Friends of Aesthetic Realism
       Countering the Lies
“It’s a lie, and not a well told one at that.
  It grins out like a copper dollar.”

                  —Abraham Lincoln

Statement by Carol Driscoll, Fund Administrator and Aesthetic Realism Consultant

I’m incensed by the lies about Aesthetic Realism that have appeared on a couple of websites. To have them out there is hard to bear, and I want people to know the truth. I also value my reputation, as an Aesthetic Realism consultant and as Fund Administrator for a labor union who administers pension and medical benefits for union members and their families.

As to the lie about the family, Ms. Driscoll writes: There is the preposterous suggestion that studying Aesthetic Realism takes one away from one’s family. The absurdity of this doozy was highlighted in a recent conversation with my sister Lorraine Mahoney who lives in Norfolk, Massachusetts, is a registered nurse, wife and mother of three. She told me that before I began studying Aesthetic Realism, I was distant from the family, but soon after my study began she saw a “dramatic difference” in me. I was “kinder, nicer”; and she said, “I felt I could really talk to you; you were closer to the whole family. Aesthetic Realism has had a positive impact on you; everyone in the family feels that.”

Today, I visit my siblings who live in Massachusetts and Florida as often as their and my busy schedules allow—especially during the holidays. There’s a warmth and closeness that is solid and runs deep, and I’m very happy that is so. My sister and I spoke about the concoctions on the websites, and she felt that while they might influence a small minority, the majority won’t believe them.

Meanwhile, any person stumbling onto one of those websites should know he or she is reading things that are completely untrue—outrageous stuff like the statement that people who study Aesthetic Realism are constantly “check[ing] up” on each other!

As to the lie about how Mr. Siegel wanted to be seen, Ms. Driscoll writes: One of the lies that infuriates me no end is the saying that Eli Siegel wanted to be worshipped. I studied in classes taught by him from 1972 until his death in 1978. Mr. Siegel’s purpose, constant and beautiful, was to know, and he encouraged this desire in every person he ever talked to. He never, ever wanted a facile agreement with the principles of Aesthetic Realism—he asked his students to look critically at what we were hearing as he lectured on many, many subjects: poetry, history, science, drama, ethics, and much more. It would take a book to describe all of the things and people I have been introduced to because of his classes. I want to say too that I’m personally very grateful for Mr. Siegel’s beautiful understanding of my life, and the way he always encouraged me to see other people and things more justly and believe in myself. To say that he demanded “worship” is humbug. What I felt when I first began my study and what I feel today is a respect which was born of a rigorous intellectual workout and is something I will be forever proud of. No lies can change that!

  • Read statements by many individual men and women
  • Read reviews from the NY Times, Smithsonian, Saturday Review, Library Journal, Harlem Times, Popular Photography, and more
  • A letter by Ralph Hattersley, noted critic of photography ...not only counters the lies, but is a means of showing something of their history and motivation.
  • Read poetry by Eli Siegel so greatly respected by William Carlos Williams and many others
  • Read lectures by Eli Siegel on subjects as diverse as literature, love, & economics
  • About classes for Aesthetic Realism consultants and associates taught by Ellen Reiss 
  • Poetic criticism by Eli Siegel and Ellen Reiss
  • Scribner's Magazine book reviews written by Eli Siegel

  • A Little Anthology of Comments (Some Funny We Hope) on Further Misrepresentations.

    >> Continue

    "On the Pleasures and Advantages of Anonymity: An Ode"—
    >> Continue

    A Dramatic and Cautionary Tale about an Unknown and Very Unimportant Person

    There once was a young man of ancient Greece named Milos. And Milos knew Socrates. He did not like Socrates because the great man asked far too many questions.... >> Continue

    Statements by Friends of Aesthetic Realism

    Barbara Allen
    Frances Amello
    Jerry Amello
    Christopher Balchin
    Mara Bennici
    David Berger
    Alice Bernstein
    Rachel J. Bernstein
    Barbara Buehler
    Gina Buffone
    Beverly Sue Burk
    Maureen Butler
    Jeffrey Carduner
    Margot Carpenter
    Lori & Robert Colavito
    Albert Corvino
    Nicholas Corvino
    Henry D'Amico
    Matthew D’Amico
    Ernest DeFilippis
    Vincent DiPietro
    Carol Driscoll
    Donita Ellison
    Anne Fielding
    Lorraine Galkowski, RN
    Pamela Goren
    Edward Green
    Avi Gvili
    Ames Huntting
    Mark Lale
    Dale Laurin
    Rose Levy
    Timothy Lynch
    Lorraine Mahoney, RN
    Derek Mali
    Glenn Mariano
    Haroldo Mauro Jr.
    Joseph Meglino
    Pauline Meglino
    Allan Michael
    Marvin Mondlin
    Robert Murphy
    Michael J. Nadeau
    Meryl Nietsch-Cooperman
    Ruth Oron
    Arnold Perey, PhD
    Lauren Phillips
    Jack Plumstead
    Maria Plumstead
    Rosemary Plumstead
    Rev. Wayne Plumstead
    Marcia Rackow
    Zvia Ratz
    Ann Richards
    Anthony C. Romeo
    Leila Rosen
    Rhonda Rosenthal
    Sally Ross
    Claudia Senatore
    Sheldon Silverman
    Jeffrey Sosinsky, MD
    Barbara Spetly McClung
    Joseph Spetly
    Faith K. Stern
    John Stern
    Arlene Sulkis
    Devorah Tarrow
    Jaime R. Torres, DPM
    Dennis L. Tucker
    Francine Weber
    Steve Weiner
    Miriam Weiss
    Carrie Wilson


    Also see the Aesthetic Realism Online Library  the Aesthetic Realism Foundation  Terrain Gallery  What scholars, writers, artists & teachers are saying  the Aesthetic Realism Theatre Company  & Links

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