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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Hippocampe
Published Letters: 14 Editor's Choice: 1
There are so many aspects of this place that anger me. I agree with the physics professor interviewed in that it is an anti-science institution. More than that, it is anti-thought, racist, homophobic, political, culturally biased, ridiculous, mendacious -- if not for the 1000 word limit of this comment, I would come up with another 6000 criticisms for each and every one of the 6000 years of their incredible history, which is as far from the history in which I majored at college as the remotest galaxy is from our planet.
Nevertheless, groups such as Answers in Genesis have a right to their beliefs and to spend their money how they like, and those of us who disagree, must try to extinguish the animosity we may feel. Of course, it is difficult to silence our antagonism when such places are given titles they do not merit. The word museum comes the ancient Greek mouseion, meaning 'shrine of the Muses,' and obviously predates Christianity. The modern concept of the museum is one of the many begotten by the Renaissance, a time that brought Western Civilization out of the Middle Ages, encouraging people to analyze and think critically. The so-called 'Creation Museum' does just the opposite, in the audacious guise of what it is not. Could they have named it something else?
My excuses to fans of Spring Awakening, but I think the whole show is a dud. I've listened to the songs over and over again. The whole concept is a bit too artsy-fartsy for my taste, but mostly it's the music that I don't like. It's terrible. Definitely not Broadway material there!
I have always loved American musical theater, from the Show Boats and Rosalies to the Assassins and Cabarets. This one just doesn't do it for me. I respect Mr. Sheik for attempting to modernize the Broadway tradition, to do something innovative, but I don't know where he is going, and I decidedly don't want to go on the ride. He makes a good point, though, when he talks about 'outsiders.' Critics and audiences alike seem to appreciate Spring Awakening as a great new musical, whereas I see it merely as an ephemeron, a token show created by men and women who have either nothing to do with Broadway or, worse yet, intentionally want nothing of it. All kinds of art have histories: painting, photography, dance, set design, even American musical theater, which like Jazz, is a strong part of our American cultural identity. What makes any object or performance of art interesting and relevant to its very art form, no matter how avant-garde or deconstructed it may be, is its self-reflection, reference and allusion to its own past and origins. I hope I'm not being too nasty, but Spring Awakening, in my opinion, fails this.
I have a problem with the 'rock musical' genre, that is, I wonder if it truly is a genre. Hair, for example, is a great show with great numbers. It may, to some extent, borrow from elsewhere -- it's nonetheless a musical. Heck, even the Swedes Benny and Bjorn of ABBA understood back in 1984 when they composed Chess with Tim Rice. "I Know Him So Well" is a wonderful show tune, a real show stopper. I still wouldn't call Chess a 'rock musical.' I'm always sceptical when a new production comes out calling itself, or getting called, enthusiastically or unfavorably, a 'rock musical.'
There are no show stoppers in Spring Awakening. Nor are there any intelligent, well-crafted witty numbers like you might hear in a Sondheim show. Nor are there any tunes that actually sound like they were written for Broadway. No, the Spring Awakening album just sounds like another CD of bad pop music. It won't be remembered twenty years from now.
Shame on the people at Doubleday for publishing this faux-history junk. The company that printed such great writers as Conrad and Maugham now offers us this. Mister Goldberg may address some interesting subjects in his book, but he is by no means an authority on any of them. Do not read this book expecting a critical analysis of modern history, it is mere political punditry and has very little (if any) literary value.
I would add that, in my opinion, Goldberg gets it wrong in this interview when he associates, or judges rather the supposed association of, fascism with evil. Fascist regimes bring about something far more terrible, stupidity, because they discourage, limit and ultimately suppress intelligent and free thought. I would agree that, as American popular culture is largely stupid, there are elements of fascism in our society, but to blame these on the present political parties or ideologies, be they left or right, is oversimplified. The real culprit is more likely economic of nature. Post World War II America, we all can plainly see, is financially driven. What makes money determines what we think. That is why this book was published and why men like Jonah Goldberg are undeservedly respected as true thinkers.
Camille Paglia is a nonsensical contrarian. She should be raising important questions about politics. Instead, she raises eyebrows.
I am sick of her blase, Generation X, "I disagree with the entire world" attitude. Please, get rid of her!
She has gone too far with this bombastic "Sarah Palin is a feminist" rant. I mean, come on ! Paglia even insults academia on the first page of this stupid column. What next? Will she start defending the practice of torture at Guantanamo Bay, all for the sake of being "different" ? She is everybody's dummy.
Camille Paglia is an idiot.
McCain is a blathering old man. He is an uninspired speaker and his campaign has been based on lies, hate and uh... more lies. Wake up, America!
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
