Comments on: Populism http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/ Adventures (in new music) with eighth blackbird Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:22:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Corey http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-861 Corey Thu, 24 May 2007 16:34:52 +0000 http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-861 Kirsten Dunst just needs someone to write interesting dialogue for her. Wourinen... no comment. American Idol is decadent and depraved, but the finalists definately have talent if not integrity. But it shouldn't be a struggle to "balance" pop culture and art; there should be continual interplay between the two realms. Historically, art music has always drawn upon popular and folk forms and this generation should be no different. Well... maybe not with American Idol, but certainly with other musics that fall into the "popular" category (Radiohead, the Books, Bjork come to mind..). And they can't kill off Eddie and Venom before the fourth movie! He's the #1 Spiderman villian! OK. I'm done. Kirsten Dunst just needs someone to write interesting dialogue for her.

Wourinen… no comment.

American Idol is decadent and depraved, but the finalists definately have talent if not integrity.

But it shouldn’t be a struggle to “balance” pop culture and art; there should be continual interplay between the two realms. Historically, art music has always drawn upon popular and folk forms and this generation should be no different.
Well… maybe not with American Idol, but certainly with other musics that fall into the “popular” category (Radiohead, the Books, Bjork come to mind..).

And they can’t kill off Eddie and Venom before the fourth movie! He’s the #1 Spiderman villian!

OK. I’m done.

]]> By: Thomas Albert http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-859 Thomas Albert Mon, 21 May 2007 21:39:07 +0000 http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-859 I understand about loving pop culture and... not-pop culture. House and The Sopranos and ER are all good (as are 24, CSI, Bones, Law & Order -- all of them, Brothers & Sisters... I'm not so sure about Desperate Housewives, although we watch it, or The Office, which we don't). But American Idol? Have no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency? I understand about loving pop culture and… not-pop culture. House and The Sopranos and ER are all good (as are 24, CSI, Bones, Law & Order — all of them, Brothers & Sisters… I’m not so sure about Desperate Housewives, although we watch it, or The Office, which we don’t). But American Idol? Have no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

]]> By: Matt Albert http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-858 Matt Albert Mon, 21 May 2007 03:40:38 +0000 http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-858 Yes, Dad, it's true. I watch American Idol. Using the magic that is TiVo, I skip all the terrible group sings and staged Ford commercials, but yes, I still watch it. (And House, and Desperate Housewives, and The Sopranos, and ER, and The Office....) I guess I can't hide it from you anymore, so here goes: I'm a pop culture junkie. And a violinist in a post-classical chamber music group. It's a struggle to maintain this balance, but I have a strong support group here in Chicago. And now you know, so I can feel free to tell the whole world my opinions on both Charles Wuorinen's string sextet (exciting string writing, meandering pacing) and the tragedy that was Spider-Man 3 (Kirsten Dunst: officially done as an interesting actor). Whew. I feel so much better. Yes, Dad, it’s true. I watch American Idol. Using the magic that is TiVo, I skip all the terrible group sings and staged Ford commercials, but yes, I still watch it. (And House, and Desperate Housewives, and The Sopranos, and ER, and The Office….) I guess I can’t hide it from you anymore, so here goes:

I’m a pop culture junkie. And a violinist in a post-classical chamber music group. It’s a struggle to maintain this balance, but I have a strong support group here in Chicago. And now you know, so I can feel free to tell the whole world my opinions on both Charles Wuorinen’s string sextet (exciting string writing, meandering pacing) and the tragedy that was Spider-Man 3 (Kirsten Dunst: officially done as an interesting actor).

Whew. I feel so much better.

]]> By: Thomas Albert http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-856 Thomas Albert Fri, 18 May 2007 22:22:07 +0000 http://www.eighthblackbird.com/blog/2007/05/17/populism/#comment-856 Wait... in order to comment on "American Idol," you have to WATCH "American Idol." Surely that's not so. Tell me that's not so. The relationship between that show and actual art is the same as the relationship between cheerleading and dance. (Did that sound pompous and stuffy? I guess it did.) Excuse the reference to a truly awful "reality" TV program, your argument is nevertheless excellent, and one with which I am in total agreement. Wait… in order to comment on “American Idol,” you have to WATCH “American Idol.” Surely that’s not so. Tell me that’s not so. The relationship between that show and actual art is the same as the relationship between cheerleading and dance.

(Did that sound pompous and stuffy? I guess it did.)

Excuse the reference to a truly awful “reality” TV program, your argument is nevertheless excellent, and one with which I am in total agreement.

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