robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison) (05/10/84)
References: In the discussion of Cage's music, I don't think that anyone has discussed the listener's contribution in creating, by listening, a work of art. When you listen to Cage you may, if you choose, listen with any set of biases or skills. Cage has only some control over you in this respect. You may choose to listen such that the music takes on artistic aspects that are primarily your own creation, but are guided by Cage. In the same way, you can "hear" a work of art by listening to genuinely random or natural phenomena, such as a waterfall or the sound of a train. When a composer brings a great deal of organization to his art (Beethoven, say), listeners tend to adopt patterns of hearing that are greatly guided by what we generally believe to be the style, or intentions of the composer. When the composer brings a weak degree of organization, he grants us additional freedom. We may also choose to listen (to Cage, or to Beethoven) such that nothing of artistic value is perceived. Similar arguments may be made about the visual arts, although I think most people are more aware of the degree to which audio skills and styles of listening can be developed, than they are of comparable visual skills. - Toby Robison (not Robinson!) allegra!eosp1!robison decvax!ittvax!eosp1!robison princeton!eosp1!robison