Comments on: The Most Pretentious Concert of All Time?

By: Serdar

Serdar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:55:01 +0000

“When somebody produces a work that cannot be perceived in itâ€™s entirety because itâ€™s length exceeds the average human lifetime several times, they have no cause to complain when itâ€™s the subject of ridicule.” — Well, that assumes they’re complaining. I suspect they figured ridicule would be par for the course.

(And yes, when something is labeled “experimental” or somesuch, I fully concur that the experiment must sometimes be deemed a failure.)

By: Rob K

Rob K — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:44:45 +0000

By the way, I was unaware until just now of the comments section in the Guardian article you linked to, so I’m not one of the commenters there. I normally read your blog for the trains, innit.

By: Rob K

Rob K — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:54:13 +0000

I thought you were the one complaining about them!

To be completely fair, in making the point I did above, I was having to ignore the increasingly urgent screams of disbelief from my own common sense. It *is* ludicrous, you’re right. I just think there is a slightly comic aspect to it, as well.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:11:02 +0000

When somebody produces a work that cannot be perceived in it’s entirety because it’s length exceeds the average human lifetime several times, they have no cause to complain when it’s the subject of ridicule.

By: Rob K

Rob K — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:49:26 +0000

I’m not so sure I’d write it off quite as quickly as the product of cranio-rectal insertion. To be fair, I’m not sure I’d go out of my way to listen to it. But I think there’s more tongue-in-cheek than head-up-arse afoot here.

For starters, the official website quotes one of the organisers as saying “It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just there.”

It’s not trying to elucidate the Woman’s Role in the transformation of water into steam at teatime. It’s not attempting to symbolise the self-destructive impulse of artists with no money obsessing about a society obsessed with money.

No, it strikes me as fairly playful, if pointless. But then, what’s the point in play?

Ooops, my cranium may have just gone somewhere unpleasant. The sun don’t shine in here.