Space Is The Place: The Lives And Times Of Sun Ra
by John F. Szwed

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Book Reviews of Space Is The Place: The Lives And Times Of Sun Ra

Book Review: The Definitive Biography of "Mr. Mystery"
Summary: 5 Stars

Szwed's book also delves deeply into the space-influenced philosophy of Sun Ra and its emphasis on "discipline" and "precision." While Szwed features direct quotes when possible, he also paraphrases the philosophy of Sun Ra frequently. His analysis could have gone much farther into Ra's critique of Christianity and his use of language. At one point, he mentions that both Ra and Nietzsche "unflinchingly assaulted received Christianity" (p.383), but he does not extend his analysis further. (It would have been interesting to compare how both artists used the theme of "overcoming" in their art, or perhaps a discussion of the similarities in their critiques of democracy.) Szwed also could have drawn a stronger connection between Ra and the European Romantics that he occasionally mentions, including William Blake. Both figures were visionaries who tried to break their "mind forged manacles" and reach a higher state of innocence by using aesthetics as a catalyst to reach transcendental experiences.

It also would have been useful to analyze more thoroughly Sun Ra's use of binary oppositions in his speeches and in his interrogation of concepts such as "Truth," "Righteousness," and "Death." Despite Sun Ra's truly amazing ability to parse the English language in his lectures, often major logical fallacies emerged in his approach to such matters (although Sun Ra, at some point, probably deconstructed the term "Logic" as well). It would have been nice for Szwed to at least acknowledge the limitations of Sun Ra's thought along with discussing its strengths. However, Szwed's book is the best study of one of the most important thinkers and artists of the "omniverse age" and should be required reading for anyone interested in jazz music.

Summary of Space Is The Place: The Lives And Times Of Sun Ra

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