The life of Everett True as a postgraduate student
Thursday, April 30, 2009
self-awareness
Traditionally, music journalism is a dialogue between writer and reader - one cannot exist without the other. Does this mean that I am defined by my audience?
Or is your audience defined by you? In traditional media too, the dialogue was often notional. With new media that dialogue can literally become multiple conversations. Is that a good or a bad thing? Also, whilst presumably ones audience may be defined as having a distinct character, it is also inevitably going to be made up of a multitude of different characters thereby producing a definition that could be interpreted in whichever way you wanted it to be...
And yeah, totally, I agree with that traditional idea that the music journalist cannot exist without the reader. Its the same for any art. As soon is the art leaves the confines of the creator's 'onwership', it becomes part of a public dialogue. Regardless of the scale of that dialogue.
It's not just art or criticism it's true for either - you could say the same of any relationship, or any action. You're a husband, you're defined by your wife; you buy a pint of milk, you're defined by that too - at least for the person selling it. This is how society works, on the small scale end of things, at least. Didn't you once have a mantra, 'context is everything'?
But scale is the point, I suppose: that can warp things in wonderful and not so wonderful ways.
Or is your audience defined by you? In traditional media too, the dialogue was often notional. With new media that dialogue can literally become multiple conversations. Is that a good or a bad thing? Also, whilst presumably ones audience may be defined as having a distinct character, it is also inevitably going to be made up of a multitude of different characters thereby producing a definition that could be interpreted in whichever way you wanted it to be...
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, totally, I agree with that traditional idea that the music journalist cannot exist without the reader. Its the same for any art. As soon is the art leaves the confines of the creator's 'onwership', it becomes part of a public dialogue. Regardless of the scale of that dialogue.
It's not just art or criticism it's true for either - you could say the same of any relationship, or any action. You're a husband, you're defined by your wife; you buy a pint of milk, you're defined by that too - at least for the person selling it. This is how society works, on the small scale end of things, at least. Didn't you once have a mantra, 'context is everything'?
ReplyDeleteBut scale is the point, I suppose: that can warp things in wonderful and not so wonderful ways.
Chris, the moment I read that, I started a band called Defined By Milk.
ReplyDeleteYou're the bass player, by the way.