Runaway Capitalism Murders Another Artist

[marmar]

from truthdig:


Runaway Capitalism Murders Another Artist
Posted on Nov 30, 2013


The resignation this month of Osmo Vanska from his decade-long role as director of the Minnesota Orchestra over salary disputes with the board spurred John Halle, director of studies in music theory and practice at Bard College, to argue at Jacobin that “the virtues of classical music are inherently hostile to (the) neoliberal mindset now dominant in all sectors of society.”

Hundreds of my own conversations with middle-class youths in classrooms, bars and cafes around the country—compared with conversations with members of elder generations—suggest that Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with distinctions of high and low forms of art, particularly with classical music. Halle points to a time when this was not so, and suggests that difference has to do with support ruling elites offered the arts in the past. In the 1930s, he writes, “while there was some competition from popular music … a clear division between high and low musical forms remained accepted across the board, with what was universally regarded as the precious legacy of concert music claimed and lavishly supported by both fascist and Soviet regimes alike.”

“What has emerged in recent years is the exact opposite,” he continues, and the abdication of economic control to mindless markets by states around the world, with the subsequent selfishness and inequality, is a primary cause. “On the one hand, government lavishes unprecedented economic and social privileges on its elites, taking an axe to programs benefitting those who fall behind. At the same time, the distinction between high and low artistic culture having been erased, the result has been a single standard for qualitative judgments derived from the commercial marketplace.”

It’s hard not to avoid making a connection, Halle writes. “The decline of musical literacy and the large-scale forms which they make possible, the increasing demand for immediately catchy tunes, striking sonorities and flamboyant stage presentations pairs with the impatience of the elites classes” in “the demand for investments to show an immediate short-turn return. Elites have long since jettisoned the expectation for steady growth embodied in the now retired Goldman-Sachs slogan, ‘long-term greedy,’ having come to accept and even embrace … ‘the erosion of the planning function, and any rationality beyond the most crudely instrumental.’ ” ........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/item/runaway_capitalism_murders_another_artist_20131130

[RKP5637]

1. “The decline of musical literacy ..." into Idiocracy. So much garbage today, and fools

cheering for the garbage.

[DonCoquixote]

2. Sad

The truth is, while the old oligarchs were awful (and let's be honest, they were) they at least felt accountable to somethiong, even if only because they did not want to go to Hell. Now, thanks to Ayn Rand, friedman, and others, raw greed and ruthless is not only seen as a virtue, but an end into itself, which means they will not need art, religion, or even emotion to justify themselves.

[Ilsa]

3. Lack of patience,

Imnediate gratification, not being able to stay focused for the long haul, ard all deficits which are ruining our culture in my opinion.

[nomorenomore08]

4. So classical music is the only "real" music? What about jazz? Is that "low art" too?

Whatever valid point the author may have had is obfuscated by his own apparent snobbishness.

[Iggo]

6. To people who believe there are high and low arts...

...yes, jazz would be considered a low art.

[xfundy]

9. Art is art.

There are always assholes who try to classify things like art, which should defy such. But there's perceived power and profit at stake. Pfffft.

But they keep getting away with it.

[nomorenomore08]

12. Anyone who would label Coltrane "low art" has their head so far up their ass it's a wonder

they can hear anything at all...

[Shemp Howard]

14. "Real" music is simply the music that you like.

I am under no obligation, moral or otherwise, to support music that I do not like. Just as I am under no obligation to support restaurants that serve food that I do not like.

And to build on what nomore mentioned, I am tired of music snobs telling me what is and what isn't good music.

I'd add more to this post, but now I'm going to listen to some classic Joan Baez.

[nomorenomore08]

15. Yeah, if you think The Beatles, Dylan, Leonard Cohen constitute "low art"

then I'm just gonna at you.

[WillyT]

5. K & R !!!

[johnp3907]

7. Runaway snobbery doen't do art any favors either.

[loli phabay]

8. okay i am confused, who was murdered?

[reACTIONary]

11. My question exactly!!! (nt)

[dawg]

16. Well, I think ...

Video Killed the Radio Star. Or something.

[LeftyMom]

10. Various forms of art always wax and wane in popularity, and class politics have always been involved

[MADem]

13. They need to start using classical music in kids' cartoons again.

I knew every major musical work by tune, if not by name, by the time I was five years old. I could hum many classical works from start to finish, and it was all down to cartoons.

Later, when I got older, I put the name of that tune with the artist, and it all clicked in my head.