I think if nothing else, everytime I learn about a revolutionary artist, I think: “Wow, what balls on that guy.” It’s not easy being the laughing stock of an entire group of people, and I commend Cage for his courage to do it, with a smile on his face no less. I think especially because, to my understanding, classical music culture is harsh. It’s all very much about rules and regulations and doing everything by the book, so I imagine some of the people who saw Cage’s very first performances were more than a little peeved. However I do think what he did was amazing, and classical music is definitely a field that could use a little cheering up.
I also respect how he did all of this as a very “starving artist,” and a gay one as well. I know that the 1950s thereabouts sucked for a lot of minorities, including gay people, so I give him double points for putting himself that much in the spotlight.
I think in terms of modern music, I do think he had something going on with the way he overlaid music on top of eachother (looking at the way that a lot of music does that now). And likewise, he did remind people to stop and smell the flowers, so to speak. I personally try to pay attention to small details anyway, but I think the way Cage asks us to pause and consider even the most minute of noises as “music,” and therefore “art,” has done a world of good for many people. That does beg the question, again, what is art, but the philosophical debate on aesthetics isn’t something that I care to get into for this response. I think shortly that yes, the sounds of the environment around you are art if you want them to be.
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