No Barriers to Entry
Figuring out how to make what I do more accessible and inclusive is something that lives at the center of my mind ‘rent-free’. That is to say, the world of classical music has existed for centuries according to its elite, pretentious, and outdated rules, and is long overdue for change. It’s frustrating to be part of that machine, trying to nudge it forward but getting nowhere, and I know many colleagues who feel the same way. Even more than that, it’s painful to love this art so passionately and to feel so limited in who you get to share it with.
I suspect that classical music is widely recognized as being on the extreme end of the ‘snobby arts’ spectrum. There are so many stereotypes associated with it (many of which are not wrong); that it’s for wealthy people, old people, white people. Even at the world’s top music conservatories, music is often taught within the framework of these standards; students are so well-versed in the politics of old-world classical music, often at the cost of any kind of progressive education in the field (from my own experience anyway).
When I introduce myself to someone as a classical violinist, I know I’m giving an immediate impression associated with those ideas. I find this is especially the case when speaking with someone in my own age group; in such a situation, you have a very short period of time in which to challenge this reaction, no less change their mind. Answering the usual questions like, ‘what kind of music do you play?’ or ‘how long have you been playing the violin?’, in a way that doesn’t immediately shut you off to that person is really tricky.
I have found recently that this doesn’t really stop at classical music; conversations about so-called pretentious or high-brow subjects like art or books can feel the same way (and I only mention these particular examples as they pertain to my own personal interests - I am sure there are many more besides!). When I spend a day at a gallery and feel particularly inspired by a piece of art, just as when I read a book about which I have loads of ideas, all I want to do is talk about it! I mean, we all want to talk about the things we love, right? Parents talk about their kids, pet-owners never shut up about their furry friends (me included), sports fanatics love to confer over particular teams and players, foodies share some kind of other-worldly bond. Why is it that these kinds of conversations are so relatable, so welcoming of everyone, but others so lofty and exclusive?
Of course, we are not all interested in the same things - and that’s obviously a good thing! But I believe that, if it could be possible to have conversations that felt fun and inclusive rather than condescending, where we could really share our artistic interests with each other openly, more people would discover a love of and real joy in different kinds of art and literature. These things are created, after all, from very human emotion and experience, and therefore should be available for all of us to connent with.
I think the way to approach both the arts and the conversations around them, is first to eliminate the barrier to entry; it shouldn’t matter what anyone listens to or reads or how often they do it. The point is just to try something, and that is enough! To find something that you like or that rings with something inside you, and just see where it takes you. Then, sharing it with anyone who wants to listen and be part of that experience will just happen organically. Like I said, we love talking about things we love.
The other day, I heard some good advice from a highly productive reader when asked about how someone could incorporate more reading into their life; “Just read something. Whether it’s a magazine or an Instagram poem or a memoir or anything else. Just read anything that you like.” I think this philosophy could be applied to anything. Let's get rid of society’s weird, old-fashioned barriers, dip our feet into things that we don’t know much about, and normalize talking about whatever art that we love! The arts are for all of us; they are meant to be talked about, argued over, shared between friends. That’s how they continue to survive, and us along with them.
Of Interest
This article in The Atlantic, comparing the effects of social media to alcohol addiction, and suggesting that while we have a structure in society to help people combat some types of addiction, there is a lot of work left to be done for others.
This lunchbox has really upped my work lunch game.
This NY Times article, which puts an actual step count on the amount of exercise that we need to live long and happy lives. Well, long anyway.
Did you watch the French drama on Netflix, Call My Agent? Here’s a profile of Camille Cottin for Vogue - I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.
This article in the New Yorker about productivity culture, why it is mportant but can so easily become toxic.
On that note, I’ve read a lot recently about ‘deep work’, and how just sitting and thinking is the magic to creativity. I also read a piece about how one writer structures her time into small pockets of productivity, and how that works so much better for her than long stretches of free time. I think I agree with her?
Have you ever tried a pluot? We got them in our vegetable box last week. Delicious.
We love Jen Psaki! In a job that must be excrutiatingly stressful at times, I’ll take her professional, fact-based style any day.
Speaking of things on my mind, this article in The Atlantic about the difficult decision millennial women are facing in regards to whether or not to have children in today’s climate… chimed with me.
There is a place in my building where residents can place items for free for anyone to take. The other day I got this lamp - it’s it cute?! Perfect for gloomy fall days…
