Champoy wrote: >YES i was referring to nationalism as a kind of regionalism,which is more about regional culture and history than politics....so does art necessarily have to reflect that?< Art of course doesn't have to reflect anything. However, I think regional culture will have less and less to do with art in the upcoming years; the New World Order and all. One of the negative aspects of global communication is that we are then influenced by the exact same ideas/products. I know someone who just returned from Russia and I asked him what kind of music he heard (live) over there. Rock, jazz and techno. Great. What about Russian music? I am sure various amounts of Russian "character" or "identity" was brought into those American forms of music, but... Now, I am not trying to argue that there should be any restrictions by anybody on anybody on artistic creation, but I think it is sad that aspects of regional culture are seemingly not being passed on to future generations. I would be interested to read more about how artists feel living in France or Turkey? where there are restrictions on, let's say, American or foreign works that can be broadcast on TV/radio. Recently, I attended an electro-acoustic concert at the University of Texas, of 10 or so pieces presented by student composers. I did not like much of it, or any of it in fact. Most of the music, and music as a genre that has seemingly limitless possibilities, sounded very much the same, using the same synthesizers and drum machines and reverb boxes. But what was worst about the evening was a particular piece very similar to the bland synthesizers of the others; but this piece also featured recordings of a Native American ritual. I was appalled and disgusted at how tiny snippets of Native American chanting were used to "spice" up an otherwise bland work. There was no link between the recording and the music, and there wasn't enough of the recording to set up a mood: the recordings were buried under layers of synth washes. In the program notes, no mention was made of what or when the recording was made, nor what tribe made it, nor what it signified. It was awful. From the composers name, and also lack of any biographical information, I assume the composer was not Native American himself. I don't think my opinion of the piece would change at all if he was. Is this what "cultural identity" has come to in America 2000: seasoning for an otherwise tasteless dish? Personally, I feel sad that I have lost, perhaps forever, the connections to the rich cultural heritage of my Jewish ancestors. Now when I approach Jewish art or ritual, I do so as an outsider. I don't even possess the language skills to fully engage it. In conclusion to my rambles: is regional culture valuable? If so, how best to preserve it or pass it on? -Josh Ronsen http://www.nd.org/jronsen
