Right on. Like a lot of things, poptimism overshot its original (defensible) target. Which, I think, is the correct view to have - pop music (and pop culture more generally) is worthy of being taken seriously and shouldn't be dismissed out of pocket. I was one of those kids that thought I was cooler than everyone else simply because I di…
Right on. Like a lot of things, poptimism overshot its original (defensible) target. Which, I think, is the correct view to have - pop music (and pop culture more generally) is worthy of being taken seriously and shouldn't be dismissed out of pocket. I was one of those kids that thought I was cooler than everyone else simply because I didn't like or listen to pop music. I wish I could go back and smack some sense into 14 year old me. That's what the original form of poptimism meant to me, to broaden my horizons and listen to stuff I ordinarily wouldn't touch.
Problem is, we've gotten there, and then several miles beyond the target. Now, it's pop culture is high art which deserves to be placed on a pedestal. Pop music needs to be important and about more than just the music, Pitchfork being a chief offender here. It's how a song which should have just been a club anthem is actually the song of the year, and an important statement in the raging culture war:
Not all music is high art. Not all music needs to be important. Not all pop music is good just because a lot of people listen to it. Find music you love, listen to that, keep an open mind, and you'll be good to go
If people took a truly poptimist attitude to music writing, as in to the writing itself, then we'd have to throw about 95% of the current stuff in the bin.
Sadly, most people are not educated on what should be indicative of “high” art or culture. I’m sure you know any genre can be cultivated in a way that it achieves sublime aesthetic properties and virtuosity, but I think the persistently malignant and myopic understanding of aesthetic appreciation we tend to see comes from a deeply entrenched notion of class status tied to culture.
Right on. Like a lot of things, poptimism overshot its original (defensible) target. Which, I think, is the correct view to have - pop music (and pop culture more generally) is worthy of being taken seriously and shouldn't be dismissed out of pocket. I was one of those kids that thought I was cooler than everyone else simply because I didn't like or listen to pop music. I wish I could go back and smack some sense into 14 year old me. That's what the original form of poptimism meant to me, to broaden my horizons and listen to stuff I ordinarily wouldn't touch.
Problem is, we've gotten there, and then several miles beyond the target. Now, it's pop culture is high art which deserves to be placed on a pedestal. Pop music needs to be important and about more than just the music, Pitchfork being a chief offender here. It's how a song which should have just been a club anthem is actually the song of the year, and an important statement in the raging culture war:
https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-100-best-songs-of-2017/?page=10
Not all music is high art. Not all music needs to be important. Not all pop music is good just because a lot of people listen to it. Find music you love, listen to that, keep an open mind, and you'll be good to go
If people took a truly poptimist attitude to music writing, as in to the writing itself, then we'd have to throw about 95% of the current stuff in the bin.
We’ll said, and the Wikipedia article on Poptimism has some links to good essays expressing the same!
Thanks culture industry!
Sadly, most people are not educated on what should be indicative of “high” art or culture. I’m sure you know any genre can be cultivated in a way that it achieves sublime aesthetic properties and virtuosity, but I think the persistently malignant and myopic understanding of aesthetic appreciation we tend to see comes from a deeply entrenched notion of class status tied to culture.