tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post2920439842170026896..comments2024-03-20T19:40:58.078-05:00Comments on The OF Blog: "Ken Lee," Language, and Pop CultureLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-71919302894066019342012-02-13T11:42:52.850-06:002012-02-13T11:42:52.850-06:00Have you seen the Russell Brand interview on Newsn...Have you seen the Russell Brand interview on Newsnight from a while back? It's kind of a fascinating self-critique from someone brought up in the new culture, utterly a part of it, but self-aware to a scary level:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qdNBrzAQjo<br /><br />Worth a watch if you have a spare fifteen minutes, even if you find him insufferable. Actually, *especially* if you find him insufferable.Hal Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834365984949577306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-86451042494343181532012-02-13T08:40:20.718-06:002012-02-13T08:40:20.718-06:00It seems that in our modern understanding of what ...It seems that in our modern understanding of what Culture is we substituted the term Artistic with the term Popular.rreugenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09599923785669993160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-71294522543810931842012-02-13T06:59:30.194-06:002012-02-13T06:59:30.194-06:00Interesting analysis, Larry.
I hosted karaoke sh...Interesting analysis, Larry. <br /><br />I hosted karaoke shows and/or managed sports bars featuring karaoke throughout the 90's and later - even when "American Idol" was referred to as "Star Search." <br /><br />A few of my "regulars" went on to do something with their talent. Most people of any skill, say 99% of them, remained local and become popular/notable within their own social circles.<br /><br />There's a fine line between taking ourselves too seriously and then, not seriously enough. I never agreed with the William Hung explosion - it was too much. I'm not sure that I could blame the guy for wanting the attention that he got, but it's not the sort of thing I encouraged. <br /><br />In short, if someone was good - the audience receives their free concert, et al. If their ego got too big (i.e., "everyone wants to hear me."), I reminded them of the venue. (This is a sports bar, dumbass, not a concert hall. Wait your turn.) <br /><br />If someone was bad, though, I wouldn't let the audience mock, either. Because the point of karaoke was to be brave, to come out of your self-imposed limitations - bungee jumping for shower singers and ppl with stage fright. I never allowed booing, and I reminded people that it was all about relaxing, having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously. <br /><br />My roommates watch Jersey Shore, and I cringe. I can't watch American Idol (etc.), for the same reason. The producers highlight the painfully awkward moments, without putting the positive spin on it, i.e., it takes courage to take action and most people in the entertainment business are undiscovered and/or out of work anyway. <br /><br />I'm not comfortable with the shows that go out of their way to make people look bad, without the perspective of the courage that it took for the people to be in those positions to begin with. As you have implied, I don't think it bodes well for pop culture - and it certainly doesn't reflect well on a society that increasingly prefers to elevate just to humiliate.<br /><br />What lesson do we teach the generations that follow? Go be an idiot? It increases your chances of popularity, which is all that matters. Ugh. Ridiculous.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14093997168286551055noreply@blogger.com