Re: ben shahn (P.S.)

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

I'm not knowledgeable about Ben Shahn--I believe the Jewish Museum recently 
had a major exhibition about him--but he and his work certainly do seem 
susceptible to stereotyping:  that is, to being the (iconic?) object of 
same.  Remember Woody Allen's ANNIE HALL character reducing his (adorable--a 
personal addendum) (Carol Kane) pick-up to a "cultural stereotype," as her 
character puts it (I think the name was Allison Porchnik--priceless in 
itself) via invoking Ben Shahn, among others?


>From: "Kame'a Media" <media (at) kamea(dot)com>
>Reply-To: jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
>To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Subject: Re: ben shahn
>Date: Wed, 08 Dec 1999 19:37:39 -0500
>
>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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