On Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 11:27 PM, Michael <[email protected]> wrote:
> Sorry for any offense taken to my reaction to the reaction. The dance
> routine could be seen as an extension of (if you will) the many ages/faces
> of Sia, depicting inner struggle, conciliatory moments, heartbreak and
> playfulness. Or not. Her veil (which she didn't bother with on a recent
> U.K. TV appearance) would seem to suggest her reticence at public
> appearance or serves as reinforcement of my idea that the dancers and the
> mime are extensions of her musical/artistic statement that she is hiding
> behind in plain sight. Whatevs. I enjoyed it. If she creeps you out or
> seems pretentious, tune out and have a bowl of your favorite cultural
> comfort food instead.
>
I am not offended. I don't mind being called an old fogey (I probably am).
It is just that this is not a response to a critique of a performance, or
an answer to the question: "what was she trying to accomplish?" I
appreciate your attempt to answer that question more specifically above. If
that is what she was trying to do, I find it amateurish and ineffective,
but at least would give her credit for having some kind of vision.
I appreciate the philosophy behind the phrase YMMV ("Your Mileage May
Very"), which we see on this list a lot, and again several times in this
thread. I think the value of this is to caution us all against the danger
of moving from "that performance was stupid" to "you are stupid if you
liked that performance" (or, more generally, if you do not agree with my
evaluation of that performance). On reflection, I realize that when I write
things like "Sia's performance on SNL was absurd and stupid", it does come
close to saying (or at least implying) that "anyone who liked Sia's
performance on SNL is absurd and stupid". I did not mean the second, and I
ought to be more careful when expressing opinions that could be taken that
way.
I do think though that there is a danger of using the sentiments underlying
YMMV to imply that since art (broadly conceived) is subjective, every
performance is equal, and there is no point in attempts to engage in a
critical evaluation. I respect and am interested in the response and
evaluation of people here to the programs we see on our television, not
because all evaluations are equally valid or accurate, but because the
thoughtful response of a group of experienced consumers informs my own, and
often helps me appreciate performances in ways I would not have on my own.
At other times we will disagree, which is of course fine, and should not
lead to ad hominem attacks, but I do find disagreement more informative
when accompanied by an explanation for the opinion.
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