[atlantaprog] Music: sex, sleep, eat, drink, dream

Hey all,

here's my contribution to at least part of this thread.  Here's a thought:
music is a commodity like everything else.  I know this will offend some.
We (hopefully) don't ever get real concerned about other people's sex
lives, what they eat, drink, or what position they sleep in, but we all
have a keen interest in what music other people listen to, even though it's
a highly personal thing. We all make choices all day long regarding things
we like whenever possible.  Should we be judged by these things?  Which
personal choices can we own as totally ours, and which ones are public
domain, open for scrutiny?

Music is very much a lot like food.  There are an infinite number of
flavors and textures out there and we gravitate to those we find most
pleasing. Not necessarily the healthiest and most nutritious, and not
always the same things every time, but always a personal choice.  We don't
really spend any serious time judging other people for what they eat (do
we?).  But, we do judge them for what they listen to. Not just here on
ARIA, but all of us universally, unfortunately.

Music is always constroversial any and every time it's brought up, no
matter who you bring it up to.  No one can totally agree on which music is
"good." Music is controversial because it stimulates, feeds and comforts
the intellect, senses, and emotions, and all at the same time.  It's
intensely personal.  The only other thing that can do that that I know of
is sex, unless there are new drugs out there that produce the same effect.
Sex is equally controversial for the exact same reasons - nobody is going
to agree on every point about what is "good" sex.  

Sex on disply in the form of porn or strip shows is a commodity and music
on display in the form of a recording or a live show is also a commodity.
That is what we are/were talking about here. Most of us here are musicians,
so playing/performing/creating music is not the aspect we're talking about,
just the commercial value of it.  But if you take the individual personal
value away, there is no commercial value either.  You can't have one
without the other.  Music has personal value to those who "consume" it, and
therefore it ends up with a monetary value.  You have to recognize that if
something is a commercial success, it does have a value to a bunch of
individuals.  It's about the individuals right to be unique as expressed by
choice, even though people do tend to form themselves into groups.

Food and sex as commodities are worth what people will pay for them.  Music
is the same. The commercial success of it is up to a bunch of individuals
who like it and are willing to pay.  Prostitution is the oldest business,
but never has it had much of a legal or moral sanction, or political
correctness. Music is a brand new commodity by comparison, and it seems to
me we are getting suckered into being far too opinionated and judgemental
over it than is good for anyone. We are creating an intellectual caste
system and alienating people.

Most of us here think of ourselves as open minded.  If we found out a close
friend or co-worker was gay, we probably would not mind.  We don't really
care what they do in their spare time.  We might not agree or whatever, but
it's really none of our concern.  Why are people's musical tastes up for
debate and judgement?  Are we insecure and in need affirmation and
agreement from those around us to make us feel more solid about our own
choices?  Maybe we need to have a Prog Pride parade.  If we found out a
close friend or co-worker listens to Justin Timberlake, we music-snobs tend
to lower our opinion of them, just because we don't agree.  Would we lower
our opinion of someone who is gay, or someone who chooses to have sex only
when chocolate syrup and whipped cream are involved? No, because we
recognize the right they have to be different from us. Sex is more
politically liberated than music is.

Music is a lot like food if you think about it.  You've got your healthy
fare and your veggies in the form of certain classical and jazz and jazz
fusion among others, (challenging stuff), you've got your basic bland white
bread stuff in typical pop music (no challenge), you've got your aggressive
and spicy hot stuff (music with adrenaline), you've got your junk food
sugar fix (punk/pop?), comfort foods (old familiar stuff? folk music?),
etc.  But the analogy does break down as someone else would define these
specifics different from me.  One person's junk food is another's daily
fare, etc.

Music is not a territory anyone has the right to claim as theirs.  There is
no "superior" verses "inferior," there are just differing tastes.   We've
all looked down on someone for liking Britney Spears or whoever at some
point, and there really is no justification for it, unless you consider
your own authority to be enough.  If so, what about someone elses authority
to do the same?  The standard is determined by each individual.  There
simply is no outside absolute standard for personal tastes, period. No
completely objective and superior example exists by which all things can be
compared.  Stupid trends come and go because they are market driven.  The
people supporting those trends don't feel stupid while doing so, as
everyone craves human dignity exactly the same.

Some of us here claim to be politically oriented toward the egalitarian
and/or democracy; equal human rights all 'round.  Why then are we acting
closed minded when it comes to things we don't personally approve of?  I
thought that was left behind in the Dark Ages.  Maybe the one thing we
have't worked out in our "enlightened" society is the right for all people
to be allowed to be equally as valid as everyone else.  I think arguments
over music illustrate this.  No, I don't like most pop music.  Some of it I
really do.  (We've been over that already.  Remember the discussions about
the worst bands of all time?) Do you look down on me for driving a shitty
car, or wearing the wrong clothes, or not eating Vegan?  You might look
down on me if I told you some of the shows I paid money to see or albums I
have owned in my lifetime.  I'm not implicating everyone on this email
thread, but I get the strong impression from some of you that you really
hate to be disagreed with.  

ARIA has lurkers in the background who don't chime in.  Are we giving them
something attractive to belong to, or something like an exclusive club for
snobs?  Again, with all due respect I am not implicating everyone, but if
ARIA is supposed to be a growing and supportive family, I think we should
be a lot more careful and respectful about ranting and airing personal
opinions publicly. People on soapboxes don't get a lot of respect.  Unless
we are in a coma, we all have very strong opinions and that in and of
itself does not make us special.  I wouldn't wear a t-shirt that said "fuck
off" on it in public even if I felt that way, because I would alienate more
people than I would attract.  Conversely, if someone likes music I hate, I
realize they like it for the same brain/mind/body stimulation as I like my
music.  Different music, same reasons, just like food and sex.  Can we be
non-judgemental?  Can we manage to differ without getting offended?  Do we
always have to have people "on our side" on things we feel strongly about?
No, the tuth is we don't have to have that.  We might want it to be that
way, but that only exists in a mythical place called Utopia.

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