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Re: [F_MINOR] O/T ... a misuse of music?
Actually, I read years ago that shopping malls in the US were using
classical music for the same reasons. I also seem to remember that there was
a lawsuit involving some black youths who claimed in their suit that the
tactic was racist and was a violation of their civil rights. For some
reason, I am thinking this happened in Buffalo, NY where I grew up. I have
no idea where the lawsuit went.
Everytime I go to a shopping mall and hear classical music in the
background, I wonder if this is to keep the "loitering" youths away. I agree
what a shame. I have been a devoted classical music lover since I was four
years old. I grew up on Glenn Gould. True story: I used to take one of his
LP's to Kindergarten with me every day - It was his recording of Beethoven
Sonatas 8, 14 and 23. Classical music has enriched my life beyond what words
can describe. It has given me a deeper appreciation of other art forms as
well, and taught me to be creative in a wide variety of areas in my life. I
can't think of a type of music that [unless it is that assinine White
Supremacist Rock music, like "Prussian Blue".] , when played quitely in the
background, would drive me away. I agree this is so sad. I wonder what is
says about our civilization....
Eric Cline
Group Leader in Charge of
Irrelevant Decisions
U.S Department of Silly Walks
Monty Python Division
e-mail: cheapchemist@netzero.net
-----Original Message-----
From: F_Minor [mailto:F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU]On Behalf Of pzumst
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 5:40 PM
To: F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU
Subject: Re: [F_MINOR] O/T ... a misuse of music?
G'day Kate
(First of all I'd like to apologize for adding some stuff to this
off-topic threat, but I find the subject quite interesting. I think
that current developments in music and technology and its use (online
stores, IPods and the recent post from Mary Jo about Sony's blocking
software etc) are quite fascinating ! What a shemae that GG, McLuhan and
Neil Postman did not live long enough to see this. They would have loved
to see these developments)
Anyway, here's a link to Kate's story from the almighty Auntie BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4437244.stm
(How about using Swiss Folk Music instead of Mozart ? Now THAT would be
a treat for the kids...
Pat
Switzerland
>May I apologise in advance for this thread being rather off-topic, but I
guess that some
>music-lovers might find it interesting....if in a rather sad way.
>We all know that GG's view of the purpose of art (including music!) was "
not the release of a
>momentary ejection of adrenaline, but rather the gradual lifelong
construction of a state of
>wonder and serenity." I also seem to remember , maybe aeons ago, a brief
discussion on F-Minor of
>his comments that the omnipresence of music in everyday life, (in shopping
malls, elevators,
>workplaces etc) , forced on the listener without his voluntary choice,
somehow devalued the whole
>experience of music. If my memory here is wrong, no doubt someone will tell
me!)
>Well, it seems that someone has now found a new purpose for such piped
public music.And it has
>nothing to do with wonder, serenity, or even inducing a feeling of
relaxation and positivity in
>public places.
>A couple of nights ago there was a news item on TV, about a chain of
supermarkets (I forget which)
>in South East England that had a problem with young people congregating in
its entrances in the
>evening, and upsetting other people. There was no suggestion or evidence
that any of the young
>people were breaking any law, or being threatening; but apparently other
potential shoppers felt
>"intimidated" by their behaviour and were avoiding the stores. But hey! The
store management
>thought up an ideal solution to drive the youngsters away, without any
verbal or physical
>nastiness. You've guessed it - they decided to play classical music over
loudspeakers in the store
>entrances, because they knew that young people would find this unpleasant
and intolerable and would
>vacate the area forthwith!
>And so it was. The ploy worked, the young people went away presumably to
meet up somewhere else.
>(They interviewed a couple of the young guys who admitted the music was
uncool and they didnt wasnt
>to hang around where they could hear it. Apparently one of the best
deterrents to youth was
>Mozart's 40th symphony , I forget what else drove them away.)
>The TV reporter presented this as if it was an amusing anecdote, but I felt
: What a sad story! I
>realise of course that everyone has their own favourite types of music, and
there is no reason why
>everyone should appreciate the classical type. But what kind of a society
is it which uses what are
>arguably some of the most beautiful creations of the human mind as a sort
of repellent to young
>people seen as 'undesirable"? I know that there are many youngsters who
appreciate classical music
>as well as other kinds. if thy are introduced to it in a positive way; but
what kind of message is
>it sending out to use music as a means of driving people away?
>I amgine that GG would find this sad too. What a negation of his idea that
music can induce a
>state of ecstasy! Even if, wryly, he might agree that Mozart was an ideal
deterrent.
>
>Kate (sorry if I am over-reacting!)
>
>
>
>
>"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds wake
>in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are
dangerous men, for they may
>act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. "
>T. E. Lawrence, "The Seven
>
>
>
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