Let me begin by saying that in the last class discussion, while we were covering the topic of Idealism vs. Realism, I don’t believe I expressed myself well.  I really did sound like a “wishy-washy idealist” to quote Prof. O’Malley.  So, by way of explanation of my beliefs, here goes: I in no way consider myself an idealist.  While I do feel emotionally moved by things and seek those things out, I don’t believe that those things represent some kind of Platonic ideal, as there is far too much accounting for taste among people, and finding something that the whole world agrees upon would be impossible.  I’m very individualistic in this regard, as I think that people should absolutely seek out things and experiences which they find an emotional connection to, but that it would be a fruitless endeavor to try and apply that to a universal standard. When I listen to a song, and am moved by that song, that feeling comes just as much from how that song relates to my own life, other songs I’ve heard, my beliefs about the quality of the musicianship, and experiences I associate with listening to it than it does from a visceral, emotional reaction.

That aside, I think it’s really cool that in what is ostensibly a music history class, we are discussing topics as diverse as realism vs. idealism, the advent of writing and the way it made humans think differently, and the extent to which the advent of digital technology and computing has been similar to that earlier development. As much as I look forward to listening to music, talking about music, and learning about that music’s history and development, I’m happy with the direction the class is taking so far.  My foreknowledge of and passion about about the subject of American music history—which, I still can’t believe how lucky I got in choosing this section of the class, given that I didn’t know that would be the topic—means that while I eagerly anticipate those discussions, I am also happy to delay them while we lay this broader contextual groundwork over which the topic of American music will be laid.