metascrawl - Posted - 03/12/2012:  14:11:07

We live in a mediated world. I've learned to play banjo entirely from videos, audio recordings and books. I've never actually met another clawhammer player. If it wasn't for this moment of modernity in which we find ourselves, I'd never have learned to play old time music.

On the other hand, I do believe something has been lost in the process - not humanity but a version of humanity which can never be recovered. But it's the fact that it's disappearing that means we can recognise and appreciate it. Walter Benjamin says the same thing about the tradition of oral storytelling:

"Viewed from a certain distance, the great, simple outlines which define the storyteller stand out in him, or rather, they become visible in him, just as a rock or a human head or an animal’s body may appear to an observer at the proper distance or angle of vision."

metascrawl - Posted - 03/12/2012:  14:19:24

Oh man, I really do come across as a grad student geek don't I?

Bart McNeil - Posted - 03/12/2012:  16:41:16

I suggest you go into any mall musical instrument shop.... You will be hard pressed to find more than a couple of banjos of any kind. The nearest shop to me having decent professional and amateur level instruments, banjo incuded, is 50 miles. In the two nearest mall instrument shops near me there was one or two low level banjos in the shop. The walls were covered with cheap electric guitars..... Nothing wrong with those, but common interest in bangos is close to nil at least among young people in central NY State.

I have noticed, at least among my aquaintences, that an actual piano is quite rare in most households Yet a whole wall may be taken up with television and video stuff, I think that reflects common cultural values and a propensity toward canned entertainment as opposed to learning to play an instrument and enjoying it.

The world isn't close to coming to an end, but I don't see the evidence for a resurgence of interest in learning to play an instrument. It is too easy not to learn to play an instrument with all that passive electronic entertainment stuff sitting around.

We gave up television for that reason... So we could devote ourselves to self-generated learning and musical skills, which would be close to impossible for me it I had the temptation of the tube.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 03/12/2012:  19:06:30

quote:

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Originally posted by metascrawl

Oh man, I really do come across as a grad student geek don't I?

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Maybe so ... But I for one appreciate the intelligence in your post!

Bart McNeil - Posted - 03/13/2012:  07:03:09

The world needs more overeducated grad student geeks. Just look in any newspaper and you'll find all sorts of job opportunities for grad student geeks.

Welcome, by the way.

If being a grad student geek wasn't enough,,, now we have a banjo playing grad student geek.

metascrawl - Posted - 03/13/2012:  14:47:23

quote:

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Originally posted by Bart McNeil

If being a grad student geek wasn't enough,,, now we have a banjo playing grad student geek.

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I work in a bookshop too. I may as well grow a chin beard and move to Portland.

@Marc Nerenberg Thank you Marc that's very kind of you to say.

Edited by - metascrawl on 03/13/2012 14:51:59