And harmony returns to the bitstream ...
:-)
Louigi Verona wrote:
Man, this is EXACTLY what I am talking about.
Exactly!
On Sat, Sep 4, 2010 at 2:26 PM, david wrote:
Louigi Verona wrote:
I agree on a lot of what you say. I just believe that some
things are larger than what a person thinks of them. Being a
craftsman, having glory, even being aware of one's achievements
and getting a contract - I am absolutely not against those
things. I am just saying they should be in correct perspective.
I agree, keeping in mind that they're not mutually exclusive.
Today, I argue, many people put money and personality into too
much light.
Even in things that have no connection with art. Look at how many of
today's basketball players talk - you'd think that before they were
born, they'd given themselves their athletic abilities!
While a lot of those things should be kept personal, like
awareness of achievements, not be shown on TV in form of a show
where they show off houses and cars.
Or even a video channel that was founded to show music videos? (Yah,
I know, the real MTV died a long time ago!)
I think one should keep in mind that one use of the media is to tell
people, "Here is my work. Here is my renown." So if you're a
traveling musician and come into a town to play a concert, it's
certainly OK to be interviewed by the local radio station, maybe
play a few songs and sign some CDs at the local music store. One can
do all that without going overboard into ego and personality.
Well, easier for some than others! I can't quite picture Axl Rose or
Mick Jagger stuffing their egos and personalities into a sack before
going into the interview.
Here in Hawaii, we have a long tradition of Hawaiian music and chant
(not that tourist stuff!). At one place where I worked, there was an
older (70+) native Hawaiian man named Kawika whose job was to
distribute and pick up interoffice mail. Knew him for many years. He
was friendly, knew everyone in the large company, did his work,
never talked about himself.
One day someone else in the office asked if I'd heard that his song
had won a Hoku Award (Google it). I didn't even know he wrote music!
It turned out that he'd written many Hawaiian songs, and one he'd
written for his daughter that year had won the Hoku.
At the same place, for several years, the director of one of the
departments was Marlene Sai. I worked with her daily for two weeks
straight, documenting their department procedures, and never knew
this about her:
<http://www.hawaiianmusichistory.com/artists/marlene-sai.htm>
Another place where I worked, we had a part time worker, a native
Hawaiian man, who did messenger duties and light maintenance work at
various buildings the bank I worked for owned. Then someone asked if
I'd walked over to see his sculpture yet. He'd been commissioned to
make four Hawaiian sculptures in bronze for the lobby of a large new
high rise office building downtown! And had apparently been
sculpting for about 20 years. That was why he only worked part time!
He also didn't talk about himself or his sculpture.
Hawaiian culture is that way. You don't talk about your deeds, you
don't glorify yourself. You have glory when others talk about your
deeds. And you always have an attitude of gratitude for the
gifts/talents you have.
--
David
gnome(a)hawaii.rr.com
authenticity, honesty, community