So, a few days ago I asked for comments on this notion and promised to share my own thoughts on the subject. I should start by saying the rather obvious - that this is just my sense of this, NOT any kind of claim to being "right." Anyway....
This subject was actually brought up by one of my ASU Music Education Interns, as we were talking about the creative process of my students and how I go about evaluating their overall progress towards creating effective music. (Note that the term "effective" is in itself a troubling term, but I digress...) Anyway, my intern mentioned that an ASU professor - key here is one who, at least on the surface, might seem like an ultra-traditionalist (a very incorrect label I personally feel, and my intern wholeheartedly agreed) - made the comment that the two types of music are "honest and dishonest." The reference was in terms of a musician's interpretation of a piece in performance, but I feel it applies far more universally, and having nothing do to with genre, instrumentation, technology usage or anything else that in may ways is all just superficial to me. (Another commentary for another time..)
In any case, this was one of those "aha!" moments for me. One of those times we all have on occasion where we think, "wow! I wish I had thought of that! That is brilliant!" And so this idea of "honest and dishonest" music really got me thinking about the whole process of music and creativity and what constitutes an honest process and what makes up one that is false.
The flaw, if I can use that word for it, in the "good and bad" line of thinking is that it ultimately is 100% subjective. That's not to say that it is not an important distinction, it very much is important, but as I thought about it, I realized that "good and bad" can never be perfectly aligned for anyone other than the individual experiencing the music. It's just too circumstantial. Too wrapped up in variables that can only apply to one person perfectly and to all others imperfectly. Too subject to the moment, moods and other countless elements. Too inconsistent.
But "honest and dishonest," have none of those issues. Honest and Dishonest is all about the creative process. Really, they have nothing to do with the listener. As a listener we are still free to interpret, still free to like or dislike something based on whatever personal experiences and preferences we have have. But that is not he same as the creative process.
The process is not good or bad. It simply is. And if that is true then the question is really about whether or not the process is genuine. Honest or dishonest. This has nothing to do with the actual result. Nothing to do with the resulting sound. Just the intent of whomever created the sound.
Sure, we want the result to "work." To reach and impact and effect the listener in a way that matches our intent, but if for any reason it does not, that does not mean we were dishonest with the process, just ineffective. "Effective" is the "good v bad" concept. It is rooted in result, and is 100%, as I said open to interpretation. How often does one person have a different taste or preference with regard to music? Or movies? Or books? Or art? Or food? Or fashion? Or on and on and on and on? All. The. Time.
But the intent is what really matters. How people interpret is on them. Certainly in today's world there are countless ways people can be influenced towards a particular interpretation, but that is still on them to react to those influences. It does not change the intent -the honesty (or not, I suppose) of that intent. That's what matters. In fact, as I continue to explore this concept, I suspect that the honest process more often yields the interpretation of "good" anyway.
And for those still struggling to "make it" - to break through - keep your process honest. In the end I am certain that is all that really matters.
Certainly, there is far more to this, and I am just starting to get me head around it, but I can already tell it is have a significantly positive impact on my own process and that makes it all the more fascinating, interesting, and worth it.
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