Saturday, May 24, 2008

Random Thoughts of a Tired Mind

Is classical music a lost art form? Why do so few people enjoy it nowadays? Why is the fact that I enjoy listening to it occasionally laughed at?

Why do I care if people laugh at me?

Why am I so emotional? Is there any way to keep from being so moody?

The ultimate irony: I think I am better than the average person, only to find I’m falling into the same patterns every other person follows. In this case, for example, reading into everything someone of the opposite gender says. Ah, I deserve to have my pride lowered a notch or two…

Why is it that I act and think so differently when tired? I’m sure there’s a very good psychological reason somewhere…

I love chocolate pudding. Isn’t it great, folks?

Why am I always thinking about myself? Is this how others’ thoughts go too? Or am I simply an abnormally self-centered person?

I love games. I wish people were around right now so we could play something. But I guess the old adage is true: all play and no work makes Jack (or Jill) a slow quirk? Something like that…

I really should read more classics. Any suggestions?

Now I should really quit. And maybe even get a life. And…*gasp* Maybe even SLEEP! *audience gasps in horror*

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a thought-provoking post! You should get tired more often.

Classical music: I think it's just that you (and I) hang out in the wrong circles. Classical music was never something a whole population was enthusiastic about - it was mostly the rich and educated. But one of my cello and piano playing friends tells me that pop music is taboo among orchestra people.

Chocolate pudding: totally!

Classics: I've enjoyed encountering some of the more modern ones this year in college. Borges and Calvino are amazing! Some of my all-time favorite oldies are Chaucer, Melville, and Twain. I read practically nothing but Mark Twain for about a year one time, and he still has great books I haven't read yet. But don't get me started... What would you recommend?

Anonymous said...

Wow, you are tired...

Allegra said...

LOL! Two totally different reactions from different people. Elliott, are you trying to state the obvious? :P

Gee, there's some gorgeous classical music out there. Why don't people like beautiful music? I understand the desire to get all pumped up about something, but gee...

Chocolate pudding...is...amazing. Need I say more? :)

Borges and Calvino sound interesting! I'm actually in the midst of reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (shame on me for never reading it before...). Also, Crime and Punishment by an author whose name Mark can spell better than I, despite the fact that my last name is the one difficult to spell and from the same region...

Thanks for the recommendations!

Dakota said...

I'm a music snob, and I freely admit it. And I love classical music. We still remember Beethoven...chances are we won't remember Brittany Spears (although we will remember the Beatles).

As to books, I'm trying to read lots of Francis Schaeffer this summer, along with some Eliot, Lewis and history books recommended by my prof.

Anonymous said...

Classical music is good. yay! You updated. All of us are self centered.

Unknown said...

Although there are probably other factors at work as well, I've noticed that there seems to be a mentality in mainstream culture that anything old is "un-evolved". Classical music probably fits into that category for most people unfortunately.

Allegra said...

Dakota, I'm glad to realize that some people like classical music. You've got a point about Beethoven versus Brittany. Of course, I have to admit that sometimes classical music rubs me the wrong way, too. It's nice to listen to while studying, but not while, say, cleaning the bathroom.

Francis Schaeffer, eh? What do you think of his stuff? I love reading Lewis, although I'm not always good about thinking through what he says. Dad reads Lewis sometimes after supper for all of us to hear (family devotions, in a way, I guess), and it's neat to be able to discuss what he's talking about.

History Maker, lol! Perhaps being self-centered is part of man's fall.

N8, I agree with you for the most part. I suppose that this concept of not wanting to listen to "un-evolved" music has penetrated most kids, even within the home-schooling Christian circles. At the same time, though, I agree that there are probably other factors at work. Lydia is not a fan of classical music, but that's not because she thinks it's "un-evolved". She says that it seems "un-interesting" to her. She also pointed out that rock music, in some ways, is less unique than classical.

So yes, I agree that may be the reason why people don't care to listen to classical music, but I think it has more to do with classical versus modern music. If you have a choice, which are you more likely to listen to? Which has lyrics which suit your mood? Which one can you relate to? Which one does our culture listen to?

Oy. I'm still not making my point. What I'm trying to say is that there are times when even I, yes, even I, don't like listening to classical music. I think it gets old after a while (thanks, culture, for instant gratification and super-short attention spans...), and it's hard to get pumped about something when you're listening to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. :P

I don't know. There is some classical music (Aufschwung, by Robert Schumann) that really gets me pumped when I play it on the piano. But I'm usually pumped when I play it in the first place.

So I've lost purpose in this comment. Oy. If it's opened any new doors for discussion, hooray. If not, well, I'm hoping to update again...Sometime... :P