[CAUT] The politics of clapping (o/t)

[Jeff Tanner]

On Mar 15, 2007, at 12:41 PM, John R. Granholm wrote:

> I don't know why people bring tiny children to these concerts, or  
> why some of them come to concerts and then carry on conversations  
> or wander in and out during the performance.  As has been  
> suggested, I suspect they have not been educated, and most people,  
> at least where I live, do not have a lot of experience with  
> "serious" concerts and customary behavior at them.

I'm like Mark.  I've been to enough of these events to pretty well  
know what to do.  But I follow anyway.

A lot of people in the world live by the "When in Rome..."  
philosophy.  You are describing a similar community to my hometown --  
not a lot of exposure to the nose in the air - ahem, "serious" - arts  
world.  I rather think artists like some described in this thread  
need to get over the "how to do" and appreciate rather, the  
opportunity to express their artistry and the creation of the  
artist.  As a general rule, the artist is being paid to be there, and  
if the audience hears something they appreciate and applaud at the  
"wrong" time, then so what? Take it as a compliment.  Smile and move  
on.  That is what is professional.

But to insult a group of people for not knowing when they were or  
were not supposed to clap doesn't do much to cultivate interest in  
the arts.  Rather, it reinforces why so many people don't have a lot  
of experience with it.  Because of the attitudes of the haughty  
taughty, it turns people off to the art itself by association.  Many  
people detest anything having to do with silly, meaningless "how to  
do" protocol, and if higher art fits into that category then  
advancing interest in that art is what suffers.

As far as bringing children, sometimes a small town community event  
is just that - a community event.  Families go.  That means children  
will be there, and will be exposed to the music.  For a lot of  
families, if children can't go, neither do the parents.  If we lose  
perspective in what is being presented because of some so-so  
protocol, what does that do for advancing the cause of the arts?

Does "serious" concert mean it is like an R rated movie?  You can't  
attend until you're old enough?  (maybe that's why most of the hair  
in our audiences is white?)


Jeff Tanner, RPT
University of South Carolina



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