Hi all,
Myke wrote:
>I just seem to only find appreciation for the avant-garde in societal
left-field - a place in which I am definitely an alien. Even then,
however, I supsect a lot of left-leaning people don't fully "get" my "clean"
avant-garde explorations because it doesn't kill any sacred cows of the
right
which is so often a trademark of left-wing art.<
The avant-garde by definition is rebellious and normally consists of
creative experiments which seek to question traditional or long-held beliefs
in order to begin fresh consideration of these beliefs and their surrounding
concepts.
In terms of the christian faith I often consider Jesus to have been a
radical. Certainly the biblical accounts portray Jesus as a difficult child
who in later life spends most of his time hanging out, he doesn't settle
down to a steady job instead he spends his time engaged in impromptu
lectures and performing magic (loaves and fishes, lazarus etc.). However
many of today's christians would not let their children behave as Jesus did
nor would they want their children to be unemployed and telling stories on
the street.
So essentially most of the time when we consider faith we're considering
organisational (church/state) interpretations of faith. Now, society's
left-wing is traditionally opposed to maintaining the same organised state
of society regardless but rather wishes to see society change as the needs
of its members changes. Similarly the creative forces of avant-gardism react
to the society in which they are placed. The avant-garde is constantly
evolving and rising to new challenges which puts it at odds with any idea of
society/creativity remaining unchanged for long periods of time.
Myke, your avant-gardism in the field of music will necessarily put you at
odds with anyone or any organisation that believes that music should not be
constantly evolving, that there should not be constant evolution of the
soundscapes being explored. However I don't think avant-gardism puts you at
odds with faith itself (e.g. belief in the values of Jesus etc.). Most
figures at the foundations of the various religions (e.g. Jesus, Mohammed,
Buddha, Guru Nanek etc.)found themselves at odds with the traditional values
of the time and became forces for social change, they were avant-garde
figures. Part of the problem is that many people and organisations who adopt
their beliefs forget this, this loss of memory often occurs simultaneously
with the acquisition of wealth and before you know it a community has built
up which has interpreted the values of radical action for social improvement
in terms where such action could never actually take place but is rather
conveniently viewed as an unattainable goal and not to be acted upon.
Also Myke if you find yourself more comfortable with society's right then
you will be at odds with many of your colleagues regarding your musical
views. However you are also in a position to effect change, eventually some
people who previously would never listen to avant-garde music will listen to
it because they agree with most of you other values this will then open them
up to a world of possibilities they had not previously seen. I suppose it's
just that much harder producing experimental work in an environment that
largely has no use for experimentalism. Still at least you're not preaching
to the converted!
Having said all this I think on the whole producing avant-garde work is a
socially alienating experience. Most of your friends never really understand
why or what you're doing at the time (they often do later on), instead you
rely on the avant-garde communities you find for encouragement and to play
out ideas. Fluxus is one such community, of course there are many others
Mail Art etc.).
Anyway, work beckons,
cheers,
Sol.
