8/12/2019 Musing for Art's Sake by Stella Dayrit Roden

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Musing for Arts Sakeby Stella Dayrit Roden

One of todays challenges is to sift through the enormous accumulation of media and the diverse

offering of live concerts to find meaningful art and music. One part of us just wants to be

entertained. Another desires a relevant experience, perhaps to be awed, and at the very least, to

have spent our time and money wisely. Who doesnt love fire-works, light shows, multimedia

presentations, and the latest technology? And sitting behind our computers in search of theseofferings, we are inundated with an imposed intimacy of inside jokes, memes, and other relatable

humor. My favorite internet meme is One does not simply and pictures actor Sean Bean in

character as Boromir from Lord of the Rings. Subliminally, we are fed the notion that anything

new, orhumorous by way of culture, or having a shock factor is probably worthwhile art, media, ornews, and not to be missed. Add to that, relevance of media is measured largely by frequency, the

number of views or clicks, and of course, profit. Whether and why you might consider somethingworthwhile art is not the argument. What should be examined however, is when art is justified in

large part by cultural newnessor level of exposure. By choosing or evaluating works based on

date of creation, frequency, or with a state-of-the-art mentality we often perpetuate less expressive,uninspired and less meaningful works from artists and art forms. Impressive use of technology

does not ensure the artistic value or the skill by which a piece of music or art is made.

As I continue to work in academia, I feel increased pressure to choose repertoire based on thepremise that newer works are the more relevant endeavors. I am equally inspired and moved by

the music of dead composers as much as the living. Despite familiarity, I have not tired of Puccini or

Strauss, with all its documented analysis and often times predictable cadences. I sense a tinge of

judgment knowing I might swoon while listening, as in sync with the ideas of these dead composers

as I am with many of todays current culturalmemes. But unlike the meme, the experience is multi-

dimensional and long lasting. Again, the argument is not whether you believe this music is art, but

the impetus to perform the works of these dead composers often comes from a deeper human

attachment that is undervalued.

As a college professor, assigning repertoire to students from a wide array of genres and timeperiods is standard practice. However, I often hear the justification for producing particular staged

works is related to how recently they premiered. Rather than producing a work based on the given

talents of a student body, staged works that are more frequently produced across the nation or

found widely successful are being considered first. The idea that a department or theater can put

on a particular show, trumps the level at which the show is given. Additionally, there is the falseprediction that the more recently created staged works will be produced more often at professional

houses. At least the students can add roles to their rsum, but it leaves me wondering if thats

good enough.

While performing works of living composers is among my priorities, more important, is my desire

to have the audience connect with the content of the music and the performance of it. If we value

this human connection more than instantaneous cultural identification or mere currency, ourexperience is richer. Decide for yourself what art is, but perhaps, meaningful art is that which

creates a permanent attachment regardless of time, frequency, or culture.