Classical Music and Old Cartoons

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Do you think the lack of classical music in kids' shows today will gradually reduce the appreciation for it in society?

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A bigger factor is the overall "democratization" of culture.

In the old days -- say pre-60s -- it was understood there was this cultural elite who went to the opera and ballet and read great books and went to art galleries and stuff. People were expected to respect this elite, even if they satirized and lampooned the elite's pretensions.

But in the '60s, that dynamic came apart as serious critics began talking about the Beatles and movies being art. If popular stuff is art, who needs that elitist crap?

Now we are in the age of anyone is a star (reality TV) and anyone is a musician (rap). True democracy.

Oh, and LINK

tom and jerry

The old Mighty Mouse cartoons.

quote:

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A bigger factor is the overall "democratization" of culture.

In the old days -- say pre-60s -- it was understood there was this cultural elite who went to the opera and ballet and read great books and went to art galleries and stuff. People were expected to respect this elite, even if they satirized and lampooned the elite's pretensions.

But in the '60s, that dynamic came apart as serious critics began talking about the Beatles and movies being art. If popular stuff is art, who needs that elitist crap?

Now we are in the age of anyone is a star (reality TV) and anyone is a musician (rap). True democracy.

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I think these are great points, and it's too bad.

There is no way anyone would refer to me as sophisticated or elite, but I really enjoy classical music and opera.

Quality should be more important than individuality alone.

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How much of your appreciation and connotations of classical music were formed at a young age watching Warner Brothers cartoons?

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Lots and lots. For a double cultural whammy, I was introduced to Hamlet and Carmen by Gilligan's Island. But yeah, so much of the more popular classical music seemed vaguely familiar when I first heard it for real, and that was all from cartoons and other kid's shows.

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For me it was a big driver. Do you think the lack of classical music in kids' shows today will gradually reduce the appreciation for it in society?

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I don't know where else they'll hear it. "Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!"