How did David Bowie's later music predict modern chaos?

Bowie's later music depicted worlds of violence and disaster, and his work explored themes of fragmentation and social collapse, foreshadowing contemporary societal issues.

What does Ormerod's book reveal about David Bowie's spirituality?

Ormerod's book analyzes Bowie's art through a religious lens, tracing his engagement with Anglicanism, Tibetan Buddhism, and occultism, and viewing him as a religious artist.

What were the core drivers of David Bowie's artistic drive?

The book posits that Bowie's creative drive stemmed from profound sources of life and love, despite his music often expressing isolation and an incapacity to love.

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Bowie's Music: A Prophecy of Chaos

28 Jan

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Summary

Bowie's later work is seen as a prophecy of modern chaos.
His music explored themes of fragmentation and social collapse.
A new book examines Bowie's art through the lens of religion.

David Bowie's later artistic output is increasingly understood not as a lament for a lost era, but as a prophecy of contemporary chaos and fragmentation. His music, from the early 'Space Oddity' to the final 'Blackstar,' consistently depicted worlds overcome by violence, incineration, and disaster. This vision extended to political commentary, prefiguring aspects of modern societal divides.

Ormerod's book, 'Rebel's Guide to David Bowie,' reframes Bowie's extensive career through the lens of spirituality and religion. It traces his engagement with Anglicanism, Tibetan Buddhism, and occultism, analyzing how these explorations infused his art. The book particularly shines in its detailed examination of later albums like 'Heathen,' 'The Next Day,' and 'Blackstar.'

The analysis highlights that Bowie's creative drive stemmed from profound sources: life and love. Despite periods of isolation and an "incapacity to love" expressed in his music, he ultimately found solace in family and the acceptance of mortality. This perspective, characterized by a tendency towards negation, aligns Bowie with medieval Christian mystics.