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Boring is as boring does.
Hi all,
Call me weird, but I LOVE performance art, modern dance,
poetry readings, prerecorded electronic music concerts/
libraries, art museums, galleries and a whole range of other
experiences that many folk seem to think of as "boring" and
not especially "fun."
I also read about 40-60 books a year and hardly any of
them have pictures. I'm sorry, but this whole entertain-
me-'til-I-drop, coddle-my-ever-shortening-attention-span,
and for-heaven's-sake-make-me-feel-but-dont'-make-me-
think-about-much culture of ours is more B-O-R-I-N-G than
almost anything I can imagine.
The very thought of the fact that so much of what is
foisted upon us as "pop" culture is utter trash fills me
with revulsion. The idea that so many people are actually
out there watching those "reality" TV shows, American Idol
(who gives a frickin' flip anyway) Cops and Jerry Springer
type shows deeply disturbs me. And, as an American,
it fills me with shame, disgust and sorrow.
Pop culture is what passes for public discourse any
more. Is it any surprise that we get the politicians
and national public figures that we do as a result?
I enjoy a "good time" as much as the next person but
our entire media industry and mass culture (and public
policy) is being formed directed by folks that spent more
time in college passed-out drunk at frat parties than in
libraries. A steady stream of intellectual "pizza and
beer forever" is making us as mentally flabby as our
fast food is making us physically obese and inert.
Maybe I'm just a loopy old curmudgeon. But if I didn't
sometimes find myself succumbing to it as well I wouldn't
find it so scary. The stuff on TV and on the radio and
in the movie houses and in our playstation/gamecube/
whatevers IS scary. It frightens the shite outta me.
I know that as a performer, strictly in the sense of
visual entertainment "value," I am about as interesting
to watch as refrigerator mold. But, I don't mind. I don't
wanna go there. I don't cut the right figure for a "pop
star" or any sort of a "guitar hero" anyway. Some may
even find my music boring. So what. There's "meat" in
it enough for me.
A few days ago I was pretty "down" and wondering why
I put myself through all the torment and effort of making
this music at all. Max Valentino said it best in his reply.
He said that in some way we are ". . . beating back the
darkness just a bit . . ." by our efforts. That's what I hope
for at least.
What I fear the very most is a world where fewer and fewer
people are "beating back the darkness" and more and more
are simply "beating off."
Sincerely,
tEd ® kiLLiAn
ArsOcarina@aol.com
http://www.mp3s.com/tedkillian
http://www.pfmentum.com/flux.html
http://www.mp3.com/Ophelia_Pancake