«We listen with our body gesture, not only with our ears but with our lungs, ask any singer»-Anonymus Smith
«How ridiculous it would be ! A book called: acoustic for your lungs»-Groucho Marx 🤓
Nietzsche and Runaway Audio Consumption
Came across this today. A lot of posts bring up the issue of "how much is enough?" or "when is audio consumption justified" etc.
Does this Nietzsche aphorism apply to audio buying? You be the judge!
Friedrich Nietzsche: “Danger in riches. — Only he who has spirit ought to have possessions: otherwise possessions are a public danger. For the possessor who does not know how to make use of the free time which his possessions could purchase him will always continue to strive after possessions: this striving will constitute his entertainment, his strategy in his war against boredom.
Thus in the end the moderate possessions that would suffice the man of spirit are transformed into actual riches – riches which are in fact the glittering product of spiritual dependence and poverty. They only appear quite different from what their wretched origin would lead one to expect because they are able to mask themselves with art and culture: for they are, of course, able to purchase masks. By this means they arouse envy in the poorer and the uncultivated – who at bottom are envying culture and fail to recognize the masks as masks – and gradually prepare a social revolution: for gilded vulgarity and histrionic self-inflation in a supposed ‘enjoyment of culture’ instil into the latter the idea ‘it is only a matter of money’ – whereas, while it is to some extent a matter of money, it is much more a matter of spirit.”
Nietzsche, Friedrich. 1996. Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits. Cambridge University Press. (p. 283-4, an aphorism no. 310)
I'm pretty sure @mahgister will want to read this one! (Because they speak so artfully about avoiding the diversion that consumption poses to the quest for true aesthetic and acoustic excellence.)
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Food for thought in all the above.
One thing we haven't touched on up to now, what about our own contribution to this cultivation of spirit. Aren't we artists of a kind in putting together audio systems? Yes, we want to experience the spirit of music and it's performance at home, but aren't we inherently contributing to this experience?
Which calls into question, what are our true intentions in this whole endeavor? I'm sure there are times when we feel spiritual connection to music and performance. Is there not also a feeling of pride, of self satisfaction in having put together this system that evokes such feelings? If this case then we ourselves are unquestionably part of this evocation of the spirit.
So, is ego fulfillment part of our true intent as audiophiles? Do we not superimpose ourselves into this musical performance? Based on my observations and personal experience, feelings of pride inevitable. Is this truly cultivation of the spirit or something else? Can the artist divorce him or herself from the masterpiece they have created?
Also, is pride inherently good spirit, or only good to a point? Certainly there is malevolent spirit in form of hubris. When does pride morph into hubris and how can we tell when it has?
Perhaps audiophilia is an affliction after all. |
@sns Very well said. Here's my quick take — audiophiles do contribute to the artistry by making their systems. They feel power in making the sound immersive, in bringing music and bodily feeling into synergy with the room. What was once a cold piece of machinery is embedded (agree, Mahgister) into the larger space of their home thanks to their actions: knowledgeable care in selection, arrangement, positioning, adjusting of all in the environment. Pride and self satisfaction is warranted. I like nothing more than to experience what another audiophile has created and talk to them about how and why they did things in that unique way. In effect, I'm asking for their spirit to sing its song to me. Pet psychological theory about when audiophiles go too far — over-consume or are dogmatic about the gear: we need to make our own music, too. Too many of us, me included, don't play an instrument anymore. We "make" music by playing the music of others. If more of us were at least singing, playing music with others from time to time, we'd be less frustrated. That frustration comes from trying to fulfill deeply creative urges with audiophile pursuits *alone*. That's not enough to satisfy a lot of us. |
Greats posts thanks to the Op And sns... I will only add that pride of the job done is not a sin... The ego is not something to be erased but a tool to serve the spirit... The creation of our own audiophile event by our hand and experiments is not a feat of worthy of unending praise just circonstances to learn something about ourselves... Music is also therapeutical tool for me, some frequencies are very important to be rightfully perceived with optimal accuracy... Music is a hobby, i listen to enjoy myself but the therapeutic aspect is on par with the pleasant sensations.. Music is also a tool to explore and modify a part of the earth : our room and make it completely adapted to our own body from an acoustic point of view... Also acoustic and psycho acoustic are really a simple meditation about our power , how consciousness could modify the perceptions by reorganizing the room... The only luxury is a dedicated room but someone could also do without it... The essential is acoustically optimize so well our audio system that we will be able to enlarge our original tastes and appreciate many other culture perspectives takes on the soul/world through music.. By the way many of us lack self confidence, me included, and we prefer to give ourself to the market and bought without any creative move, but the most important thing is to have self-confidence and self reliance... I never had that myself...I am not a very skilled craftsman .... The only reason i embarked on this journey was not first self confidence but complete lack of money and the desesperate urge to improve greatly my unsatisfying actual audio system after my retirement or just before it...Then for those of us who are like me, without self confidence, you must learn to do it, and the less money you have to throw in the wind sometimes is the better, it will make easier your frantic searches for solutions and studies of basic science.... This is deeply true :
I wish you the best christmas possible in this impossible world.... |
Humans tend to imbue things with qualities not present. Personification of animals comes to mind. Seems reasonable that we'd imbue inanimate objects with a part of ourselves as well, maybe even more than an animal since it hasn't life of it's own until we complete the process. When it becomes a part of us, it becomes an extension of us. All of us: the good and the bad. I feel it true that pets are an extension of their owners so it must fall that our personal possessions are an extension of us as well. The danger lies in what these possessions, in return, enable in us, further in us. As mentioned, a danger lies in hubris, when some think their connection to art and system is the only true answer. All the best, |
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