdrum struggles 22:50 The most essential props 26:35 Flat forms and simple compositions 30:01 An angel walks through the room 30:16 Student behavior & Nerdrum's development 34:08 The "Art" in Nerdrum 35:42 No awe of experts 37:05 Morning meeting and light vs heavy masters 40:42 Nerdrum learning from his students 42:30 Dissatisfaction and comparisons 48:11 Nerdrum's dislike of Rubens 52:15 Engage to learn! 55:54 Humiliation: the best way to learn 59:20 Student works hanging in Nerdrum's studio 1:01:20 Students who prevail (Molly Judd) This episode featured Jannik Hösel, Hjalmar Hagelstam & Jan-Ove Tuv and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a 19th century reproduction of G. F. Watts' Hope. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten Would you like to get premium access? Become a patron: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/CaveOfApelles For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

What are the signifiers of an eternal image? Odd Nerdrum argues for the melancholic perspective on life and points to painters like Jacques-Louis David, Rembrandt and Titian. 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 200 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:22 Melancholy wins in the long run 04:20 Big wounds in your memory 06:05 Zorn's confidence and Rembrandt's angst 07:44 How adversity crippled Munch 09:31 Munch's allegiance to the time 11:50 Rembrandt “pictured his life” 13:47 Melancholic works always remembered 14:37 Opaque desire vs love 18:27 The poetic attitude 21:09 Munch's Sick Child 26:12 Jacques David, Lievens and Claudius Cilvilis 31:21 Muted colors, from earth to life 37:58 The contour line and “flat” figures 39:12 In and out breath, grayness and many layers 46:28 Metaphors in paint layers (Titian vs Zorn) 48:15 Titian's Marsyas: Tragic vs mythic level 52:20 Geo vs Helio mindset (Gatsby, Wyeth, Nerdrum) 56:18 God sees you: the inverted perspective of icons This episode featured Odd Nerdrum & Jan-Ove Tuv and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Website: https://caveofapelles.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caveofapelles Instagram: instagram.com/caveofapelles/ For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

We dive into Plato's dialogues, such as Ion and The Republic to better understand the Greek philosopher's concept of the ideal forms and why he declaimed that painters, sculptors, and writers were to be banned from his ideal state. 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 200 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:00 Is life on earth inferior? 03:11 Plato's "forms", censorship and the afterlife 08:46 Imitation as morally problematic 12:35 Good painters imitate Platonic forms? 16:58 Serving the state vs "please and instruct" 20:43 Plato's philosophy — a preparation for death 23:43 Socratic irony as manipulation 26:25 Ion: do not overestimate how much you know 29:27 Ion: empathy made suspicious 33:32 Plato understood literally - and later interpretations 38:45 Plato vs Aristotle on the poet 41:55 Preparation for death 45:01 Capturing the forms or the universal? 52:34 Number of "forms" & steel manning Plato 54:53 "Find God in everything" and near death experiences 56:24 Heraclitus vs Plato 58:39 Great poets make things last This episode featured Einar Duenger Bøhn, Bork Nerdrum & Jan-Ove Tuv. Filmed by Öde Nerdrum and Carl August Benneche Klevjer. Edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a 19th century reproduction of G. F. Watts' Hope. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/CaveOfApelles For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

Growing up in Rembrandt's hometown Leiden, Ruben Hanssen developed an interest for the built environment and has studied Urban Planning at the University of Amsterdam and Urbanism at the Delft University of Technology. In 2021 he founded The Aesthetic City which is a podcast devoted to the discussion of how to build a more livable, healthy and beautiful environment. The channel is also featured on YouTube with educational content, such as the very informative video called "Why is it Beautiful?": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9pg2j2oGy0 What is going wrong in cities all over the world? Which errant paths do planners still take? What "collective image" do we have of the future? How is the mainstream idea of the future formed by popular media and tending towards dystopian nightmarish visions? Ruben Hanssen covers these questions and more. 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 180 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:35 Introduction 01:25 How Hanssen got into urban planning 07:05 Beauty: a non-subject in education 12:40 A practical approach 16:08 Problems of concept & sales-based architecture 21:24 The Aesthetic City podcast 30:43 Beauty from a neuroscientific perspective 36:44 Ugliness causes stress, fear and suspicion 40:21 The importance of ground level floors 44:23 Leon Krier's Cayala in Guatemala 49:43 Dystopic or blissful view of the future? 59:38 Beauty is hard, ugliness is easy 1:03:01 Vitruvius on beauty 1:06:12 Regular spaces can easily be made pleasant 1:10:28 A change for the better? 1:12:41 Summer schools in classical architecture 1:17:22 Estimation grows when knowledge grows 1:20:15 What is wrong with the field of urban design? 1:25:58 Real alternatives vs Progress (towards what?) 1:31:05 Increasing literacy of what works This episode featured Ruben Hanssen & Carl Korsnes and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a photograph of Azaria Civic Hall in Cayala, Guatemala by Ruben Hanssen. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten Would you like to get premium access? Become a patron: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/CaveOfApelles For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

Jannik Hösel is a German classical painter currently studying with Odd Nerdrum.  Growing up in an environment that offered no possibilities to be formally trained in the craft, he chose to go down the autodidactic road, and sits down in the Cave to share his knowledge on self-learning, which ranges from suggested exercises and how to think as you study — to basic awareness of painting materials. Hösel is also concerned with the psychological faithfulness of motifs. He warns against becoming too "symbolic" or "deep", and how you can attain the middle road of storytelling. 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 180 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:30 Introduction 01:03 A need for timelessness 04:34 What touches you? 06:15 Do self-portraits! 08:46 Jannik Hösel's Judas painting 14:28 Becoming self-taught 22:55 Understanding your talent and desires 26:15 Intermediate thinking 30:22 The role of composition 37:19 Relating to contemporary art? 46:05 Discipline and work ethic 48:34 Learning from icon paintings 51:11 Insufficient vs good symbolism 56:08 Past, present, future! 57:48 Ultimate depiction of melancholy? 1:02:24 The painting has to say "Ah…!" 1:04:21 Details and multiple figures 1:05:42 Paint from life, paintings and imagination 1:07:30 Best advice: do not be lazy! This episode featured Jannik Hösel & Jan-Ove Tuv and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was The Death of Judas Iscariot by Jannik Hösel. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten Would you like to get premium access? Become a patron: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/CaveOfApelles For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com

What are the key factors of masterworks such as The Flaying of Marsyas by Titian? David Molesky, Sebastian Salvo, and Jan-Ove Tuv sit down to talk about myths, perspective on life, archetypes, eternity and more. Chapter markers: 00:00 Titian's Flaying of Marsyas: two stories in one 05:10 "Long looking" and movies that go inwards 09:56 Masterpieces are calming like Mandalas 17:01 Repetitions and the comfort of archetypes 20:16 Collectivity & individuality, sky & earth 27:40 David successfully identifying as an elk 30:13 Strive, but do not strain 40:26 Making timeless patterns in your brain 44:13 Recognizing your own talent in another painter 49:09 Creation myths and Greek sculptures: a unity of opposites 59:16 Continuing work on paintings owned by collectors 1:02:30 Every masterpiece is a sign and easy to read 1:05:26 The eternal, human face or inside jokes 1:11:27 "Divine comedy": a level up from tragedy? 1:19:20 Uniting laughter and sorrow This episode featured David Molesky, Sebastian Salvo & Jan-Ove Tuv and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a 19th century reproduction of G. F. Watts' Hope. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten

Öde Nerdrum sits down with Wim Winters to talk about Whole Beat, sharing the story of how he discovered the YouTube channel Authentic Sound  and the life-changing effects it had on him as a musician and human being. But is whole beat a bullet proof concept? Nerdrum puts it up to the test by challenging Winters with the main counter-arguments. ▶️ Watch Jan-Ove Tuv's interview with Wim Winters on Cave of Apelles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWITKRfXHRs 👍✨ Support our show and get access to more than 180 exclusive posts: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Chapter markers: 00:00 Accepting whole beat is like breaking up a relationship 04:58 You have to drop your expectations 08:14 Give yourself permission to like Whole Beat 14:21 You actually hear the music and it feels faster 19:15 Are pianists loyal to recordings rather than notes? 25:12 Only two ways of reading the metronome 34:06 Giving music back to the amateurs 43:30 Counter-argument 1: Fafner's text on concert durations 54:33 Playing faster is always easier 57:28 Counter-argument 2: People feel it is too slow 1:09:11 Counter-argument 3: Just play how we feel 1:15:31 Counter-argument 4: A text on Mälzel's metronome 1:22:34 Counter-argument 5: The missing link 1:30:16 Whole beat is the organic way of counting 1:33:38 If Liszt came back he would not believe it This episode featured Wim Winters & Öde Nerdrum and was filmed and edited by Bork Nerdrum. The centerpiece was a 19th century reproduction of G. F. Watts' Hope. SHOUTOUT to our TOP SPONSORS! Fergus Ryan Matthias Proy Børge Moe Eivind Josten Would you like to get premium access? Become a patron: https://patreon.com/caveofapelles/ Subscribe to our newsletter. It is the only way to make sure that you receive content from us on a regular basis: https://bit.ly/2L8qCNn Check out our other channels: https://www.youtube.com/c/SchoolofApelles https://www.youtube.com/c/CultureWarsNow Podcast available on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/caveofapelles https://spoti.fi/2AVDkcT https://apple.co/2QAcXD6 Visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caveofapelles Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/CaveOfApelles For inquiries — talk@caveofapelles.com