166
PARTISAN REVIEW
of exceptional danger, feel their differences infinitely more than
their points of resemblance. What made us believe in Europe is,
above all, Christianity. But Christianity was something quite dif–
ferent.
It
was
in no degree a rational notion, something in the order
of a federalism:
it
was an identity of passions. But the idea of
federalism, which may very well have a political value, obviously
does not have a cultural value.
We are under the impression, or the illusion, that an American
culture is in process of creation; that a Soviet culture is in process
of creation; and that something called Europe (dying or not, that
is the whole question) still carries considerable weight.
The absence of a
past
might be considered, for America as well
as
for Russia, as a strength, in certain spheres. The demand that the
proletariat inherit the world, as it is making itself heard in Russia;
the absence of tradition in America, but also of cultural prejudices;
the fact that the latter is a civilization in which the land plays no
part-a civilization of towns and cities-are not negative realities.
But, in our time, when reproduction is gradually placing within the
possession of everyone an imaginary museum embracing the entire
world, the
perspectives
of
this
imaginary museum continue to be
imposed by Occidental Europe, that is, by France.
There is no reason why the plastic heritage of the world must
be envisaged in the form of a conflict of cultures.
I have said that, since 1940, an Atlantic culture was in forma–
tion. But I do not believe that this culture is fundamentally Ameri–
can. I believe, even, that certain of its values will not be American
at all, in the sense that we speak of American values nowadays. I
believe that if a Communist culture were established in Europe, a
certain number of its values would not be Russian; and that Rus–
sian music will make its weight felt in the Atlantic culture whatever
happens, just as the American
film
will make its weight felt in the
Communist culture, whatever happens.
We see a certain number of American values and Soviet values quite
clearly because they are new, but what are the European values, not
to be found among the others, which seem ta' you still to exist along–
side them?
