January 2007
After so many years of writing activity, I have become accustomed to both the laudatory (official or unofficial) and the usually veiled dismissive reviews. However, what continues to puzzle me is the observation (whether commendatory or critical, but always surprised) that my books express personal views.
Honestly, I have never been able to understand what interest there would be in dealing with known subjects if the writer did not express personal opinions. A non-scientific book justifies its existence through the honesty of its observations and even better (though more rarely) through their originality. I am fully aware that my comments and observations often either knock on open doors (though not for everyone) or run into disagreements with many readers. My hope is that readers will find them interesting enough to continue reading and even more so to question their own perceptions.
I have adopted the same approach in my teachings. My critical comments are always personal, hence sincere. Thus, they have a slight chance of touching and possibly influencing the recipient. Personal perspective is based on an internally structured vision, which is neither random nor devoid of struggles, even if it cannot claim, especially in matters related to Art, the (often dubious) objectivity of a scientific and historical argumentation. However, even in this last case, scientific objectivity will benefit from the personal view.
Yet, expressing personal opinions requires two basic conditions: Firstly, the substantive and mature knowledge and appreciation of the subject at hand (which contributes to the extent of the main text) and not that which arises only from an abundance of information (which usually contributes to the volume of academic footnotes). Secondly, the acceptance of the expected rejection by a segment of readers and the possible self-rejection by the writer in the future.
Plato Rivellis