[MD] Churning Point?

[Platt Holden]

Hi Ant, 

> Platt asked February 10th:
> 
> You suggesting Robert Pirsig is a fan of Mick Jagger?
> 
> Ant McWatt comments:
> 
> Oh yes
 a big fan and of Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, Alice Cooper and Marilyn
> Manson too!  :-)
> 
> Seriously, Platt, I don’t really know Pirsig’s opinion about Mick Jagger et al
> but I think the issue highlighted by the quote (that Arlo pointed out) from LILA
> about the cruise ship singer following the static safety of cover versions
> rather than Dynamically risking original songs is the important one here.
> 
> Sometimes a cover version of a classic can be nice to listen to but if 
> that’s all people ever performed or listened to then music would never 
> develop and eventually stagnate.
 
While there have been technical developments in the production of art, e.g.,   
the invention of the violin and oil paints, there has been no "progress" in the 
arts. No paintings have surpassed the drawings in the caves of Lascaux, no 
songs have greater quality than the compositions of Mozart. You can be 
"creative" by  gimmicking around with pots and pans, throwing  dung at a 
canvas, and adding  purple lasers to a stage performance, but the quality of 
art will be unaffected. They don't call better works of art "classics" for 
nothing. In fact, one of the tests of quality in art is the test of time. The 
popularity of Andrea Bocelli is a hopeful sign that days of rock n' roll and 
its various spin offs are numbered, much to your disappointment I'm sure. :-)

Best regards,
Platt