Tango Wedding Dance?

Zoops:
"Are you speaking of contemporary (lifetime of the artist) "expert" opinion or how history will judge?"

May be either or both.

"The obvious example of Van Gogh comes to mind. If someone's art crosses over all 3 categories, is that the true test of "art"?"

No.

"If someone is wildly popular with the masses (as is Van Gogh today) does that discount the value of "expert" opinion?"

No.

"Do people need to understand WHY a popular artist is held in high esteem by experts for their preference for that artist to "count"?"

No.

"How do you rank legitimate and historically important artists whose work is inflated due to popularity (like Van Gogh) "

Do you mean inflated as highly priced due to popularity?...That's just supply and demand.


"It's almost impossible to define "art" in any meaningful way. No matter how expert someone is, their view is still subjective. The only test that probably has much objective validity is how much or in what direction an artist influences what comes after them. (which is why Van Gogh is not just a popular artist). Then it becomes an analysis of history, rather than of the art itself.

Everything else is just someone's opinion... even if they are an expert."

It isn't impossible to define art in a meaningful way; difficult, yes, very. Expert opinion is based on study and analysis, which is objective, not subjective. Historical importance, ie how subsequent artists/composers were influenced is a consideration. Whether the expert likes or dislike a particular piece of art or music is subjective, but there is more to it than say simple first impressions.

As I said, individuals have likes and dislikes and tastes, that is what matters.

"It seems this conversation has drifted over to one that was being addressed in another thread... Is the actual topic of this thread about the artistic merit of weding dance choices, or the practicality of the way wedding dances are approached?"

Don't almost alll threads drift off from the OP after a few days...
 
Zoops:
"Are you speaking of contemporary (lifetime of the artist) "expert" opinion or how history will judge?"

May be either or both. ... Expert opinion is based on study and analysis, which is objective, not subjective.

If contemporary "expert" analysis is objective and valuable, the then experts of Van Gogh's day got it completely wrong. So either you need to be looking at the past for historical context (meaning contemporary views don't mean much) OR or expert views are often subjective and meaningless. You can't have it both ways.

That's my totally objective view based on simple logic and I'm stickin' to it! ;)

As I said, individuals have likes and dislikes and tastes, that is what matters.

We do agree on that.

Don't almost alll threads drift off from the OP after a few days...

Doh! :doh: You got me there!
 
You think making judgments of other people's taste is the only purpose of a forum?

taste is only one aspect of Values. If you wish to go deeper into this discussion..you have to start asking yourself difficult questions ; like if a forger fools the experts is his artwork as 'god' as the original.

and you should read Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila and address the isues of the Metaphysics of Quality

http://www.moq.org/

and
Subjective and objective theories of aesthetic value have been much-discussed in philosophical literature. An objective theory claims (roughly) that aesthetic value somehow resides in properties of the work itself, such that any reasonably competent observer would find them. In contrast, a subjective theory claims that aesthetic value is simply a matter of the psychological effect on or the attitude of the observer, and these vary considerably from observer to observer. "

and

"The objectivist acknowledges that it might be difficult to determine the grounds for objectivity and (at least in principle) to agree on the value of a work. But just because it is difficult, does not mean that it is impossible. The fact that we do reach agreement on the value of so many works suggests that somehow there is an objective basis for our judgments. We think Van Gogh was a great painter and Baryshnikov a great dancer, not because they have good press agents, but because they really are great.

If aesthetic value is objective, by what criteria do we determine that a work has value? What do we mean when we say that a work is "good"? Is a work more likely to be good if it is symmetrical, innovative, insightful, unified, complex? Are criteria simply a reflection of the times and culture, or are there universal and timeless standards for determining what work is good?"

and
"Although motorcycle riding is romantic, motorcycle maintenance is purely classic."
Pirsig ZAMM
 
I said before, if it makes them happy they should go for it ... Picking a song because it's catchy or because their guests might recognize it does not negate the fact that they are dancing to song about loss/betrayal/death/whatever morbid topic ... There are plenty of romantic songs ... I know it's their wedding and they get to do what makes them happy, but I get to say what I think about it, even if it's only on an internet forum ...

Also, FWIW, I don't get up and dance when the Al Pacino version of "Por una cabeza" is playing.
 
I said before, if it makes them happy they should go for it ... Picking a song because it's catchy or because their guests might recognize it does not negate the fact that they are dancing to song about loss/betrayal/death/whatever morbid topic ... There are plenty of romantic songs ... I know it's their wedding and they get to do what makes them happy, but I get to say what I think about it, even if it's only on an internet forum ...
Your post was fine. Lyrics clearly are important to you, although they aren't to everyone. BTM's post(s) was what most of my posts were directed at.

Also, FWIW, I don't get up and dance when the Al Pacino version of "Por una cabeza" is playing.
Playing hard to get?

icon7.gif
 
If contemporary "expert" analysis is objective and valuable, the then experts of Van Gogh's day got it completely wrong. So either you need to be looking at the past for historical context (meaning contemporary views don't mean much) OR or expert views are often subjective and meaningless. You can't have it both ways.

Um, sure I can...but I'll have to switch from art to music to explain why.

Expert analysis is objective. Its value is in the eye of the beholder...as is the art.

Here's a real-time example of what I mean by objective analysis: my El Choclo thread (I am not claiming to be an expert, I have some expertise but true experts in musicology have a Ph.D. and publish papers in academic journals). My analysis is 98% objective. Hell, I was even accused of being "somewhat cold and calculating". I looked first at the music as written by the composer and made a bunch of mostly objective observations. Then I looked at how a few orquestas have played it. At all times I used categories and terminology musicologists use to objectively study music. And I defined them at the onset. When I do state an opinion, like "the intensity builds here and there is a feeling of driving forward", or "there is a strong feeling of question and answer in this phrase", hopefully I have backed them up with very specific details in the music and how it is being played. Through objective observation, and the occasional opinion, I am explaining how and why each orquesta sounds different and achieves their own sound and style, even when playing the same piece of music. That is my one of my main goals, anyway.


If I were to analyse a contempory pop star's music or a classical composer's latest work, I would proceed in the same way, using the same categories, because they are universally applicable to (Western ) music. If I were to state opinions about the quality of the music, my opinions would be based on objective observation. Subjective, as still being just my opinion, yes; but hopefully not meaningless. My opinions would not be predictive of anything - whether or not the pop star continues to be a pop star or the composer's latest work will ever be performed again. Nor are they necessarily valid or of value to anyone but me.
 
taste is only one aspect of Values. If you wish to go deeper into this discussion..you have to start asking yourself difficult questions ; like if a forger fools the experts is his artwork as 'god' as the original.

and you should read Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila and address the isues of the Metaphysics of Quality

http://www.moq.org/

and
Subjective and objective theories of aesthetic value have been much-discussed in philosophical literature. An objective theory claims (roughly) that aesthetic value somehow resides in properties of the work itself, such that any reasonably competent observer would find them. In contrast, a subjective theory claims that aesthetic value is simply a matter of the psychological effect on or the attitude of the observer, and these vary considerably from observer to observer. "

and

"The objectivist acknowledges that it might be difficult to determine the grounds for objectivity and (at least in principle) to agree on the value of a work. But just because it is difficult, does not mean that it is impossible. The fact that we do reach agreement on the value of so many works suggests that somehow there is an objective basis for our judgments. We think Van Gogh was a great painter and Baryshnikov a great dancer, not because they have good press agents, but because they really are great.

If aesthetic value is objective, by what criteria do we determine that a work has value? What do we mean when we say that a work is "good"? Is a work more likely to be good if it is symmetrical, innovative, insightful, unified, complex? Are criteria simply a reflection of the times and culture, or are there universal and timeless standards for determining what work is good?"

and
"Although motorcycle riding is romantic, motorcycle maintenance is purely classic."
Pirsig ZAMM

"And what is Quality, Phaedrus? And do we need anyone to tell us these things"?

It's been at least 25 yeas since I read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" but I think that line was in there near the end.
 
I said before, if it makes them happy they should go for it ... Picking a song because it's catchy or because their guests might recognize it does not negate the fact that they are dancing to song about loss/betrayal/death/whatever morbid topic ... There are plenty of romantic songs ... I know it's their wedding and they get to do what makes them happy, but I get to say what I think about it, even if it's only on an internet forum ...

Also, FWIW, I don't get up and dance when the Al Pacino version of "Por una cabeza" is playing.


Note to self: Learn titles of classic tango songs.

And back (sort of) on topic. I have a ton of friends who come from a culture in which something called highlife music is the music of choice, at least for people my age. (Their kids listen to reggaeton and rap. *sigh* But that's another story.) High life is up beat, boppy, dance music.

Imagine my surprise when I went to where they live and found them listening to highlife music during Sunday church services (the lyrics were about Jesus) and highlife music during a funeral (the lyrics were about reckoning with the eternal) and highlife music in the club on Saturday night (the lyrics were about sex and fairly graphic at that.) I had no clue, because I didn't know the language and got fooled by the upbeat tempo of the music.

I think that's pretty common. I can't see why a tango instructor couldn't say, "You do know that the lyrics are about prostitution (or gambling, or incest or whatever they're about) don't you?" I'd be willing to bet that most wedding couples would choose another wedding song quickly. I think it's probably ignorance that makes them choose wedding-inappropriate lyrics. They're fooled by the melody. BTDT. (I use ignorance in the kindest possible way -- meaning a lack of knowledge.)
 
So, I was listening to a talk by a 3rd generation Azalea grower, who said they are meticulous and correct about labeling every azalea, at a cost of 6 cents/label. He has customers who may ask for a pink, a yellow and an orange azalea. When they leave the nursery they tear the labels off and throw them on the ground, because they simply don't care about the name.
 
I have a ton of friends who come from a culture in which something called highlife music is the music of choice

Interesting that highlife is still around! My family lived in Nigeria in the early 1950's and highlife was very popular then. I still have a few very scratchy 78's by E.T. Mensah, Awotwi Paynin and his Ghana Rockers, Ayinde Bakare, and others. Scratchy because of the red sand that blew about during the Haamattaan season (sorry I have no idea how to spell that).
 
Interesting that highlife is still around! My family lived in Nigeria in the early 1950's and highlife was very popular then. I still have a few very scratchy 78's by E.T. Mensah, Awotwi Paynin and his Ghana Rockers, Ayinde Bakare, and others. Scratchy because of the red sand that blew about during the Haamattaan season (sorry I have no idea how to spell that).



Yep. Still alive and kicking, so to speak, with lots of other musical styles alongside. :-)
 

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