This is interesting, Peter, especially as I didn't know about Brendel's
feelings. But, once again, these things are going to be personal, eh. I
love Satie,too, & because he did something interesting with that
popular feeling.
On the other hand once the concept of 'kitsch' exists/(ed), how can I
not find that it works? It's just that my choice of kitsch might not be
others'....
I admit that I do think of some kinds of art as 'sentimental' in the
bad sense, while others get me because the sentiment rendered in them
works (for me)....
Doug
On 25-Oct-07, at 8:36 AM, Peter Cudmore wrote:
> I think the thing that is irksome about the ascription of the label
> 'sentimental' is the confidence with which it is done. I have a similar
> problem with the concept of kitsch. There are a few things that I like
> that
> other people describe as 'kitsch', and I'm damned if I'm going to come
> up
> with 'ironic' ways of liking them.
>
> I'm thinking here of Alfred Brendel, who thus regards certain parts of
> the
> classical piano repertoire. I don't know if he mentions Satie, but
> Satie is
> a good example because his music is immersed in the local popular
> culture of
> his day, though transformed by his touch. It's because I like Brendel
> so
> much that I'm irked by this particular issue, because it makes me feel
> as
> though I have to defend myself -- but against what? Why the hell
> shouldn't I
> like Satie?
Douglas Barbour
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