I think the 'general public' thing is important - not that Poptimists or its members has some kind of amazing connection to the common man but the frame of our discussion is often (not always) the people we know, talk to, music as we encounter it in everyday life. Every thread I start here comes out of another conversation, most of my FT posts that aren't part of a big series do too.
Whereas the K-Punk end of things tends to focus on i. the tides and opinions in criticism / the blogosphere as they see it and ii. a wider cultural and political picture. We pay attention to i. too, we're doing it now - and often those threads get self-indulgent or defensive or weak - but it's true to say we stay away from ii. So in that sense Poptimists is "anti-intellectual", reactive and conversational rather than proactive and um manifestational. And that can look like a position born out of complacency and privilege - it IS in a global sense (you think it's tough now - come to Africa).
The yoghurt is full of dairy, which helps keep the populus docile and pliant, while they buy into the VideOrganic spectacle drip-fed by the Murdochist MIAutocrats.
I'm sure we could all talk about the wider political picture if we wanted. I probably wouldn't mention music very much though given how minimally important it is if you're analysing eg New Labour.
It is? I'm sure trying to get people to talk about a wider cultural and political picture in my column. And I'd consider the koganbot, livejournal, where we discuss such things, pretty much an extension of poptimists, though of course not all of you look at koganbot (and those of you who do not look are worse people, obviously).
The fact that people here continually use the word "indie" and such indicates an interest in the broad musico-cultural landscape we find ourselves in. But we could do a better job, for sure.
Btw, I don't think I'm being anti-intellectual in saying that the argument between "popists" and "rockists" is generally formulated in such a poor way that it's a discussion not worth having. But then again I don't think that popists and rockists exist, and I've never been able to find myself on a social map that contains the words "rockism" or "popism" or "poptimism," and can't place any of you there either. So (very selfishly, perhaps) I don't give a shit - except to the extent that I think I have some interesting ideas and pose some intriguing question, and "rockism" and "popism" and "poptimism" are what people waste their time talking about instead. (But I realize that this last paragraph is plenty cryptic.)
I've never been able to find myself on a social map that contains the words "rockism" or "popism" or "poptimism"
This is a question for another thread! I'm very busy at work this week and the next, but someone remind me about this in September and I shall expand my thoughts...
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 02:12 pm (UTC)Whereas the K-Punk end of things tends to focus on i. the tides and opinions in criticism / the blogosphere as they see it and ii. a wider cultural and political picture. We pay attention to i. too, we're doing it now - and often those threads get self-indulgent or defensive or weak - but it's true to say we stay away from ii. So in that sense Poptimists is "anti-intellectual", reactive and conversational rather than proactive and um manifestational. And that can look like a position born out of complacency and privilege - it IS in a global sense (you think it's tough now - come to Africa).
no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 02:17 pm (UTC)what annoys me is the lack of intellectual content when people post about eating yoghurt. the public-school shitbags.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 02:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 03:21 pm (UTC)but it's true to say we stay away from ii
It is? I'm sure trying to get people to talk about a wider cultural and political picture in my column. And I'd consider the
The fact that people here continually use the word "indie" and such indicates an interest in the broad musico-cultural landscape we find ourselves in. But we could do a better job, for sure.
Btw, I don't think I'm being anti-intellectual in saying that the argument between "popists" and "rockists" is generally formulated in such a poor way that it's a discussion not worth having. But then again I don't think that popists and rockists exist, and I've never been able to find myself on a social map that contains the words "rockism" or "popism" or "poptimism," and can't place any of you there either. So (very selfishly, perhaps) I don't give a shit - except to the extent that I think I have some interesting ideas and pose some intriguing question, and "rockism" and "popism" and "poptimism" are what people waste their time talking about instead. (But I realize that this last paragraph is plenty cryptic.)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-22 10:36 pm (UTC)This is a question for another thread! I'm very busy at work this week and the next, but someone remind me about this in September and I shall expand my thoughts...