[Metatuning] Soul and Cumpulsion

Something on the MMM list reminded me of a phenomenon that I find
fascinating. I am usually very wrapped up in formalism and examination
of the craftsmanship side of music, and art in general, so it's always
a little thrilling to be reminded that there is something else that
can never be pinned down.

Every once in a while I will come across something that, in any
criteria I can define, is bad. Bad writing, bad composition, bad
organization, etcetera. But somehow, it is good. I'm often confused by
the dissonance of feeling that there is no reason for me to like
something, yet find it utterly compelling.

I don't know if this is the elusive "soul" that I've spent much of my
(all too short) life looking for. In the case of at least one piece,
"The Human Equation" by a group called "Ayreon", my initial assessment
included "soulless" among its negative points. But it's still
compelling to me, and I doubt it would be compelling in the same way
to many other people, but that's the nature of art.

I think this compelling quality is something completely
extra-critical, not something that can be talked about or even
described. It leaves me at a loss, though, because my friends are
often very harshly critical, inclined to pick apart anything they see
and pass judgment on it. I do it too, and it's hard to explain why I
would watch a movie, or listen to an album, that I know is offensive,
poorly executed, pandering, or a whole host of other things.

--TRISTAN
Dreaming of Eden is a Comic with no Pictures
http://dreamingofeden.smackjeeves.com

yes art does not have to make sense or explainable and can work for reasons besides even the artist's intention.
very few people could even stand an hour with Van Gogh.

Rozencrantz the Sane wrote:
>
> Every once in a while I will come across something that, in any
> criteria I can define, is bad. Bad writing, bad composition, bad
> organization, etcetera. But somehow, it is good. I'm often confused by
> the dissonance of feeling that there is no reason for me to like
> something, yet find it utterly compelling.
>
>
>
>
>
> -- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/index.html>
The Wandering Medicine Show
KXLU <http://www.kxlu.com/main/index.asp> 88.9 FM Wed 8-9 pm Los Angeles

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Rozencrantz the Sane"
<rozencrantz@...> wrote:
>
> Something on the MMM list reminded me of a phenomenon that I find
> fascinating. I am usually very wrapped up in formalism and
examination
> of the craftsmanship side of music, and art in general, so it's
always
> a little thrilling to be reminded that there is something else that
> can never be pinned down.
>
> Every once in a while I will come across something that, in any
> criteria I can define, is bad. Bad writing, bad composition, bad
> organization, etcetera. But somehow, it is good. I'm often confused
by
> the dissonance of feeling that there is no reason for me to like
> something, yet find it utterly compelling.

http://www.museumofbadart.org/