What an interesting article. Quite depressing really as it shows the state of our culture.
An interesting addition to the study would have been to have a ok to good violinist dressed in a tux. perform similar pieces and see if anyone noticed him . We judge things so much from what we perceive, not from the actual truth. As the article stated:
"YES, I SAW THE VIOLINIST," Jackie Hessian says, "but nothing about him struck me as much of anything."
She wanted something to be perceived as impressive. She didn't care if it was impressive.
I wonder what would have happened if a "nobody" had dressed up?
I saw this article in the print version of the Washington Post Magazine over Easter weekend. Quite fascinating, and rather sad. The main thing that struck me about the article is the same thing as a major message I noted in the movie Cars. We move too fast, so have no time to learn how to appreciate good things, or to take time for them even if we do know how to appreciate them. The article mentioned that all the children who went by tried to watch, but were hurried away by their parents. Perhaps they would have done this for any violinist, not just a world-class one, but I think it says something about what priorities humans have before they get caught up in the speed of the modern world. On a side note, the article is rather a departure from Gene Weingarten's usual writing, which is humor. He did an excellent job of putting together the article and wrote it beautifully.
V-dawg-- I really like that connection to Cars. You're exactly right.
Patchwork quilt: I like the idea of a control test, too. :-)
I find it fascinating how very many of the blogs I frequent have linked this article. Wittingshire--Worldmagblog--Brandywine books: they all did.
One Worldblog reader had a good point. You want your priorities in line; but keeping your commitments does also need to be a priority. Speaking as the one who bills failed appointments, this matters too.
But it does not, should not, have to be a choice between keeping your word and appreciating beauty. As Dr. Hake would say, we need to do _both_ better than the unbelievers. It does mean we need to run less late, as a general rule...at least I do... !
What an interesting article. Quite depressing really as it shows the state of our culture.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting addition to the study would have been to have a ok to good violinist dressed in a tux. perform similar pieces and see if anyone noticed him . We judge things so much from what we perceive, not from the actual truth. As the article stated:
"YES, I SAW THE VIOLINIST," Jackie Hessian says, "but nothing about him struck me as much of anything."
She wanted something to be perceived as impressive. She didn't care if it was impressive.
I wonder what would have happened if a "nobody" had dressed up?
I saw this article in the print version of the Washington Post Magazine over Easter weekend. Quite fascinating, and rather sad. The main thing that struck me about the article is the same thing as a major message I noted in the movie Cars. We move too fast, so have no time to learn how to appreciate good things, or to take time for them even if we do know how to appreciate them. The article mentioned that all the children who went by tried to watch, but were hurried away by their parents. Perhaps they would have done this for any violinist, not just a world-class one, but I think it says something about what priorities humans have before they get caught up in the speed of the modern world.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, the article is rather a departure from Gene Weingarten's usual writing, which is humor. He did an excellent job of putting together the article and wrote it beautifully.
V-dawg-- I really like that connection to Cars. You're exactly right.
ReplyDeletePatchwork quilt: I like the idea of a control test, too. :-)
I find it fascinating how very many of the blogs I frequent have linked this article. Wittingshire--Worldmagblog--Brandywine books: they all did.
One Worldblog reader had a good point. You want your priorities in line; but keeping your commitments does also need to be a priority. Speaking as the one who bills failed appointments, this matters too.
But it does not, should not, have to be a choice between keeping your word and appreciating beauty. As Dr. Hake would say, we need to do _both_ better than the unbelievers. It does mean we need to run less late, as a general rule...at least I do... !