Aesthetic Realism:
Some Beginning Notes —

Aesthetic Realism is the philosophy founded in 1941 by poet and critic Eli Siegel. He was by then already famed as a poet, for in 1925 he had won the much desired Nation magazine poetry award. Aesthetic Realism is kind and scientific — see "About Aesthetic Realism" on the Aesthetic Realism Foundation Online website, which tells you more.

In my paper on the subject of stuttering (see How My Stuttering Ended) I tell how Eli Siegel's philosophy Aesthetic Realism encourages self-expression. This large overall matter — expressing oneself and what interferes — is my theme.

Where the economy is unjust, the fullest self-expression of many, many people is interfered with. I am for a just economy and say so, with colleagues of mine, in articles reprinted here.

is a definitive source for publications about Aesthetic Realism. For example, visit the online library to learn about how this philosophy, founded by Eli Siegel, explains Poetry, to read Reviews written by Mr. Siegel; reviews of his poetry and prose.—Essays on art and life; Books—including chapters from Self and World, the Williams-Siegel Documentary, James and the Children, Children's Guide to Parents and Other Matters and more.  Articles in the press & media about the ideas and principles of Aesthetic Realism in relation to life, economics, love, art, youth and age and Includes WKCR-FM "The World of Art" interview of Eli Siegel.

Reports of Aesthetic Realism
Classes

Here are two reports of Eli Siegel's lectures:"Look, the World is Poetic!" and "The Rhythms: They Are There." 

"The Ordinary Doom"
By Eli Siegel

A big theme of this website is a matter that concerns many people in America —self-expression and what interferes with it.

And I write about one form in particular that has caused a great deal of pain: stuttering. For  I learned the scientific cause of stuttering from Aesthetic Realism, founded by Eli Siegel, and my stuttering ended — many years ago. As I say in my article reprinted on this website:

There is much written on this subject but the definitive explanation of its cause is in "An Approach to a Philosophy of Self and Disease" in Eli Siegel's Self and World.  "Stuttering," Mr. Siegel writes, "is one of the most conspicuous manifestations of the antagonistic impact of a desire to express, with a desire to withhold." And as he continues, he literally is describing technically what happens when one stutters: "It is the embodiment of inhibition and forwardness; it is the explosive, excessively energetic, excessively repetitious, and excessively denying, bodily symbol of the sudden battle between the centrifugal and centripetal selves." 

I am a consultant on the faculty of the not-for-profit Aesthetic Realism Foundation in New York City. I am proud that this article, "How My Stuttering Ended," which was part of the public seminar titled "What Interferes with Your True Expression?" The article has been published on websites about stuttering, including the internationally valued resource: "The Stuttering Homepage" of Minnesota State University, as well as the San Antonio Register and other newspapers. I had the honor to study in classes taught by Mr. Siegel, in which he lectured on the poetry of the world, literature, science, art, music, economics and the questions of the human self. My study continues in classes taught by Ellen Reiss, the Chairman of Aesthetic Realism.

See my article on Aesthetic Realism and the interference with self-expression: "How My Stuttering Ended."

You can read two of my recent articles, which are featured in The Indian Stammering Association's quarterly newsletter, Samvad. May, 2011. The first article, which they titled "Genes and ‘Something Else," is an answer to The indian Stammering Association's request: for my "opinon on neuro-biological aspects of stammering." My second article is about the film, "The King's Speech & An Approach to Stuttering," In the article, I wrote "The film also has me value even more the fact that my own stuttering ended through my study of the philosophy Aesthetic Realism in classes with its founder, poet and critic Eli Siegel. In this article I discuss some aspects of the film: what is presented about stuttering and Logue’s approach to it, and show how it ratifies what I have seen to be Eli Siegel’s definitive explanation of its cause."

    And another article about the usefulness of Aesthetic Realism in the understanding of stuttering by Aesthetic Realism Consultant and Educator, Arnold Perey, Ph.D. The Answer for Our Schools—about a young man who stuttered and because of what he learned in Aesthetic Realism consultations—his stuttering diminished.

Unions, the Economy & Aesthetic Realism

I am also proud to have worked as a staff member of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (now UNITE HERE!) for many years. My study of Aesthetic Realism has shown me how vital unions are to the well-being of Americans. Unions have been central in getting people decent wages, health care, job security, safer working conditions. I have seen that when unions are strong, working people are much better off. See the article by Timothy Lynch, who heads Teamsters Local 1205, published in the Star Ledger (Newark, NJ).

      On my website, I also include links to articles about issues affecting people everyday. For example an article by sociologist Devorah Tarrow on seniors and health care and another by fashion executive Bruce Blaustein on fathers and sons.

      And don't miss the new blog, Unions Matter!, where you'll find the latest posts about the meaning and value of unions. http://unionsmatter.wordpress.com

Aesthetic Realism Opposes Racism

I want to tell you about a publication on the subject of racism that in my opinion is the definitive text for how to end racism based on solid, tested, principles.This book— Aesthetic Realism and the Answer to Racism includes Articles Published Nationwide & Abroad by Alice Bernstein & Others and the important early essay of Eli Siegel—"The Equality of Man," first published in 1923. In the introduction, Alice Bernstein writes that Aesthetic Realism and the Answer to Racism "is being published with a sense of urgency and hope; urgency because racism is still rampant in the world; hope, because there is a true, practical, kind, learnable, and yes, even beautiful answer." For more about this new book by Alice Bernstein and how to order it, Click here.

The Aesthetic Realism Foundation is located at 141 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012, (212) 777-4490, http://www.AestheticRealism.org.

Aesthetic Realism encourages
self-expression

Great news! Two of Miriam Mondlin's articles are featured in The Indian Stammering Association's quarterly newsletter, Samvad. May, 2011. The first article, which they titled "Genes and ‘Something Else," is an answer to The indian Stammering Association's request: for her "opinon on neuro-biological aspects of stammering." Her second article is about the film, "The King's Speech & An Approach to Stuttering,"

The Right of Aesthetic Realism to Be Known #1751 titled "Stuttering and the Human Self" includes a 1946 lecture by the Founder of Aesthetic Realism, Eli Siegel, and parts of my paper "How My Stuttering Ended." click here to read the understanding of the cause of stuttering and so much more

On stuttering— Read, "How My Stuttering Ended." by Miriam Mondlin

The Answer for Our Schools by Arnold Perey, Ph.D,.   —about a young man who stuttered and because of what he learned in Aesthetic Realism consultations—his stuttering diminished.

Articles about this Aesthetic Realism question:
"What does a person deserve by being a person?"

”Best U.S. Short”
Avignon/New York Film Festival
"Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana"
Directed by Ken Kimmelman,
Emmy award-winning filmmaker