I just read a review in a publication that I will not name to protect the innocent. I will say that it is, theoretically, a publication that has multiple editors. It is not a blog. In it, the reviewer called the orchestra a "band," timpani "kettledrums," and stated that a "viola player" led the tuning. All in the opening paragraph.
Let's ignore the fact that an orchestra's tuning does not require mention in a review. Nor does the number of bouquets the soloist gets. Let's also ignore that the "reviewer" described what the stage looked like before the orchestra entered. And further, let's ignore that there were multiple misspellings, errors in punctuation, and terrible grammar throughout.
Why do people who know literally nothing about classical music (or, in this case, music) offer up their opinions and critique as if they are experts? And why would a publication of any kind ask someone who knows nothing about music to be their music critic?
This is hardly limited to music. Climatologists regularly have to share the stage with know-nothings who offer up an "opposing-view" on climate change as if the opinion of a non-scientist has any value in this context. And yet we are all forced to endure this nonsense over and over again. We watch Neil deGrasse Tyson get in a twitter war with a flat-earther. It's embarrassing and maddening, and insulting to people who have devoted their lives to excellence and mastery. WHY ARE WE AFRAID OF EXPERTS? WHY DON'T WE RESPECT KNOWLEDGE?
To quote Barack Obama "Ignorance is not a virtue."
If you are giving ignoramuses a podium at which they trumpet their ignorance, you are thumbing your nose at every person in the world who bothers to try to be good at and knowledgeable about something. You are telling experts that you do not value their expertise.
For the record, I wrote a mean comment on this article. I couldn't not. That's not normally my way, but it's so incredibly insulting to the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people currently alive in the United States who have studied enough music to have a basic knowledge of and appreciation for what this particular orchestra was offering on this particular evening. Shame on you, unnamed-publication-which-has-access-to-many-people-who-could-write-an-accurate-and-useful-review. Shame on you for perpetrating ignorance.
Virgil Thomson is doing summersaults in his grave.
Let's ignore the fact that an orchestra's tuning does not require mention in a review. Nor does the number of bouquets the soloist gets. Let's also ignore that the "reviewer" described what the stage looked like before the orchestra entered. And further, let's ignore that there were multiple misspellings, errors in punctuation, and terrible grammar throughout.
Why do people who know literally nothing about classical music (or, in this case, music) offer up their opinions and critique as if they are experts? And why would a publication of any kind ask someone who knows nothing about music to be their music critic?
This is hardly limited to music. Climatologists regularly have to share the stage with know-nothings who offer up an "opposing-view" on climate change as if the opinion of a non-scientist has any value in this context. And yet we are all forced to endure this nonsense over and over again. We watch Neil deGrasse Tyson get in a twitter war with a flat-earther. It's embarrassing and maddening, and insulting to people who have devoted their lives to excellence and mastery. WHY ARE WE AFRAID OF EXPERTS? WHY DON'T WE RESPECT KNOWLEDGE?
To quote Barack Obama "Ignorance is not a virtue."
If you are giving ignoramuses a podium at which they trumpet their ignorance, you are thumbing your nose at every person in the world who bothers to try to be good at and knowledgeable about something. You are telling experts that you do not value their expertise.
For the record, I wrote a mean comment on this article. I couldn't not. That's not normally my way, but it's so incredibly insulting to the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people currently alive in the United States who have studied enough music to have a basic knowledge of and appreciation for what this particular orchestra was offering on this particular evening. Shame on you, unnamed-publication-which-has-access-to-many-people-who-could-write-an-accurate-and-useful-review. Shame on you for perpetrating ignorance.
Virgil Thomson is doing summersaults in his grave.
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