Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Response to Blog Question #2

1. I believe that art can be both a form of pleasure and a piece of something that we might not quite understand.  Now, how can we enjoy anything if we don't fully understand what it is?  In my eyes, this is not a contradiction as we all do this everyday.  We use and love and admire things we just don't know.  In fact, we receive gratification from the earth we live on everyday.  Do we know what the earth is?  We think we do.  There are experts, scientists, and so many others who put the pieces together for us so that we can at least know where we are at this very moment, giving us a sense of purpose.   But the point is that our "answers" are just ideas.  In honesty, nobody truly knows what is time, what is space, what is heaven.  That's where the contradictions lie - in different people's beliefs; between religion and science, government and individualism, and so on.  Personally, I believe that in our explanation of art centers around a concept, image, or what-have you that we can revel in that will conjure up an emotion of some kind in us. People are selective when it comes to art.  Not everybody will be moved by a piece, but that also goes alongside people's different tastes and interests.  So yes, I feel like art is to be enjoyed and used as a solidified tonic, but at the same time, art is what we make it to be just like everything else in the world.  It is no different than Heaven, Hell, or even microwave dinners.  We give everything an explanation.  We make one, but who's to say it is truth?  That is the defining reason I believe there can be a underlying meaning and purpose for art and everything around us.

2. I love a bunch of different kinds of music.  I love a bunch of different songs.  I can spend all day just sitting in a room, staring at a wall doing nothing but listening to music and be totally content.  I'm pretty used to music with my thousand and thousand of songs on my computer, but there are two artists in particular that I am in love with.  Out of Ireland is the Swell Season combining Czechoslovakian singer Marketa Irglova and lead singer of The Frames, Glen Hansard.  Secondly, out of the East Coast is Ray Lamontagne.  Both artists have similar folk/rock/pop attributes, but that is not the reason I am attracted towards them.  Both have been a big part in my recent life as their powerful lyrics and emotional, heart-felt presentation have helped me in the rough patches that I have been going through.  Their music is very therapeutic to me.  I feel like I share a great connection with their lyrics as they made me feel better on a daily basis, though having several sad, dark songs. I have now seen one of the two in person and have the discography of  both, including The Frames and the feelings I have towards them makes giving the albums a listen even sweeter.

3. Dear Swell Season,
I have been listening to your music for some time now and have noticed a couple elements of your music that I started to wonder about.  In your band, you have incorporated a fiddle and violin as a set piece and key background instrument.  What made you decide on the inclusion of these elements?  I figured that this might have been a throwback to The Frames, but began thinking that it might be more.  Is it more to create a special connection between your songs and the people of Ireland or is it that you personally feel connected to the instruments, as they are used frequently?  Also, can I get a signed picture?
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2 comments:

  1. summeringbridgeJuly 22, 2009 at 7:31 PM

    Christopher,
    This is a very detailed and polished, not to mention thought-provoking post. You engage with the authors, the question, and return with even more questions. I would then ask you more questions, as to do you draw lines as to what art is for yourself, such as "this isn't great enough" or do you accept most things in this arena as art, even if disliking them.

    Also, both Ray and the Frames are solid. I remember seeing the Frames on New Year's Eve in Dublin, 2003. They also filmed Once down the street from where I lived there. Great stuff.

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  2. Chris TerrillJuly 22, 2009 at 10:02 PM

    Thank you for the great feedback. I would say that I definitely accept a lot of things as art, even if they don't fit my personal tastes. This can entail such polar opposites as a sculpture and a light bulb. I can appreciate something for what it is. I consider what the artist could have been feeling and thinking while creating the piece itself. Art is a very broad term and concept and should be looked at through a larger scope.

    On the other note, I'm very glad to hear I'm not the only fan of both of those guys. That is so cool that you got to see the Frames on such an awesome occasion. Well, it's cool that you got to live in Ireland in general. I can't imagine what a cool experience that was. Also, Once is one of my favorite movies and I saw those guys at the Chicago Theatre right after they picked up the Academy Award for "Falling Slowly". Ray is coming around soon as I'm waiting for an invite for the pre-sale. But very cool.

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