From the wreck of the Popism thread...

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

OK a 'rockist' sez:
Bob Dylan is better than Charlotte Church. That's just a fact.

A 'popist' sez:

No way, boring Bob is rubbish compared to Charlotte Church. That's just a fact.

Here's what I actually think:

Listening to music is made up of a series of moments, like coin tosses or dice throws. At any given moment I might find Bob suits me better, or Charlotte. Over time, it's likely Bob will win a lot more often than Charlotte. But during those moments when I want Charlotte, no amount of Bob will suffice. The 'rockist' or 'rockist-about-pop' mistake is to imagine that the 'over time' is what matters, not the moment.

(For 'Bob' and 'Charlotte' insert whoever you want.)

This third point of view is, you'll notice, considerably less snappy than the other two.

-- Tom (freakytrigger@gmail.com), October 20th, 2005 1:59 PM. (Groke) (later) (link)

So re-reading this I wonder if it's statin' the bleedin' obvious or if there's anything in it, I mean in terms of the conception of the fixity of taste and judgement being a big divider....

Comments

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Bob = miserable cnut moaning on about STUFF
Char = bubbly taff who belts out choones about FUN

Which would you rather go fer a pint with etc

Oh man. Pint. Gaaaaaaah

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Short answer: I'd rather go for a pint. But yes, Charlotte would be fun while Bob would just be an enigmatic tosser. You'd ask what he wanted and he'd start on some elliptical ramble about Mr Jones.