The Uni-bummer Strikes Again
Posted by John
Matt, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to know where the songs come from, even though I myself do know, for the most part. I’m speaking now as a fan. Please don’t tell me anymore! I know, of course, that this will only encourage you to find interesting ways around my request… because you just want to give endlessly of yourself. I wrote you a note that explains what I mean… I was going to send it to you, but now I’ve decided to put it up here. I’m going to preface it with some thoughts about art.
For me, as for you, art, and music especially (the king of the arts, let’s face it) is mystical. It’s also something that evolves. Furthermore, it evolves in the mystical space between the creator and the listener/viewer. We always want to know more and more about the context of the creation around a great work of art, but the aesthetic experience is rarely (never?) enhanced by this knowledge. That’s because the aesthetic experience is a “pre-knowledge” experience. That’s why the best art always is said to “take us by surprise.” And at the point where we are just vampire-ishly sucking up information about the artist and “where the song comes from” (something frequently mysterious even to the creator) we have actually “lost the thread” and are merely tumbling down the well of hagiography. God, there’s a lot to say. Terms to define. But here’s the note. Everyone can hate me now:
Matt—
“May I strongly advise you against circumscribing peoples interpretation of your songs? I really, really want to warn you against it. People’s own takes are going to be very powerful, especially with a song like this [‘Dreams’]. I know that you especially want to explain this one, but I think that you risk emasculating the song by revealing so much around it, no matter how pretty these genesis images are.
I know that your experience is so strong and specific, but the song is super evocative. People will experience it as strong and stronger without your explanations. It’s probably too late now, but this seems like something that could come up again and again over time…”
I await the judgement of Brent.
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