Just to get us started on something new, I thought I'd share a really interesting piece I read by the great rock critic Robert Christgua. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think.
For the Barnes & Noble Review’s Rock & Roll & column in its entirety, check out this link.
12 comments:
Yay!
Now I have something new to read when I go there (probably today) to sit and read for hours.
Yes, that is seriously something I do to pass the time. Go to B&N and read.
Interesting article I believe that the bohemian spirit is dying especially in the U.S
Perhaps with the economy in the dumps some new ideas and conscious art will come out of it.
Unfortunately the neighborhoods which created the energy and shops and galleries have mostly become a place for the privileged .Or they have become corporate chains to sell and brainwash us to become all the same. The internet is the last place to find true ideas and free thought perhaps we will become a cyber Bohemia. I do think that the corporate media including music and art want to dumb us down. We really do live in a censored country why don't you see good art and hear powerful music anymore on the mainstream I believe this is done by design and has been in the works for a long time. You can find documents that verify this just start doing the research. George Orwell has an interview on you tube where he talks about how easy it would be to control the population without them knowing it.
Thank you for your blog
Looking for ward to some stories from your tour!
Mel
Nice choice in choosing a new topic ! Out of curiosity, have you read this book or did you just catch the review of it ? I am in the midst of reading this book right now.
It definitely provides a fresh insight...and intelligence to bohemia that is often overlooked. So many people today often categorize it the same way they did with "hippies" and think its merely a lifestyle and completely regard the culture behind it. Its a disapointment when people think bohemia is merely another style of fashion or a lifestlye subpar to the norm of the "typical" american society. While the true core of bohemia is long gone, I hope this book can re-inspire even just a fraction of what the culture really is about !
Whoa, heavy-duty reading assignment here, Professor Skol! Are you reading one of the books he is writing about? Or does this article interest you because of what's happening in New York City with so many artists being displaced due to outrageous, overpriced, criminal rents?
In my opinion the author is trapped in the very philosophical foundations and establishing an obligation: for you to be "X" you must have behavior "Y". The modern man is different from the man of yesterday and this is reflected throughout the society and cultural movement that lives.
Glad you all took an interest in this. While it does have the complexity of an academic reading assignment, it inspires a lot of thoughts. The great comments so far are strong evidence of this.
I was interested in this partially because I've had experiences which are somewhat Bohemian. Being young in the SF Bay metal scene, for example. And later, being surrounded by New York artists and musicians. But none of that was like the Bohemias of legend, such as Paris, London, and the Village.
Living in New York, you get a lingering sense of Bohemianism, but it often feels like something from a bygone area. When I go to Greenwhich Village and see the places Bob Dylan mentions in his book "Chronicles" (an incredible read), or that Joni Mitchel sings about in 'Tin Angel' ("In a Bleeker Street cafe, I found someone to love today"), it's like visiting a museum.
I think Bohemianism still exists today, but it is less concentrated than it used to be. There are artistic people all over who still have attitudes and lifestyles that can be considered 'Bohemian.' We have concentrated areas with relevant venues for music and art but most artists can't afford to live in these neighborhoods. It also much harder for someone to take their art from the local scene to national and international levels. There are many reasons for this: the economy, shorter attention spans, the downfall of the structure of the entertainment industry and more. All of these factors contribute to the lack of a new 'Bohemia' in the classic sense.
Oh do I feel stupid my last post I said George Orwell has an interview on you tube wrong!!!
I was thinking 1984 and Brave new world I meant Aldous Huxley!
What I was trying to get at is why this lack of culture or what one of the last posts said the changing new culture, the new Man is becoming and the forces or ideas behind it.You really can see the evolution of corporations and foundations and how they pick up any possible individual idea and manipulate them to fufill their goals. what are these goals? Is it just money ? Or is it a fully manipulated programmed dumbed down population. True free thought means truly questioning everything.
Our society has become so use to everything and everyone telling us how we should live , think , act
that we stop looking deep inside of ourselves and finding those answers within . The great artists of past spent a lot of time just being.
Amazingly enough, I was looking through the archives at work today and came across an issue of VANITY FAIR from last summer and happened upon an article that covers exactly the topic of discussion here on your blog. It's called "Last Call, Bohemia" and talks about what you mention in your follow-up comment. It's online: link.
Hi Alex-there is a great book you might want to pick up next time you darken B&N 's web door, its called the last american man ISBN-13: 9780142002834Pub. Date: 05/13/2003 its a great documentary about one mans dream to live on his own land, and sadly,it will remind you as to why we cant live the life we choose. Alex, if your ever in Thailand make sure you look up my brother, he is the master at professional bumsims, which he honed while living on the streets of Berkeley. My 17 year old daughter, keeps a phrase on her computer, "live the life you love, love the life you live"...Shes a Marley lover and a completely awesome, vegetarian~ and unabashed blue haired non conformist..where did she get that from? Alex--People listen to you, keep provoking !!
I have a different take on Bohemia. I believe we should stay tuned. I come from the perspective of the friends I have who have lost their jobs and people I know who have had their lives turned upside down from divorce. I think some people are starting to go back to what they love instead of what necessarily pays the bills because they see that nothing is set in stone, that happiness is important. I think the bohemian spirit is going to see a resurgence in a new way!
I'm not an expert by any means but it definitely an interesting read.
Glad you all enjoyed this. Dove, thanks so much for sharing that article, it does echo my thoughts exactly.
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