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Date: | Mon, 10 May 1999 15:39:00 -0500 |
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I fail to understand why elitism garners so much criticism on this List.
I would predict that each and every person on this list is an elitist at
one time or another:
If you need a surgeon to remove a cancerous tumor, do you go to a resident
fresh out of medical school, or do you look for the most highly trained,
experienced specialist in the field? This is an elitist choice most of us
would make without a moment's hesitation.
If you need a lawyer to defend you against a murder charge, do you hire
a novice fresh out of lawschool or do you look for the seasoned veteran
of many years of successfully defending his clients? Again, the choice is
pretty obvious, but the (relatively) poor beginning lawyer would be within
his rights to accuse you of the dreaded elitism.
Take it from the realm of services to that of objects.
If a friend gives you a substantial amount of money to purchase a painting
for his living room, are you more likely to go out and by the friend a
"velvet Elvis" or a work of a master?
If that friend wishes to reward you with an invitation to dinner at your
choice of eating establishment, are you more likely to choose McDonald's or
a 5-star Continental (whoops--there go those dead white Europeans again!)
restaurant.
Choices like these can be looked at as common sense. Skill, training,
experience, craftmanship and, yes, artistic inspiration all are factors
that we weigh in our thought and reason to come to a value judgment.
IMO, the same processes can be--and are--applied to music.
John M. Proffitt
General Manager & C.E.O.
Radio Station KUHF-FM
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