Comments on: I am as free as Nature first made man/Ere the base laws of servitude began/When wild in woods the noble savage ran/Before all those missionaries showed up and started trashing things, Science curse them! http://www.timberglund.com/blog/archives/627 See what large letters I use as I write to you in my own hand. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:53:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: John http://www.timberglund.com/blog/archives/627#comment-9243 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:33:25 +0000 http://www.timberglund.com/blog/archives/627#comment-9243 Tim, Thanks for the link to the Glenn and Helen Show. Mischa had some interesting observations; I may want to read his novel sometime. John Tim,
Thanks for the link to the Glenn and Helen Show. Mischa had some interesting observations; I may want to read his novel sometime.
John

]]> by: Randy http://www.timberglund.com/blog/archives/627#comment-9218 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 05:38:29 +0000 http://www.timberglund.com/blog/archives/627#comment-9218 Tim, First encountered you on the IOF started by Phil Estes. Found the link from Phil Jr's site and really enjoyed looking through the contemp. music discussion. As to form/content I assume you have read Neil Postman "Amusing..." I took it as an outstanding read, very aware of the reality of entertainment and music for that matter. I plan to read Meyers in prep for some class units I have to teach. I use also Allen Bloom's chapter on music form his "Closing..." If you've not seen that it is well worth the read. I try to approach this in an intro. to phil. class I teach b/c I think we underestimate music as a force, deciding it is good if it is 'good for me'. Still working at how to do it better. I draw a bit from Plato (essentially, 'give me the music and I'll control the culture' and other helpful observations), but I really struggle to thread through some of the stuff that arose in this discussion. I believe rock has largely contributed to the demise of our culture and that , if that is true, we can't ignore that fact and glibly borrow the form with 'worship' words attached. The "...mom" writer makes a great observation there near the end. "Music matters...then, well, maybe it doesn't, it's the words." I try to work from the idea that if music is NOT amoral we have got to make some judgments. Seems like when college students abandon that mantra ('amorality') then we can get somewhere. Until then, hard to make any headway. Well, this is a rambling comment, but would be happy for some synopsis ideas on how to deal with the question. My objective is to show that music is indeed not amoral, that it is soul-forming and thus hugely important (esp. in light of its ubiquitous presence) and that therefore we need to find some points of reference that transcend personal opinion, beginning by assuming that such points actually exist in the world that is. I'm sure Meyers will help me, but would welcome pointers from you. I like your writing -- glad I finally got over to check it out. Stop by the IOF again -- save some of us (read ME) from the threat of hubris. (OF course right now no one is saying anything, which is too much the case most of the time.) Blessings, Randy BTW, the early opposing commenter took strong issue with Meyers. THis sounds pro. hom. I know, but seems like his personal credentials give him credibility from the start (Mars Hill, etc.) I was puzzled at how she dismissed him. And her example of unclear thinking by him sounded fine to me. Guess I was missing something. Tim,
First encountered you on the IOF started by Phil Estes. Found the link from Phil Jr’s site and really enjoyed looking through the contemp. music discussion. As to form/content I assume you have read Neil Postman “Amusing…” I took it as an outstanding read, very aware of the reality of entertainment and music for that matter. I plan to read Meyers in prep for some class units I have to teach. I use also Allen Bloom’s chapter on music form his “Closing…” If you’ve not seen that it is well worth the read.
I try to approach this in an intro. to phil. class I teach b/c I think we underestimate music as a force, deciding it is good if it is ‘good for me’. Still working at how to do it better. I draw a bit from Plato (essentially, ‘give me the music and I’ll control the culture’ and other helpful observations), but I really struggle to thread through some of the stuff that arose in this discussion. I believe rock has largely contributed to the demise of our culture and that , if that is true, we can’t ignore that fact and glibly borrow the form with ‘worship’ words attached. The “…mom” writer makes a great observation there near the end. “Music matters…then, well, maybe it doesn’t, it’s the words.” I try to work from the idea that if music is NOT amoral we have got to make some judgments. Seems like when college students abandon that mantra (’amorality’) then we can get somewhere. Until then, hard to make any headway.

Well, this is a rambling comment, but would be happy for some synopsis ideas on how to deal with the question. My objective is to show that music is indeed not amoral, that it is soul-forming and thus hugely important (esp. in light of its ubiquitous presence) and that therefore we need to find some points of reference that transcend personal opinion, beginning by assuming that such points actually exist in the world that is. I’m sure Meyers will help me, but would welcome pointers from you.

I like your writing — glad I finally got over to check it out. Stop by the IOF again — save some of us (read ME) from the threat of hubris. (OF course right now no one is saying anything, which is too much the case most of the time.)

Blessings,
Randy

BTW, the early opposing commenter took strong issue with Meyers. THis sounds pro. hom. I know, but seems like his personal credentials give him credibility from the start (Mars Hill, etc.) I was puzzled at how she dismissed him. And her example of unclear thinking by him sounded fine to me. Guess I was missing something.

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