Re: [microsound] Is microsound "hip"?

[James Harkins <jamshark70@xxxxxxxxx>]

Folks,

I've been reading this thread with some bemusement, for a couple of reasons:

1. There's a great deal of sophistication here about the linkages 
between political, economic, social and pop-cultural mechanisms, in a 
sort of academic, left wing, oppositional mode. That's fine, and I'm 
generally sympathetic. What bothers me about this sort of criticism 
is what sometimes seems like a blind faith in reason, or at least 
faith in the idea that more and more thinking, and more and more 
complicated ideas, will solve the problems of the world. (If this 
isn't the underlying idea, then why bother with any of it?) I often 
wonder how much more knowledge the world needs, when there's so 
little wisdom to be found.

How much avant-garde music is reflecting wisdom, and how much is 
reflecting knowledge for the sake of knowledge? I can intuit the 
difference when I hear it, and I can tell you, I'm desperately bored 
by the latter.

2. The aesthetics of failure ... showing the limits of these 
supposedly omnipotent machines has its value, sure. But I've often 
wondered why so much of the avant-garde seems fixated on aesthetics 
of deconstruction/destruction. Isn't there enough destruction in the 
world? What if the emphasis were, instead, on building up, and 
offering a brighter vision for the world?

Lately I've come to believe that if my music is not creating a 
healing space, then I'm wasting my time and I might as well drive a 
bus. Further, if I hear music by others that is not healing, then I 
feel like my time is being wasted. I simply haven't time anymore to 
listen to musical curiosities.

Healing need not be "mainstream" -- I'm reminded of a gig by Bernhard 
Gunter in Chapel Hill a few years ago. After about 90 minutes of his 
soundscapes, it felt like a Zen meditation hall in there. That's one 
way of healing! A deep, deep smooth House beat is another. There's no 
limit.

So, where Scott put it this way:

>  We will all be dead soon enough, so who really gives a Folks,

I've been reading this thread with some bemusement, for a couple of reasons:

1. There's a great deal of sophistication here about the linkages 
between political, economic, social and pop-cultural mechanisms, in a 
sort of academic, left wing, oppositional mode. That's fine, and I'm 
generally sympathetic. What bothers me about this sort of criticism 
is what sometimes seems like a blind faith in reason, or at least 
faith in the idea that more and more thinking, and more and more 
complicated ideas, will solve the problems of the world. (If this 
isn't the underlying idea, then why bother with any of it?) I often 
wonder how much more knowledge the world needs, when there's so 
little wisdom to be found.

How much avant-garde music is reflecting wisdom, and how much is 
reflecting knowledge for the sake of knowledge? I can intuit the 
difference when I hear it, and I can tell you, I'm desperately bored 
by the latter.

2. The aesthetics of failure ... showing the limits of these 
supposedly omnipotent machines has its value, sure. But I've often 
wondered why so much of the avant-garde seems fixated on aesthetics 
of deconstruction/destruction. Isn't there enough destruction in the 
world? What if the emphasis were, instead, on building up, and 
offering a brighter vision for the world?

Lately I've come to believe that if my music is not creating a 
healing space, then I'm wasting my time and I might as well drive a 
bus. Further, if I hear music by others that is not healing, then I 
feel like my time is being wasted. I simply haven't time anymore to 
listen to musical curiosities.

Healing need not be "mainstream" -- I'm reminded of a gig by Bernhard 
Gunter in Chapel Hill a few years ago. After about 90 minutes of his 
soundscapes, it felt like a Zen meditation hall in there. That's one 
way of healing! A deep, deep smooth House beat is another. There's no 
limit.

So, where Scott put it this way:

>  We will all be dead soon enough, so who really gives a fuck?

I would say, we'll all be dead soon enough, so whatever you do, make 
it really count.

I'm on vacation until Monday. I'll try to catch up via the archives then.

James ?

I would say, we'll all be dead soon enough, so whatever you do, make 
it really count.

I'm on vacation until Monday. I'll try to catch up via the archives then.

James
--
 ______                         | "To be thoroughly lazy is a tough
 \    /  H. James Harkins       |  job, but somebody has to do it.
  \  /   jamshark70@xxxxxxxxx   |  Industrious people build industry.
   \/                           |  Lazy people build civilization."
                                |                -- Kazuaki Tanahashi

                  http://www.duke.edu/~jharkins

"Never does hatred cease by hating in return; only through love
can hatred come to an end. Victory breeds hatred; the conquered
dwell in sorrow and resentment. They who give up all thought of
victory or defeat may be calm and live happily at peace."
                                                  -- Dhammapada