From: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org (harbinger-digest) To: harbinger-digest@smoe.org Subject: harbinger-digest V5 #137 Reply-To: harbinger@smoe.org Sender: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk harbinger-digest Friday, August 25 2000 Volume 05 : Number 137 HARBINGER DIGEST To post, mail harbinger@smoe.org To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger-digest To get list info file, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info harbinger-digest Today's Subjects: ---------------- (harbinger) God is Watching YOU [steven.stewart@nokia.com] Re: (harbinger) God is Watching YOU ["Kenneth Carpenter" Subject: Re: (harbinger) God is Watching YOU The Finnish Firebrand wrote: >Thanks for a courageous post. You said a lot of things that are sure to be >unpopular, but I think you have excellent points. I appreciate that note of encouragement. I admit this particular post was different for me and I briefly considering not sending it. Until now, my comments about Paula's impulses to champion the cause of black America and my questions about her motivation have been discussed only with friends in private conversations. In this public online environment, one can't gauge how any one person is going to receive what is written. There are too many variables at work. So, I generally don't allow others possible reactions to color my comments. After all, we are each responsible for how we react to another's thoughts. At least on Harbinger, we usually leave room for misinterpretation when the subject is a volatile one or where gray areas are evident. As Tim Clausz graciously observed in a recent post of his, I do try to be honest in my posts to the list, even if that means saying things others might not like reading. I realized that I'd be a hypocrite if I chose to cast a harsh light on Paula's honesty without being totally honest myself. I suppose if you're going to dish it out, you had better be prepared to take it, too. Now I'm prepared to take it, if need be. >I am intrigued with your suggestions about using racial slurs to >drive a >point home. I actually think that's an interesting idea. >If a Paula'ized version of Kenn's suggestion appeared in the song, it >probably would have shocked and outraged some and caused people to think >and react rather than ignore. That's what I thought, too. If you want to shock people out of their complacency (or even their hatred and ignorance), then do it and do it in a way that matters. Carry a big stick, figuratively speaking. >So what do you write about? She seemed to start writing about what she was >reading, not what she was living. >You didn't experience the event. You didn't know the person. You didn't >know the family. You didn't know the situation. You have to create a >fictional account of the truth. But since the truth is important to you, >you try to stay almost TOO close to the story. >The hard part is making fiction based on a real event and wanting to be >REAL about it without letting the facts bind you and prevent you from >creating engaging art. I love this observation. It's so right on the mark. We can all write about subjects or events which we ourselves have never experienced firsthand - you just use your imagination. But imagination can only lead to triumphant writing when it is coupled with personal practical knowledge. It's not enough to be able to say "I can imagine how that must feel." Until you've lived through it yourself (or been close enough to it to understand through osmosis/example), you never really know what it is to have lived a life other than your own. Paula has never been a poor, black teen living in a tenement. I'm not saying that she doesn't have an idea of what happens to someone who's living that life. I'm sure we all know it on a superficial level. I'm saying she doesn't have ENOUGH of an idea of what that life truly IS to make the songs sing with HONESTY. Thank you for helping me making sense of that for myself. >I also think that when the emotions are so strong, you can bite off >more >than you can chew. I think both GIW and BS are trying to tell too many >stories. Yes, she tried to say too much in these 4 or 5 minute songs. One of the most difficult aspects of writing good poetry (or lyrics) is trying to find the most economical means of saying all that you want to say. If you're all over the map in that short span of space (or time), then you've lose the power of the message. That's something I forgot to mention in my post about "GIW." Of course, that post was long enough as it was. ;^) >She can write about and sing about whatever she wants...but if her goal is >to enlighten, educate and make the world a better place, I wonder why she >didn't write an anthem about how those folks can break out of the cycle and >better themselves. Like you've said before - "What's Goin' On?" by Marvin Gaye is the best example of that kind of song. >I know fans can't and shouldn't tell an artist what to create, but >I can't help saying something when the artist says she is "taking the high >road" to help others and give something to her core audience when it >doesn't connect to the people she intended to reach. To me, constructive criticism shows that you care. As a writer, I definitely want for others to let me know if they feel that I've reached the ends I say I've set out to achieve. My own opinion about my work still matters most, but if I ever have fans someday, I at least want to listen to the good and the bad feedback they might give. >Once again, I have probably gone on too long. You and me both, Scratch. ;^) Kenn ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 22:35:40 -0700 From: "James R Sutton" Subject: (harbinger) Remember this is art.... Greetings all, I'm one of the "silent" members of the digest. In reading the latest string of posts regarding "Amen", I felt I needed to voice some thoughts. First of all, I think it's important to remember that music is an art form. A means of expression with no boundaries that is completely open for interpretation. Interpret the art as you wish, but no one knows more about what was intended than the artist who created it. I feel that people are reading entirely too much into Paula's lyrics. I personally love Amen, top to bottom. I enjoy the production, the music and the lyrics too. Just because I may not agree with my interpretation of what Paula has to say lyrically, doesn't mean that the song isn't a great song or that it's not a valid viewpoint. "Hitler's Brothers" and "God is Watching" are two completely different songs, on two separate albums, written at two totally different times in Paula's life! Why are they being compared? In the last issue of the digest I received, there was a novel written about "God Is Watching". The author excessively dissects what he believes Paula to be saying in this song. OK sure, maybe he's an expert on the impacts of racism in society. But why grill Paula's lyrics if you're not completely certain what her intent really was?! I feel that being over analytical is a waste of time and usually does more bad than good. Let's give Paula a break people. Lighten up a bit. Thanks for your time, James ________________________ jamesrsutton@home.com http://www.flucks.net paulacolefan@hotmail.com ICQ 42991385 "Flucks" ________________________ - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ End of harbinger-digest V5 #137 *******************************