March 6, 2008

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  "one of the inadvertently useful aspects of the pre-internet, pre-accelerated hype era is that it allowed artists some enforced period of obscurity to develop their art.  my biggest worry about the way hype works now is that we're in danger of discovering people before they are worthy to be discovered."

  ---malcom gladwell

  granted, this quote was in an article about vampire weekend, a band whose album i am rather enjoying at this moment.  however, i really could not have summed up my ambivalence and sometimes annoyance at the pop culture machine that i participate in and sometimes benefit by, while casting my scorn at the widespread glut of shiny mediocrity that gums up the media.

  it's the part of me that reads blogs and likes hearing new things, but is stubbornly loyal and enamored with things that are old school, a complete pain in the butt and totally worthwhile.  this is why i own an ipod and a record player.  a digital camera and several polaroids.  my laptop, in fact, is sitting next to my well-used typewriter and stationary with pens which i used to write letters.

  i am a mix of contradictions, and i wouldn't have it any other way.

  ancillary recommendation: the song "oxford comma" by vampire weekend.  say whatever you like about the whole album and the new indie 'darlings', but a catchy, totally summer-mix-tape worthy song, and it's about grammar?  you know i'm all over that.  this song definitely heralds the imminent spring.

   

  • 11:52 pm
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