Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlatan
You don't have to like it but you do have to appreciate what they did.
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Well, said, Charlatan, and this is really the heart of the matter. Each of us are different and we all have our own tastes and curiosities. And most importantly, those tastes and curiosities change over time. I definitely don't read the same literature I read when I was in college, and I don't listen to the same music, either. And out of all the possible genres there are out there, there are tons of them that I truly despise. HOWEVER, I still appreciate them. Even for the music I hate, I know what makes it tick and what drives it and inspires it, and I appreciate it. I just might not like it.
And I don't confuse the two. All of us should be able to hate a style of music without feeling the obligation to trash it. The "I hate it, therefore it sucks" argument is extremely juvenile and ego-centric, and much more at home on ebaum.
I think one of the most interesting aspects of my music appreciation classes is the trend I've noticed whereby students lock in their personal prejudices with music. For example, students who are uncomfortable around country white people tend to hate country music, mostly because they associate the type of person to the type of music, rather than a subjective listening to the actual music. Equally so, students who are uncomfortable around wannabe thugs and gangstas tend to hate rap and hip hop as well. I'm convinced their hatred of the music is based on their feelings toward the people they associate with the music rather than the actual music itself.
I always cherish that rare student who is confident enough in their own curiosity and courage to be tolerant and accepting of musical styles that go against their own personal lifestyle.