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| From | "John L. Micek" <jlmicek@comcast.net> |
| Subject | Re: Magnet Magazine (wasRe: too much and or not enough |
| Date | Mon, 14 May 2007 15:22:25 -0400 |
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> --- Jaimie Vernon <bullseyecanada@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >People consume so much music the may not hear a song they've purchased
>> >even
>> >once - and as >long as they have an interesting mix when they shuffle
>> >up -
>> >they might not even know who the >are listening to half the time.
>
> As this talk about too much music (which I agree with 110%)
> reminded me of the back page article in the latest issue of
> Magnet magazine. I don't have it with me here, but he talks
> about how "art" has grown so much that there is such overkill.
> He touches on art, literature and TV. He makes the point
> that TV has grown to the point where there are more CSI
> shows than there were networks years ago.
>
I've weighed in on this before, but the whole premise that there's "too
much" art or too much music or too much literature or too much film is
absolutely inane.
Before I explain why, let me stipulate to one thing: I don't believe that
hardworking artists like Mike Carpenter, Adam Marsland, Bobby Sutliff (or
even li'l ole me) or label owners like Jamie Vernon, Bruce & Marlene from
NotLame, or Jim Huie from Paisley Pop should be fleeced or paid less than
what their product deserves.
And, yes, the "glut" of product probably pushes prices down, resulting in
less profit for everyone -- which isn't cool when you're trying to make a
living.
But, thinking about this from a purely intellectual or aesthetic level (and
I can't help but do that), everyone should be overjoyed that there's so much
art there to choose from. That means the palette is constantly being
expanded. It means that people are finding new ways of creating from the
ROYBGIV spectrum or the 12 notes in the scale. That only enriches the
culture as a whole. And, yes, I'm including "disposable" art such as
prime-time TV or teen-pop into this catch-all.
As I get older, I'm beginning to think that the distinctions between low art
and high art only exist so that people can feel superior to someone else. I
have just as much fun reading pulp detective fiction as I do James Joyce.
The idea that I'm somehow supposed to feel guilty about enjoying it, or,
alternately, enjoy it as long as it comes with an ironic wink and a nudge,
is, frankly, ridiculous.
And as for the whole, "Oh God, there's so much music, I can't possibly keep
track" crowd, I have one question for you: Is someone threatening to shoot
your dog if you don't fully load up you 180-gig hard drive with every scrap
of music out there?
Christ ... the same musical filters (ie: your own good sense) still exist,
and, presumably, you're vested with the same kind of free will to accept or
reject what you like and don't like. You're not helpless in the face of this
alleged "onslaught." You can choose to ignore it. No one will kick you out
of the cool kids' club if you do.
This thread is beginning to make my head hurt.
john micek.
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