Ah, nothing I like better than a high-toned culture-discussion!

ST -- I actually agree with a lot of what you say. I'm finding the new world of digital creation and digital distribution very refreshing -- do it yourself, see how it goes! Stop complaining and start doing! Etc. Enough with the old whiney romanticism. I think we may differ a bit about a few things ... I don't see the old romanticism as inevitably linked with social-conscience weightiness, for example, though it certainly often is. And I think a lot of people really are attracted to the arts by the possibility of "doing their thing," whatever that is, and that strikes me as OK, even if it often results in whininess and self-pity, darn it. And I wonder if the FartMan is earning a living at it. Anyway, the thing that's great these days is that, whatever it is you want to do, you can not only do it but you can get it out there. The thing that still remains to be seen is whether an audience will go for it in sufficient numbers for you to make a living at it. Sigh, of course. But it's great in a general way, isn't it? It's so refreshing, and so much cheerier ... I notice a change in attitude with arty kids too. Do you? The post Gen Xers are rowdy, cheery, optimistic, non-whiney, full of (er) beans ... I worry a bit about whether they'l have the wherewithal to to deal with life's inevitable crashes and disaapointments, but then again who ever is ready for awfulness? But it's a generally great change. Have an idea? Go do it! I still think the whole "making money at it" thing hasn't been solved, though ... Not that there is a solution ... Just that making money on the web is a problem many outfits and people are still trying to make sense of ...

PLW -- Right! Tks. I think I remember listening to it decades ago, but I'm, er, making my way back through a lot of locoweed smoke to get to that memory. I should listen to it again, god knows, if I'm going to claim to be a real fart-humor fan. Buy a copy here. Here's a little info about it. It's obviously a classic that deserves much more scholarly attention than it has received so far ...

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on January 24, 2008 11:49 AM

The problem with all those people who want to "do their own thing" is that the vast majority of them are incredibly dull and uninteresting.

The fat guy is interesting for about 30 seconds... and that's it.

The GenXers do have their good and bad sides. They continue to want to outrage us with their "transgressions," with no apparent awareness that all of the sexual outrages that they flaunt are old hat. On the good side, they entered the office world demanding that jobs actually be fun and interesting.

The game of the hipsters versus the squares has been over for 30 years, although there is no shortage of people who want to pretend otherwise.

I have fun at my job. Somewhere along the way, I got the chip off my shoulder about doing what the boss tells me to do.

Myrna always told me: "You need to learn to be a good whore."

In general, she thought that was the problem with white kids... that they were incredibly spoiled brats who didn't realize the value and dignity of being a good whore.

I have fun at my job, and the artistic exercise has vastly (at least in my own opinion) improved my skills as a musician and artist. When I go to work in the morning, I'm getting out the crayons and the drawing paper and just playing. How can you beat that?

Posted by: Shouting Thomas on January 24, 2008 12:52 PM

I could have used some such advice from Myrna myself, like maybe 30 years ago ...

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on January 24, 2008 1:14 PM

If Dizzy Gillespie's Manteca isn't my favorite jazz song, it's in my top five.

I'm the ultimate whore - I have a job with the federal government. Luckily, I've found a niche job within this system where I am actually in direct control of 95% of my responibilities (even today, just thinking about what I've found will bring tears to my eyes!).

And, in my own humble opinion, pop culture has never been better, high brow hasn't been worse (at least since there's been high brow).

Posted by: Jeremiah on January 28, 2008 11:56 PM






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