Re: [microsound] Ars Electronica

[Chris Parsons <cparse@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> Ars Electronica is also one of the places where the big-names of the Digital
> Music scene come to claim their crown. The "buzz" in the music world is that
> time has run out for glitch and minimalism, and the "next big thing" is surely
> on the horizon. One wonders how long process, content and concept in music
> creation can really hold out against the trend-driven market machine that
> sinks 
> its roots into the underground at every turn, and --of course, and with
> shallow, giddy breaths-- what that "next big thing" will be.

> What does Ars Electronica, arch-bishop of the electro-avant-garde, say about
> this publically?

Was this post a press release? It seems like a bit of a strech to cast
Ars Electronica as the "Oscars night" of new electronic music.

Ars Electronica is a very well-funded festival, with corporate sponsorship
from the likes of Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, Siemens, etc.
That guarantees it is a large well-organized event, but it does not
guarantee that it is necessarily in tune with the latest + most important
creative developments.

There are numerous other similar festivals: Transmediale in Berlin,
DEAF in Rotterdam, Impakt in Utrecht, Lovebytes in Sheffield, etc.
You're probably more likely to hear/see really innovative work at any of
these.

Don't mean to imply anything negative about Ars Electronica,
of course it is a great festival. ...it's just, the phrase "arch-bishop of
the electro-avant-garde" seems a bit over the top to me.

I suppose, money talks. And it's saying what people want to hear...

Chris