IDM Mailing Archive

On Mon, 17 Jun 1996, 4th world wrote:

quoted 4 lines Therefore. Experimental, avant garde artists that remain as such for their

> Therefore. Experimental, avant garde artists that remain as such for their > whole creative life, and even through posterity, are failures. Fans of an > avant garde scene who dread it crossing over and selling out are, well, > idiots.

No, some of them wrote complete shit under phony identities (and sometimes even phony names) and became rich while spending their spare time on what they loved. Much of which is probably lost, but what do they care? They're dead.

quoted 4 lines I could bore you and ream off a list of artists who were as you

> I could bore you and ream off a list of artists who were as you > say "failures" (many revered classical composers , painters , astronomers, > film makers) , but have now defined much of mainstream music / art / > culture

So they are *not* failures if their work goes on to define mainstream music, art, and culture? Is the standard for greatness to be based on the number of mediocrities who have copied what is great? Seems paradoxical to me. It's worth pointing out that a composer can in one act be attempting many things, succeeding at some while failing at others. Whether or not he is a failure depends on where he's set his priorities.

quoted 2 lines , and personally I'd rather read the Wire than wank mags like DJ and

>, and personally I'd rather read the Wire than wank mags like DJ and > Mixmag.

Personally I'd rather just read hyperreal lists and spend the money on records. ;) einexile, who buys magazines anyway because he is neurotic