I recently came across an interview from the 1950s which was an American television interview with Salvador Dali- the early twentieth century surrealist painter. I am not aware of who the interviewer is, but every professional talk show host in America probably knows exactly who he is. This came at a time in the fifties when, although usually seen as a reductionist and Freudian age, Atkinson and Evola were in full swing. It is interesting to see what happens when two heavyweights of philosophy go at it. The guy giving the interview is a law of attraction person; there looks like there is a magnet literally coming out of his head and his teeth are pearly white. He actually gives a commercial for a cigarette company himself right on the talk show- unlike the commercial cuts that happen today- and his last sentence comes straight from the law of attraction- “pay the rich because we like to pay them.” Meanwhile, Dali is sporting and Evolianism: he only cares about himself- a solipsist. He mentions his girlfriend who he tried to win over- taking very unusual and eccentric steps to winning her over- absolute freedom. Finally, he actually mentions how the fifties are a Freudian age and how he is the only surrealist left and surrealism coming from its height a decade ago has collapsed into a mere nonentity- the oscillatory relationship.
So, Dali is the Evolian, and the talk show host is a law of attraction person. Atkinson treats Evola with suspicion and Evola treats Atkinson with suspicion. And this really goes on into the 21st century. Atkinson has control over the West, and Evola has some degree of control over the East- Evola treats Atkinson with suspicion and Atkinson treats Evola with suspicion. No one really tries to assume a philosophical role anymore with the continuing unfolding into reductionism. What was once obvious to the public has now become lost. What the public today often overlooks is that the four fundamental metaphysical principles layed down by Evola are in fact the basis behind that kind of eccentric mode of behavior found in so many southern Europeans throughout the 1900s. Many adopt a more watered down version of Evolianism than Dali. I will provide a link to the interview below.
Salvador Dali Interview with Mike Wallace (1958)
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