Entertainment For Lively Minds
'United We Fall' Article and Podcast Interview.
No discredit to the author, but I just couldn't get to grips with his argument.
As far as I understand, he suggests he is annoyed that popular things are popular. He doesn't like the way that the media is 'relentlessly positive' towards certain things because he doesn't like or understand them.
Is this frustration just particular to those working within the media industry? My parents (admittedly older, being in their late-40s) are quite the opposite. I talked to them about the article last night. They have never heard of The Gossip, Mighty Boosh, Bestival, Rihanna or Lady Gaga. They don't know what T in the Park is. The same with Bestival (although they guessed). They don't care about pop culture so live happily devoid of it.
My point is this. For those of us who do immerse ourselves in popular culture, shouldn't we expect to continuously come across things that are - well - popular? Isn't it logical that mainstream media outlets have and will continue to deliver whatever makes the most money? It's not as if we have to pay attention to it.
The programme notable from its absence in the list of examples was The Wire. From my viewpoint, it's been given more relentlessly-positive press coverage than anything else mentioned in the article. Or is that OK because it appeals to our demographic?
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Total non-immersion
There are lots of people (possibly a vast majority), who take only a passing interest in things like concerts, films, TV, books, art and music. They may enjoy them once in a while, but this is where the interest ends.
Inwardly, I was spluttering with incredulity when an intelligent colleague in her 50s could not name a single Beatles song, or even *place* exactly who/what they were.
I hasten to say that this does not make me think any less of her because I am the same when it comes to cars. A friend is constantly pointing out models of cars and educating me about why one car is better than another, but he knows he is ultimately wasting his breath. Maybe he is just as flummoxed by my ignorance as I am about someone's total ignorance of the Hey Jude hitmakers.
I think that might be an extreme, but in mixing with people I find that many take in what is offered and have no interest at all in where it came from and why.
Uma Thurman
Not quite the Beatles but I have a friend, intelligent, late 40s, family, normal in everyway, but had never heard of Uma Thurman! How can this happen? Just illustrates how somethings/people can totally bypass an individual's cultural radar.
Rob.........
...it makes no sense - just because you don't like The Mighty Boosh doesn't mean the world's gone mad. Don't forget, as well - you like Paulo Nutini - for me, that's more of a worry.
The Gossip, Mighty Boosh, Bestival, Rihanna or Lady Gaga...
I've heard of them but have never heard anything by any of them - nor know anything about Bestival other than seeing it advertised in the media.
Modern pop culture just isn't the same as 'proper' pop culture :-)
Isle of Wight Festival
A perfect example of the blandness of modern day pop culture. I flicked through the ITV2 coverage in the vain hope of seeing any bit of decent live music but it was absolutely dire.
Landfill Indie/Chart band cross over I couldn't tell the difference, kids today are easily pleased aren't they?
And why do they insist on roping in such talentless imbeciles such as Ferne Cotton and Rufus Hound to present the coverage - were Jo Whiley and Vernon Kay too expensive?
One of the most shocking sentences I have ever heard uttered on TV that had me knocking beer over in the attempt to reach the remote control - brace yourselves - Ferne Cotton turns to camera and says "now Stereophonics are seriously ripping up the main stage"...
Didn't you know they did a bit of scaffolding work
on the side? Stereophonic Scaffolding - you see the trucks all over South Wales.
I can only assume that they had the contract for the IOW stage and, perhaps, hadn't been paid so decided to rip it up?
I was struck by two thoughts
Where the hell is he reading all these articles about Alexa Chung?
And if everything is relentlessly positive with no dissenting voice then he must have access to a different internet than the rest of us.
In fairness, women's mags
are full of Alexa Chung. I only read two (Vogue and Harpers) and they have both carried long articles about her over the last two months.
Diluted Corrs
I caught a bit of IOW festival too - it was bloody awful. Sharon Corr singing Corrs songs without the rest of the family. Are they on a bloody economy drive or what? Do they take it in turns to go out?
Getting back to the point of the thread - a life without any culture be it Music,Film,Books,Food,Football,Travel is not a life I am interested in living. I always find that the people who are most interesting to me are the people who share my passion for such things - they dont have to like the same books, the same bands etc I am happy to share time with them for just being passionate about life.