The tragedy of our culture and I believe the thing that will bring it all crashing down (well, is bringing it all crashing down) is thinking that art is a luxury, and valuing only science. Only technical and scientific skills are considered "essential," but those things don't matter much ,in a world without art. Art is the highest expression of human potential -- the best articulation of who we are as a species. When we decide that's a luxury, and thus optional, we doom ourselves to, well, the culture we're currently living in.
It's not going to get better until we get our priorities straight.
Thank you, Faith! Art is indeed the highest expression of human potential, and it transcends categories, language barriers, social class... pretty much everything.
Having grown up in a country with dictatorships and chronic recessions, where the money would always literally run out and we had to use food vouchers (essentially a post-war society), I am confident that art always manages to find a way. More accurately, perhaps: human beings always manage to find a way to create art, in whatever form or shape it may take.
I agree with you that art should never be seen as a luxury, and that it would be nice for the mainstream to, at long last, get their priorities right when it comes to art. However, crises tend to pave the way for countercultural movements to flourish. Interestingly, many things that were common currency for me while growing up have started taking place in the developed world (live gigs at friends or acquaintances living rooms, passing the hat round, etc.). Maybe they were already happening in the developed world but I feel they weren't talked about as much as now.
I agree. I mentioned to a friend the other day that the one good thing that might come out of America's new experiment in fascism will likely be the development -- for the first time since the Sixties -- of a genuine counterculture in every sense of the word.
Totally agree. Both science and art claim Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo used to sneak into dissect bodies so that he could better portray the human form in his art. All early scientists were gifted artists. Look at early botanists and their drawings of plants.
Art is comprised of observation, experimentation, and expression. Sort of sounds like science to me.
Sure, and good observation — but even here, notice how that argument gives value to art only insofar as it’s like science. I’d suggest that art has its own intrinsic value, both in creation an appreciation that transcends the rational goals and methods of science.
I meant to convey the importance of art more than I probably did. My wife have 33 years, has an undergraduate degree in studio work and art history. I have a profound appreciation for art that I never thought I would have thanks to her. If you look at Van Gogh and how he turned the pain of his tortured life into exquisite beauty is truly overwhelming.
However, where I see science and art come together in a more practical application would be automobiles. Take a look at the fantastically sculptured lines of an early '50s. Jaguar c or d type lightweight. Absolute works of art, but on the flip side it also created the most sophisticated racing machine of its day.
I see what you mean. On the one hand we can argue they are not too dissimilar. Art relies a lot on technique and thought. But on the other hand, it is true that the rational mind is always seen by some sectors as superior to the raw emotion that makes art happen.
Lately, I’ve found myself eagerly clicking on every new episode of your fantastic newsletter, Andy—not just for the excellent writing, but because you read it aloud. It’s pure gold!
Thank you so much, Pe! I put a lot of love into my voiceovers. I am really glad to know you are enjoying them so much. Doing them in one take can be nerve-racking but I enjoy the spontaneity 😅
Great points all around, Andy! There is a part of the vinyl community that *wants* to see collecting as a luxury; the sort of thing that makes them feels better about themselves (there is of course a portion of the crowd that are just grumpy gatekeepers, but still). Cheaper players open up collecting to legions of people and remove that exclusivity. There is a valid argument to be made that some players will damage vinyl, but I think a lot of the pushback is less about a concern for new collector's collections, and more a projection of fear of loss.
Thanks, Kev! You’ve summarised it so well with what you said about gatekeeping. The main (probably only) reason why I sometimes mention cheap turntables is because for some people it can be a real game changer. They suddenly have access to something that a certain few snobs want to keep “exclusive”. I only ever mention cheap tables in the context of low-priced records (which is what I would imagine someone with a cheap turntable would most likely spin), as in most cases they can be easily replaced. First pressing of the White Album? Probably not a good idea 🤣
Thanks a lot for reading and your insightful comment, as always!
And vinyl lasts for ever (or at least a very long time). I have LPs I listen that sound perfect, and which were made before I was born in the 1960s. All my MP3s and other electronic ‘music’ vanished into the ether a long time ago. LPs, not a luxury, a necessity!
There are so many parallels in vinyl to my earlier collecting life. My wife and I started collecting Bermuda antiques in the late 90s. We weren’t making much money and were in debt so we targeted lower end items which meant either less desired (more common) or more desired in lower quality condition.
But this was where we were able to start and those items brought us true joy. As we got older, learned more about collecting, what to buy, what we liked, etc—and as we got out of debt and began to have more disposable income—we refined our collecting, spending more money on fewer items and building a beautiful collection. But those earlier items still brought us joy and were the gateway to a more expansive type of collecting.
I’d never thought about the idea of a cheap turntable to use with second hand records but it’s a great idea. I’m luckily now at a place in my life where, if and when I do start listening to vinyl, I would only choose to do so with good equipment. What I do know is that whatever vinyl I end up buying it’ll be for the joy it brings me and not the investment value (although that may end up being a consideration one day).
Thank you, Mark! I love what you say about your and your wife’s antiques journey and the parallelism you draw with vinyl. It makes a lot of sense when you look at it this way.
I also love the fact you guys started small and then had the chance to become more selective/refined as your circumstances changed. At this point I bet you guys had a much clearer focus and idea of where you wanted to go thanks to that initial experience, so it was like a natural progression in a way.
Absolutely agree with you that the joy needs to be there. Otherwise, there is very little point (or none at all).
The creators who make this art for us, the science that can put sound in those tight little grooves, to the aged audiophile who taped a dime to his roommate’s Dual turntable cartridge … it’s always been about the music!
Many teens start with a Crosley, but over the years I have had several students ask me where they can buy a decent stereo system (or DSLR camera) for their budget. I have sent several to one particular shop here in Portland that reconditions old systems, and the prices and systems in his store can vary from affordable (notice I didn't use "cheap") to far beyond my own budget.
The most recent student bought a restored 1980s Fisher turntable installed with a new cartridge, a Philips receiver (also 80s, I think), and two bookshelf speakers for a grand total of $320. Not bad for a system that is ready to go and far better than a Crosley, in my opinion! There is a system that can be found for most budgets. And, sticking with that receiver she bought - Philips used to own Marantz so there was a lot of crossover with those two brands! Like I said, not bad and far better than a Crosley!
I also have a friend who has dove deep into country music. When I asked him, "Why country?" he replied, "Those are often the records I can find in the cheap-o dollar bins." And, I can't tell you the number of times students have excitedly come to my classroom to show me their beat-to-shit copy of some Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, or Pink Floyd record that they just bought at a secondhand store (often way overpriced given its condition). The look of glee on their face is priceless. So priceless, in fact, that as much as I want to tell them that tens of millions were pressed and they are not hard to find AND in better condition (and cheaper), I let them enjoy their moment. They can figure that last part out on their own!
Lastly, I 100% agree with Faith! As an art educator, I wish the US placed more value on turning STEM into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Mathematics). It should actually be a requirement worldwide because I have foreign exchange students every year, and my school now has over thirty Ukrainian students. Many of our newcomer and exchange students from other countries (this includes much of Europe) tell me they have no art classes in their schools. WHAT? Not only is art good for the soul and excellent for a well-rounded education, but art teaches us so much about ourselves, humanity, culture, and history (past and present).
Thank you, Michael! What you do with your students is very sweet. They are so fortunate to have a teacher like you who 1) is so knowledgeable 2) cares about their devolopment 3) listens to them 4) guides them without being patronising. Hard balance to strike and you do it all so naturally!
I agree that if the arts were given an ounce of the funding/attention/importance maths and science get, the world would be a much better place. I’m biased but I would also add foreign languages to the mix (or as a separate field deserving more attention). In my case and many others, foreign languages opened up a whole new world — quite literally.
The tragedy of our culture and I believe the thing that will bring it all crashing down (well, is bringing it all crashing down) is thinking that art is a luxury, and valuing only science. Only technical and scientific skills are considered "essential," but those things don't matter much ,in a world without art. Art is the highest expression of human potential -- the best articulation of who we are as a species. When we decide that's a luxury, and thus optional, we doom ourselves to, well, the culture we're currently living in.
It's not going to get better until we get our priorities straight.
Thank you, Faith! Art is indeed the highest expression of human potential, and it transcends categories, language barriers, social class... pretty much everything.
Having grown up in a country with dictatorships and chronic recessions, where the money would always literally run out and we had to use food vouchers (essentially a post-war society), I am confident that art always manages to find a way. More accurately, perhaps: human beings always manage to find a way to create art, in whatever form or shape it may take.
I agree with you that art should never be seen as a luxury, and that it would be nice for the mainstream to, at long last, get their priorities right when it comes to art. However, crises tend to pave the way for countercultural movements to flourish. Interestingly, many things that were common currency for me while growing up have started taking place in the developed world (live gigs at friends or acquaintances living rooms, passing the hat round, etc.). Maybe they were already happening in the developed world but I feel they weren't talked about as much as now.
I agree. I mentioned to a friend the other day that the one good thing that might come out of America's new experiment in fascism will likely be the development -- for the first time since the Sixties -- of a genuine counterculture in every sense of the word.
Ultimately that might be what saves us.
Totally agree. Both science and art claim Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo used to sneak into dissect bodies so that he could better portray the human form in his art. All early scientists were gifted artists. Look at early botanists and their drawings of plants.
Art is comprised of observation, experimentation, and expression. Sort of sounds like science to me.
Sure, and good observation — but even here, notice how that argument gives value to art only insofar as it’s like science. I’d suggest that art has its own intrinsic value, both in creation an appreciation that transcends the rational goals and methods of science.
I meant to convey the importance of art more than I probably did. My wife have 33 years, has an undergraduate degree in studio work and art history. I have a profound appreciation for art that I never thought I would have thanks to her. If you look at Van Gogh and how he turned the pain of his tortured life into exquisite beauty is truly overwhelming.
However, where I see science and art come together in a more practical application would be automobiles. Take a look at the fantastically sculptured lines of an early '50s. Jaguar c or d type lightweight. Absolute works of art, but on the flip side it also created the most sophisticated racing machine of its day.
I see what you mean. On the one hand we can argue they are not too dissimilar. Art relies a lot on technique and thought. But on the other hand, it is true that the rational mind is always seen by some sectors as superior to the raw emotion that makes art happen.
Spot on. I had never thought of it that way. Cheers, Bob!
Lately, I’ve found myself eagerly clicking on every new episode of your fantastic newsletter, Andy—not just for the excellent writing, but because you read it aloud. It’s pure gold!
Thank you so much, Pe! I put a lot of love into my voiceovers. I am really glad to know you are enjoying them so much. Doing them in one take can be nerve-racking but I enjoy the spontaneity 😅
Great points all around, Andy! There is a part of the vinyl community that *wants* to see collecting as a luxury; the sort of thing that makes them feels better about themselves (there is of course a portion of the crowd that are just grumpy gatekeepers, but still). Cheaper players open up collecting to legions of people and remove that exclusivity. There is a valid argument to be made that some players will damage vinyl, but I think a lot of the pushback is less about a concern for new collector's collections, and more a projection of fear of loss.
Thanks, Kev! You’ve summarised it so well with what you said about gatekeeping. The main (probably only) reason why I sometimes mention cheap turntables is because for some people it can be a real game changer. They suddenly have access to something that a certain few snobs want to keep “exclusive”. I only ever mention cheap tables in the context of low-priced records (which is what I would imagine someone with a cheap turntable would most likely spin), as in most cases they can be easily replaced. First pressing of the White Album? Probably not a good idea 🤣
Thanks a lot for reading and your insightful comment, as always!
And vinyl lasts for ever (or at least a very long time). I have LPs I listen that sound perfect, and which were made before I was born in the 1960s. All my MP3s and other electronic ‘music’ vanished into the ether a long time ago. LPs, not a luxury, a necessity!
Thank you, Richard! Excellent point about the longevity of our beloved format. A record is an investment and, importantly, a friend for life.
They are all my friends!
There are so many parallels in vinyl to my earlier collecting life. My wife and I started collecting Bermuda antiques in the late 90s. We weren’t making much money and were in debt so we targeted lower end items which meant either less desired (more common) or more desired in lower quality condition.
But this was where we were able to start and those items brought us true joy. As we got older, learned more about collecting, what to buy, what we liked, etc—and as we got out of debt and began to have more disposable income—we refined our collecting, spending more money on fewer items and building a beautiful collection. But those earlier items still brought us joy and were the gateway to a more expansive type of collecting.
I’d never thought about the idea of a cheap turntable to use with second hand records but it’s a great idea. I’m luckily now at a place in my life where, if and when I do start listening to vinyl, I would only choose to do so with good equipment. What I do know is that whatever vinyl I end up buying it’ll be for the joy it brings me and not the investment value (although that may end up being a consideration one day).
Thanks for another thought provoking post Andy!
Thank you, Mark! I love what you say about your and your wife’s antiques journey and the parallelism you draw with vinyl. It makes a lot of sense when you look at it this way.
I also love the fact you guys started small and then had the chance to become more selective/refined as your circumstances changed. At this point I bet you guys had a much clearer focus and idea of where you wanted to go thanks to that initial experience, so it was like a natural progression in a way.
Absolutely agree with you that the joy needs to be there. Otherwise, there is very little point (or none at all).
Thanks a lot for reading and commenting!
The creators who make this art for us, the science that can put sound in those tight little grooves, to the aged audiophile who taped a dime to his roommate’s Dual turntable cartridge … it’s always been about the music!
Amen!
Many teens start with a Crosley, but over the years I have had several students ask me where they can buy a decent stereo system (or DSLR camera) for their budget. I have sent several to one particular shop here in Portland that reconditions old systems, and the prices and systems in his store can vary from affordable (notice I didn't use "cheap") to far beyond my own budget.
The most recent student bought a restored 1980s Fisher turntable installed with a new cartridge, a Philips receiver (also 80s, I think), and two bookshelf speakers for a grand total of $320. Not bad for a system that is ready to go and far better than a Crosley, in my opinion! There is a system that can be found for most budgets. And, sticking with that receiver she bought - Philips used to own Marantz so there was a lot of crossover with those two brands! Like I said, not bad and far better than a Crosley!
I also have a friend who has dove deep into country music. When I asked him, "Why country?" he replied, "Those are often the records I can find in the cheap-o dollar bins." And, I can't tell you the number of times students have excitedly come to my classroom to show me their beat-to-shit copy of some Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, or Pink Floyd record that they just bought at a secondhand store (often way overpriced given its condition). The look of glee on their face is priceless. So priceless, in fact, that as much as I want to tell them that tens of millions were pressed and they are not hard to find AND in better condition (and cheaper), I let them enjoy their moment. They can figure that last part out on their own!
Lastly, I 100% agree with Faith! As an art educator, I wish the US placed more value on turning STEM into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Mathematics). It should actually be a requirement worldwide because I have foreign exchange students every year, and my school now has over thirty Ukrainian students. Many of our newcomer and exchange students from other countries (this includes much of Europe) tell me they have no art classes in their schools. WHAT? Not only is art good for the soul and excellent for a well-rounded education, but art teaches us so much about ourselves, humanity, culture, and history (past and present).
Thank you, Michael! What you do with your students is very sweet. They are so fortunate to have a teacher like you who 1) is so knowledgeable 2) cares about their devolopment 3) listens to them 4) guides them without being patronising. Hard balance to strike and you do it all so naturally!
I agree that if the arts were given an ounce of the funding/attention/importance maths and science get, the world would be a much better place. I’m biased but I would also add foreign languages to the mix (or as a separate field deserving more attention). In my case and many others, foreign languages opened up a whole new world — quite literally.
Thanks a lot for reading and commenting!