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Re: Kol Isha/Miriam's Song/Wagner

At 10:11 AM 2/24/2003 -0800, you wrote:

> > >
> > >Of course.  There are evil geniuses and some of
> > them are artists.
>
>yes but does that make them ok or not to listen to.
>many people i know will no longer listen to the music
>of R. Kelly because of recent discoveries of his
>enjoyment of underage girls. i cant think of anyone
>who would go out and say...."well i know the lyrics
>arent right but im really into the sound of some of
>those white supremacist punk groups". the question is
>basically at what point do we say ok, this has crossed
>the line and while you cannot deny the fact that it is
>art it is not art that should be respected or enjoyed.


I don't disagree  at all, but this is very complex and a question that 
extends beyond music to, for example, medical research.  Lots of people who 
like the sound of rap listen despite the lyrics.  bell hooks has an article 
entitled "Mad at Miles", in which she grapples with loving his music vs. 
his misogynistic violence.

I know some folks draw the line at whether the evil is apparent in the art, 
others at whether the evil is/was an activity (in Wagner's case) or just an 
attitude (Chopin was also an anti-Semite).

Thanks again.






> >
> > BTW, there were plenty of other great artists who
> > were anti-Semites, though
> > few as ideological/politically active as Wagner.
> > One more reason to
> > wrestle with the question of why there needs to be
> > evil in the world.
> >
> > Thanks for responding.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
University of Minnesota
100 Ferguson Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 (o)
612 699-1097 (h)
612 624-8001  ATTN:  Alex Lubet (FAX)

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