A Night at the Symphony (with apologies to the Marx Brothers)

I went to the symphony last night. To fully explain this post, we must start off with the background. I've split them up into 2 separate but equally important views.

Background view 1:
I was talking to a girl a few weeks ago. She is a Music Ed. major. I asked her what I thought was a very simple question, "Are you going to the symphony?" Her reaction, was not so simple. She recoiled, a look of disbelief came upon her face, she opened her mouth and the most shocked voice came out, "For entertainment?" She dragged out the word en--ter--tain--ment as if to accentuate that entertainment has 4 syllables, or maybe she was unsure of how to pronounce the word (each are valid options). I was surprised. I said, "You are a music major". She answered, "I'm not like that." I didn't press her to find out what "like that" meant, since I am assuming it meant listening to classical music of your own volition, or something equally stupid like that.
But now, in true Joanna form, I have re-thought this conversation. I wish I had not gone down the music major path, that path is weary, downtrodden, and most of the time (sister excluded) it doesn't deserve to be defended. I do wish, however, that I had gone down the entertainment path.

Background View 2:
In the past few weeks, I have been an unwilling observer/listener/half-participator of people's conversations about movies. Now, you know I like movies. We go over this on a regular basis. But you may not know this: I like movies so much, that I purposely do not talk about them with certain people.
And within one week, I have had 5 conversations about movies, 4 of which were with people that I don't talk about movies with, and only 1 out of those 5 was I was truly participating in.

[Note: When I am not participating in a movie conversation, I usually listen, and make sarcastic remarks about movies mentioned. I offer some good movies for people to watch, see how they are accepted/rejected, and then back down. Listen to people talk about actors/actresses and decide whether I will ever speak to this person again. I also tend to stay far away from recommending movies in groups. That doesn't follow the holy rules of recommendations (previous post). I usually listen more than I talk, laugh more than I should, and hear more than I ought.]

I promise you, I did not start these conversations. I did not want to hear these people talk about movies. But they did. And I heard it. And I thought about it. And here I am.

Conclusion:
The greatest problem in America (don't worry, I'm not starting another series) is our conception of entertainment. That conception is why people are stupid. It is why people don't read real books. It is why people have horrible movie choices. It is why people don't go to symphony concerts. It is why people can't converse about the election intelligently. (which, hallelujah is over). And it is why I don't talk to you.

We have such a weak view of entertainment. We hold books/music/movies to such a low standard. That standard is only a momentary amusement or enjoyment. That's all we're asking for out of our books/music/movies. And then, the few, rare, options that come across our path that are on a slightly higher plane, we appreciate them only because they make us feel wise. But that, right there is the problem. The real versions of books/music/movies don't make us feel wise, they actually make us wise.
True "entertainment" is not a diversion. It is a thought process.


You don't go to the Symphony for entertainment, you go because you need to be reminded of how powerful music is.

You don't read a book for entertainment, you read a book because you need to see characters come alive, you need to hear thoughts that you haven't thought before, you need to go where you haven't gone before.

You don't listen to music for entertainment, you listen to music, because at times, there is nothing else in the world more important to do.

You don't watch a movie for entertainment, you watch a movie because you need to learn.



It's not about entertainment, it's about education. And it's become clear that many people are sorely in need of one.