classical music and "elitism"

[Karl Henning]

... You're dealing with people (either young or old) that are stuck in their own narrow circuits of thinking ....

I cannot be the only one enjoying the irony here.

[Mirror Image]

You say that to me at a safe distance .. lucky you.

If I met you in person and you treated me the way you treat almost everyone on this forum, you'd be lucky I would even dignify you with a response. Continue holding your nose high, James.

[Mirror Image]

I cannot be the only one enjoying the irony here.

I'm certainly enjoying it!

[Mirror Image]

I've always surmised that after adolescence years (when leisure-time and peer bonding is at it's highest, save for retirement years) cultural intake shuts down because life stuff takes over .. so most folks who live busy lives, career, family .. can only absorb what is easily accessed (mainstream culture within a narrow window). It is only the few passionate ones that stay with something and put in the work and time that is required for a deeper experience. And not everyone can be interested in the same things .. so for me, it's music in a deep way .. for another person it's sports, or cars, or gardening, cooking, travelling etc.

Painting with an extremely broad brush again I see.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Painting with an extremely broad brush again I see.

Actually I have to agree with James on this point. There are loads of people who would like to explore the arts, music etc., but the demands of job, family and so forth effectively preclude it.

[Szykneij]

Actually I have to agree with James on this point. There are loads of people who would like to explore the arts, music etc., but the demands of job, family and so forth effectively preclude it.

I am in this situation. Fortunately for me, my degree in music earned when I was young and my current job in the field give me more opportunity than most to stay in touch with classical music, but my time is still limited due to family and job responsibilities, so I can't explore many things I'd really like to.

[Mirror Image]

You are very weak & soft-skinned if you hold grudges (or a score card) over a few exchanges on here that you deem in "poor treatment". I really think you need to get over the little things & grow up.

Karl, I think it's time for James Bingo!

[Karl Henning]

(* chortle *)

[Gurn Blanston]

You experienced that same sort-of thing out in the real world? Clearly you must ..

Unquestionably. My interest is history; how popular must that be? Music or otherwise...

[Gurn Blanston]

It's too bad that in your own case you are a 'douche'. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you really need to learn how to talk to people and get your nose out of the air. You're no better than anyone else, James.

ad hominem attacks aside, you should take into account what he is saying. I've seen elements of douchiness (neologism alert) from virtually every person posting in this thread right now, including myself. Beside the fact. It doesn't excuse anti-intellectualism from 'the masses'. Enough of that is bound to make the most gentle soul a douchebag.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Unquestionably. My interest is history; how popular must that be? Music or otherwise...

Which leads to a larger point. The issue isn't so much classical music and "elitism," as any kind of serious interest in anything that might get labeled as "intellectual." Could be classical music, or philosophy, or serious literature, or serious film, or [fill in the blank]. Anyone perceived as an intellectual in this society is by definition an oddball.

[Karl Henning]

Unquestionably. My interest is history; how popular must that be? Music or otherwise...

Then you can answer the burning question:  Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

[Mirror Image]

ad hominem attacks aside, you should take into account what he is saying. I've seen elements of douchiness (neologism alert) from virtually every person posting in this thread right now, including myself. Beside the fact. It doesn't excuse anti-intellectualism from 'the masses'. Enough of that is bound to make the most gentle soul a douchebag.

Wise man, Gurn. I will reconsider my approach to James and just leave him alone. It's just fun picking on him sometimes regardless whether I actually read his posts or not.

[Karl Henning]

Pffft

[Florestan]

Which leads to a larger point. The issue isn't so much classical music and "elitism," as any kind of serious interest in anything that might get labeled as "intellectual." Could be classical music, or philosophy, or serious literature, or serious film, or [fill in the blank]. Anyone perceived as an intellectual in this society is by definition an oddball.

Exactly. Ours may very well be the first ¨society¨ in history to promote, and to boast about doing so, mediocrity and the lowest common denominator as commendable and praiseworthy. This raises the question: why and how has ¨society¨ reached this low level? I have some answers but not willing to appear more of a douche than I am already, I shall keep silent about them. 

(I write ¨society¨ because only too often it is spoken about, and conceived of, as a being in its own right, a metaphysical person endowed with its own will, feeling and reason, different from, and larger than, the concrete, individual persons that live at a certain point in time and space --- while the exact opposite is true: society is nothing more, nor less, than both (1) the persons living together at a certain point in time and space, and (2) the complex and ever-changing, ever-evolving relationships between them.)

[Mirror Image]

From a safe distance of course, in person you wouldn't dare. But we understand, you must get bored living in your Mom's basement all the time.

Gurn, did you read this? A typical James response.

[Gurn Blanston]

Gurn, did you read this? A typical James response.

Certainly I did. You provoked him, he slapped you back. That post wasn't made out of the clear blue sky. I think I made it rather clear that douche-baggery is rather rampant on both sides here, wouldn't you agree?

[Gurn Blanston]

Then you can answer the burning question:  Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

What, WW I ??

[Gurn Blanston]

Which leads to a larger point. The issue isn't so much classical music and "elitism," as any kind of serious interest in anything that might get labeled as "intellectual." Could be classical music, or philosophy, or serious literature, or serious film, or [fill in the blank]. Anyone perceived as an intellectual in this society is by definition an oddball.

Certainly so. Which is why I, and others of like mind, tend to express ourselves here, rather than out in public, unless we are in a known Nerdist hangout, like the Pizza Shoppe over at The U., or the Game Room in Karl's basement... 

[Karl Henning]

... or the Game Room in Karl's basement... 

"The toniest 'Man-Cave' in the Commonwealth." ~ The Boston Phoenix