Friday, January 27, 2006

Questions of the week : 1-27

Things I'm thinking about this week:

Why is there no philosophy of pop music? If we all have desert island disk lists, and most of us consume mass quantities of song and music news, why is there no serious critique of it?

Why are there so few Renaissance people? Why has our culture become so specialized or compartmentalized that people cannot be talented or well-versed in more than one area? People who venture out of their realms are criticized or at least suspect.

Why doesn't Oprah understand that she is helping James Frey sell more books? Why is it so important for her to vent her anger in public? And if she is so angry, why does she keep giving him more publicity?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

1. Why is there no philosophy of pop music?

Pop music is empty drivel. "I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping". Not exactly deep no matter what you read into it. Of course that is old pop music. New pop music gets progressively worse. Beyonce, Britney, yeah they sing of the trials and tribulations of love. Love is one thing, singing about love is
quite trite. She loves you yeah yeah yeah. The Beatles created Pop Drivel and it has been replicated with less song writing skills for decades now.
Alas, if you want philosophy IN pop music, you'll have to settle for political unrest with
groups like Rage Against the Machine or U2. For philosophy OF pop music seek Zen, because
nothingness is all pop music is.

2. If we all have desert island disk lists, and most of us consume mass quantities of song and music news, why is there no serious critique of it?

Because critics are tone deaf and can't play. They are motivated by the almighty American Dollar. Unfortunately this is true of most musicians as well.
Money should be raised and bumper stickers should be issued -
"Bring back Joe Strummer from the grave."
He knew he couldn't sing or play but at least he had something to SAY.

3. Why are there so few Renaissance people?

The period ended in the early 1600's. They are mostly dead by now. The few spirits who have transcended the annals of time realize that the government,
science and society demands that there be No New Thought.
The Status Quo has crushed the free thinker's reality.
Renaissance type Reformers usually get a bullet in the head or laughed out of their respected fields because conventional guidelines were not followed to
the letter. A note to the few Renaissance people there are -
"Don't quit your day job".

4. Why has our culture become so specialized or compartmentalized that people cannot be talented or well-versed in more than one area?

This is so we don't get Worked to Death, like the Japanese do.
Besides, we don't make anything anymore, it's all services or software.
Our software edge won't last long, the only thing left is feeding on
ourselves in the healthcare industry. You have to be ultra specialized in the healthcare industry or you get sued. Nobody wants to get sued.

5. People who venture out of their realms are criticized or at least suspect.

"!!FREE THINKING ALERT!!" Back in line Missy, but first a DNA sample.

6. Why doesn't Oprah understand that she is helping James Frey sell more books?

Oprah is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. She does, however, have more money than God.

7. Why is it so important for her to vent her anger in public?

Ratings rule, must make more money than God. Without her rabble cheering her on, she does not know what to think.

8. And if she is so angry, why does she keep giving him more publicity?

Because she gets even more publicity. The dollars roll in.
We can all look at her in with her serene sincerity and say -
"How great thou art"

Me said...

If you would buy them, I would make these bumper stickers through Cafe Press.

"Bring back Joe Strummer from the grave."

Amen.