Today marks six months to the day from when I began this odyssey called teaching. Homer and his wine-dark seas had nothing on this. "Teacher, why are you here?" I've heard them say. "To teach you English!" is the only reply that makes any damn sense to them. I have screamed, I have cajoled with candy, and rewarded the ones who did know the really tough answers with O-baek-won (500 won, about 50 cents.) I have spoken about the cultural eddy I'm in....to know, or not to know, that is the question. To know seems like the only reasonable thing to do, ever. It is, of course, worst case, absolute downhill point zero. I know there's more time gone than time ahead of me. And it keeps on rollin. What is ahead of me? Changing leaves, soon, probably, a lot of wind, so I've heard, and what about the snow? I don't know. Stay focused, keep my head up, and stay the hell out of the path of oncoming cabs. And, of course, I will know my job is truly done the first time a student says, "TEACHER! I'm tired of the educational tunnel-vision my society clings to so desperately! That, and eating Squid. And Silkworm Larvae." At that point, I will praise them, and see to it that they get a job in the U.S. State Department. Well, I would, anyway, if I could.
(sections of the following are excerpted from a Reuters story.)
I don't pretend to be the world's biggest Bob Dylan fan, but when this man says something about music, I am inclined to listen. From his calling The Temptation's "My Girl" "the greatest piece of musical poetry ever written," (or words to that effect,) to his latest commentary, saying that modern recordings sound "atrocious," and even the songs on his new album sounded much better in the studio than on disc.
"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past twenty years, really," the 65-year-old rocker said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
Dylan, who released eight studio albums in that time, returns with his first recording in five years, "Modern Times," next Tuesday.
Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway."
"You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them," he added. "There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like ... static."
Dylan said he does his best to fight technology, but it's a losing battle.
So it's technology. And has our ability to define, or not define sound really made a difference? My inclination is to think that people's acceptance of most of the crap that is modern music has as much to do with a society where the need for real motivation, for real intellectual capacity, has dwindled almost to the breaking point. And the fact that anyone can do anything, be it producing a record, writing a book, or whatever, doesn't necessarily mean that everyone should. At least not without experiencing some of life first. And, yes indeed, the immortal words of P.T. Barnum come to mind, so it's not really a new thing. I guess my message to artists and everyone is about the same; try a little harder, and be a little better. For everyone's sake.