#1362, Thursday, February 5: Elitist bullshit

Post 1362, Day 36 of 2015
- 1,497 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I have been elitist at times, purist at times. I think, these days, I've left that behind. I think that's a good thing.

This came up because a jazz singer/vocal coach and music teacher criticized Bob Dylan's most recent album, which is a collection of songs from the American Songbook, songs that he loves.

The criticism that this was a disastrously bad album, is fair enough, because that is her opinion, and is taken as such. The critic was not content, however, to say that she disliked the album. She then opined that you have to "earn the right" to interpret the 'Great American Songbook' and Dylan hadn't.

Huh?

First of all, everybody has the right to interpret any song, as long as they acknowledge (in the legal/financial sense) the intellectual property of the author/creator of the song.

Secondly, we aren't talking about somebody who hasn't 'earned the right' (whatever that means in this context). While Dylan's skills as a singer, instrumentalist, or music writer can be left up to the individual to decide, his 'right' to interpret is the same as anyone else's, no matter what path they take to doing that. This isn't practicing surgery - there is no Standards committee (pun intended) granting licenses to interpret. In fact, Dylan's own songs having been covered and interpreted by literally every kind of singer, including Frank Sinatra, whose interpretations of most of these songs are often treated as the gold standard. And, whether you like him or not, Dylan's recorded output over the last fifty years certainly paid his dues - long ago.

The thing is, a purist, who insists that everybody work to develop an appreciation for whatever that meets some arbitrary, unilaterally decided standard, is bullshit, elitist, condescending and, to me, very off-putting.

Like I said, I'm not innocent of having this attitude at times, but I think (I hope) it has been purged. I now recognize my personal taste, likes, dislikes, etc., for what they are: Totally subjective, and total bullshit when they escape from my own imagination.

It has been a long time since I have pretended that my opinions carry weight for anybody else; sometimes I question whether they serve any useful purpose for me. I love a good discussion, debate, argument. I am prepared to explain the basis for any personal opinion I express, and I can be convinced of another point-of-view. As such, I am not prepared to set myself up as an arbiter of taste, or belief that my opinion has more value than anybody else's opinion. They don't. Period.

I can tell you why I like or dislike something, but I can't tell you why you should like or dislike anything.

Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:                   204.2 lbs

Previous Weight (2/4):            205.0 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:                - 0.8 lbs

Diet Comment

A good day - well, good from the standpoint of eating a much smaller amount of off-plan food, and early in the day at that, and the weight starts to come right off.

Food Log

Breakfast
A Quest bar.

Lunch
At Ling-Ling's Chinese Buffet and Grill:

Brussels sprouts, kimchee, and, from the "Mongolian Grill", my go-to dish: pork and chicken with cabbage, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and broccoli. Not shown: Dessert Quest bar.

Dinner
At Detroit Small Plates:

Sauteed scallops with greens and fingerling potatoes.

Snack
Pepperoni and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 100+ oz.  and a healthy pour of Jameson's

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