> Criteria for newness are pretty dependent on what your know, right? In > every undergraduate composition class in the US, right now, there's a > kid writing a piece using harmony based on perfect 4ths. Not only does > that kid think it's the most beautiful thing he's ever heard, he also > thinks he's breaking new ground.
My personal belief is that any artist can only be as original as their infulences are obscure. Can't recall who originally said it, but I agree with it. I could hack out some blatant Plastikman rip-off, and play it for my Grandmother (or the average Britney fan, I imagine) and she'd think it was quite original, as she's never heard anything like that before. She wouldn't like it, but she'd at least think it was really inventive. If I played that same track for all you guys though... heh, you'd probably all tell me to get off Richie's jock and come up with my own ideas. :)
