mary_jo, we seem to be going round in circles to a degree. Too much is being made of the distinction between being “inside” and “outside” the world of the creators. We are all creators in one fashion or another. Obviously, not all are creators in the same endeavor, but creators nonetheless and many of the same principles apply to all. Yes, you did state that your comment had to do with film creators, but it was in response to the topic of music creators. Again, many of the same same basic principles apply; Schubert’s excellent point not withstanding.
I have known “non-creators” who were as musically astute and insightful of the process of creation as many creators themselves. That is not where the distinction should me made. I think the problem when trying to discuss these things goes to something I tried to describe early in the thread. Let’s first back up for a moment to what the main point of all this is (was); the backdrop. This discussion began around the issue of whether or not there is a “best” in Jazz. I will use some of your terminology:
There is a very normal tendency on the part of those “outside” the world of the (music) “creators” to over romanticize the process of “creating”; just as there is a tendency to over romanticize our involvement as consumers of the creations (aficionados). The rose colored glasses effect. All very common and normal. We build affinities and preferences for certain artists and styles of music, in part, for reasons that have little to do with the ultimate value of the music itself. This leads to all sorts of dichotomies and contradictions when discussing the topic. The contradictions may fit our own personal “emotional agenda”, but they are contradictions nonetheless. The perfect example of this contradiction is to claim that we don’t compare artists. Yet, the term “best” is used freely. It sounds good to claim no comparison, romantic; and, sure, we can suspend direct comparison while actually listening to the music, but to have a “best” or even a “favorite” means, almost by definition, that we are comparing.
Still, some want to keep the feelings about the creations “above the fray” of any kind of judgment as if there were something wrong with judging and establishing personal boundaries for what we like or don’t like. Nothing wrong with that as long as we can honestly say that we keep an open mind to the reasons why we may be reacting the way we are; some of which are simply our own biases and nothing more and no reflection of the ultimate value of the creation.
Anyway, thanks for your thoughts. Enough philosophizing about all this.
Happy New Year!
