Meerkat Prompts: ‘Traditional’ Culture vs ‘Pop’ Culture
There are certain art forms, events, and even people that we are meant to hold in reverence. For example, the works of Shakespeare are often elevated as being of tremendous cultural value. That may well be true, just as the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh, Mozart and Beethoven are also seen as being iconic representations of art and grace.
The thing is, does their historic standing mean that everyone has to like it?
A couple of years ago, I ended up seeing The Phantom of the Opera on stage. I’d already seen a recorded version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous play. Did I enjoy it? Not especially. My wife and daughter, and some of my friends were flabbergasted that I had failed to enjoy the show. Well, quite simply, it is not my taste. I can appreciate the effort that goes into such a performance. There is energy and passion and commitment. I get all of that. However, the style of performance is not something I am especially keen on. I don’t particularly enjoy the story. It doesn’t wow me.
Do I need to offer a robust defence of that? No. I didn’t like it, and that’s that. The same people who enjoy what has been termed classic musicals, art, plays etc, will likely not enjoy the stuff I do enjoy. How many fans of operatic shows will enjoy Star Trek? How many lovers of Baron Webber’s work are also fans of The Legend of Zelda game series? Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m certain there is some crossover, but you can guarantee there is also a fair degree of polarisation.
I think what I’m getting at with this post is that it’s perfectly OK not to enjoy what has been termed a traditional classic, be it film, literature, music or otherwise. There is no need to issue an elaborate defence over matters of personal taste. One man’s fine wine is another’s vinegary poison. To perhaps emphasis this point further, in the coming days I will be going to watch Romeo and Juliet on stage in London. I have never enjoyed Romeo and Juliet. I have had to read it for school, and I have always found it mundane and dreary. On the same day, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie comes out. This speaks more to me than Romeo and Juliet does. It taps into some of the most wonderful, joyful experiences of my childhood. It has direct, emotional meaning for me.
That is fine. We all find meaning and passion through different mediums. There are people out there for whom deep, powerful emotion is invoked through reading crime novels. There are those who take enormous satisfaction from going to car shows, who would not enjoy either video games or Shakespeare. Should judgement befall them for their tastes? Nope. Yucking someone else’s yum speaks more about the person doing the yucking. What enjoyment do you take from life if all you have is mockery of what others enjoy?
Food for thought.
‘Kat Comments