Re: ben shahn

[Kame'a Media <media...>]

Dear Judy:

In mentioning Shahn, I certainly did not intend to disrespect him or his work,
some of which, as you point out, clearly  addresses the serious issues of his
time in a powerful way.

Wolf

Judy Pinnolis wrote:

> At 04:01 PM 12/8/99 -0500, you wrote:
> Wolf:
> Although this is an art, not music, comment, I do think the artist Ben
> Shahn represents much, much more than a NY "shtetl" artist. In fact, I
> never would have thought of him that way, but primarily as a social
> activist artist....I still have the images of Sacco and Vanzetti in my head
> as well as other images of social commentary and great typography by Ben
> Shahn.
>
> nevertheless... "Flunked Out of Brandeis" caught my eye...(of course)
> ...who wrote that or is that a made up "to be wished for title"? If already
> extant,do you have the lyrics?
> Judy
>
> >Arts programmers need to have the vision and courage to present artists
> that are
> >not standard fare.
> >
> >For Jewish and Yiddish musical culture to matter and flourish, the
> traditional
> >must be balanced out by the contemporary.  The musical creations of people
> >living today --whose art is an expression of their actual life, not some Ben
> >Shahn <shtetl- cum -Lower East -Side> fantasy world of benign, wise
> rabbis and
> >kindly, old <bubbes> -- should be given more opportunity to be heard.
> >
> >I look forward to new young musicians writing songs with titles like
> >"Rebuilding the Desktop" , "Flunked Out of Brandeis"
> >and "Thank God, Tests Negative".   Words and/or music that will have
> expressed
> >their experience in this world.  Then and only then will we have a
> vibrant, real
> >and meaningful Jewish musical culture.
> >
> >Chiribim, chiribum.
> >
> >
> >Wolf
> >
> >
> >
> >TROMBAEDU (at) aol(dot)com wrote:
> >
> >> In a message dated 12/8/99 9:31:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> media (at) kamea(dot)com
> >> writes:
> >>
> >> << In my experience, the word "promiscuous" is usually trotted out by the
> >> envious
> >>  and the vengeful in an attempt to besmirch somebody's character because
> they
> >>  are perceived as having too much or the wrong kind of close interpersonal
> >>  contact.
> >>  I don't like it.
> >>
> >>  Please, -- Kabalas, Alan Eder/Pesach Posse, Klezperanto, Neshama, et al.,
> >>  keep making more great, original and  "promiscuous" music.
> >>   >>
> >>
> >> I have to go with Wolf on this one. (See, we agree again) Without the
> >> promiscous fusionisers, African American music would be field hollers and
> >> basic blues. There would be no Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Charlie
> Parker,
> >> etc. I agree that bringing a personal approach to Folk idioms has to result
> >> in good music for us to agree that it is good, but that doesn't invalidate
> >> the technique itself.
> >>
> >> Jordan
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> Judith S. Pinnolis
> Reference Librarian,
> Coordinator for Publications and Training
> Brandeis University Libraries
> P.O Box 9110  MS045
> 415 South Street
> Waltham, MA 02454-9110
> phone:781-736-4705
> fax: 781-736-4719
> email: pinnolis (at) brandeis(dot)edu
>



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