Wow, it's finally turned cool and autumnal! How delightful! Though my computer does tell me it's supposed to be 82 on Friday. Oh well, I'll enjoy the lack of humidity for now.
I've been having some thoughts about collective consciousness, though I'm not sure how deep they are. My parents were in town this weekend, and last night we went to see The Fantasticks. I didn't know anything about the show, but my dad had seen it at his college about 35 years ago, and my boyfriend knew one song, though he had heard this revival wasn't that great. The thing that I did know about the show, and the fact that was displayed all around the lobby of the theater, was that this was the longest running show EVER. It ran for 40 plus years off Broadway. So when you hear that a show ran for that long, you wonder what it's all about, and what made it so popular. And after having seen it, I have to say... I'm not sure! Some of the songs were really beautiful, and I could see that the themes of youth, disillusionment, as well as the sparse sets really struck a chord with people through the decades. But what makes something like that so popular?
How much of what we like and praise is based on what other people think? And why do we care about what other people think? And what is the deal with expectations? I went into this show with certain ideas, and perhaps because of that, I didn't think it was that great. If we are all individual creatures with our own consciousness, then what is this part of us that is influenced by what other people think?
I guess this relates in some ways to what we've discussed about the mystery of consciousness, and the fact that so much of literature is sort of the excitement of exploring someone else's mind. We also, as conscious beings, love finding people who think like us or enjoy the same things as we do. Why does that matter so much?
Anyway, this is my combination consciousness report and theater review. What I really wanted to see was A Chorus Line. A five six seven eight!
Comments (3)
You're right. It seems like a lot of what we praise as "good" and much of what we deride as "bad" is based on what others think. Just look at how many "Top Ten" lists there are in print nowadays. Top One Hundred Books, Top One Thousand places to see before you die, Best Movies of the Century, Maxim's best bars of the east coast. It's like there's a top ten list for everything out there.
There's probably an evolutionary explanation for it. In aligning what we think and do with that of the group, we prevent ourselves from becoming ostracized. This "group-identification" urge probably has its roots in the pack/tribal/clan behavior of the early species. Our chances of survival are much greater in a group than if we are out on our own.
Posted by Andrew | September 17, 2007 6:14 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 18:14
As a footnote to the Fantastistics, I never saw it because I lived in the downtown for many years and figured it was always be at that little theater. Then it closed. Many of the songs were favorites of some of many theater friends so I feel as I seen the show via class performances. I think what caused such a stir at the time was how basic the show was, no sets, just music and people and situations. It was produced this way because of finances not necessarily artistic choice and thus represented alot of what downtown theater people were going through. There really was no off or off-off broadway when it was done, and in that sense,it was revolutionary as it brought many new people in to theater. But as a show, I'm with you on many respects.
John
Posted by john | September 18, 2007 2:35 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 14:35
I think that a lot of what we think is based on what society deems acceptable, talented, funny, etc.
Take for example The Blair Witch Project. It got great reviews. I am the only one of my friends who thought it was terrible. Did I miss something? Or did people think they had to agree with the critics. I mean, if you didn't agree with the people who are paid to think for you...then there must be something wrong with you. Ebert is much more qualified to judge for you, then you are to judge for yourself, right?
I am teaching my 7th grade ELA class about choices. I had them write about 3 factors that influence their descisions, and they all wrote about society.
Advertisements, commercials, magazines, music, these all influence they way my kids speak, dress, and act. Which ultimatley influences the way they think.
Marilyn Manson has a song where one of the lines is:
" You think all the thoughts that I thought you, don't you."
I believe he is right. We hear things and read things, and they are other peoples ideas. We then covet them, and they become our own. We tell them to other people, and take credit for them...because they are...in esscences...our ideas now.
Are there ever any original opinions or ideas? can an original idea, or uninfluenced opinion even exist?
I don't have an answer.
Posted by Jess | September 23, 2007 3:13 AM
Posted on September 23, 2007 03:13