Re: Youngstown & the poets

[lucinda <lucinda1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ralph says, re. Coltrane and Springsteen:

>
>
> Id his anither lame attmpt at Marxist_lenininst aesthetics,
> a creature which cannot exist?


There are of course several potential lines for a Marxist theory of aesthetics,
such as those pursued by Raymond Williams, Bertolt Brecht, and others. Even
more important than a pure aesthetics, we might want to consider a critique
of literature based on the productive process implicated in its production, ala
Terry Eagleton, or a more direct examination of art from the perspective of
language as production incorporating constant capital in the form of symbols 
and produced work and variable capital in terms of the labor put forth in the
production of new utterances, ala Rossi-Landi.

What I think is most important, however, is to advance the cause of the
working class, and this means the construction of alliances, the mobilization
of people. I actually enjoy listening to Coltrane and Bruce about equally,
and I would assert the superiority of Coltrane from an aesthetic perspective;
however, Bruce sells more records and if he wants to address the concerns of
workers; more power to him. Springsteen is no revolutionary, and his songs
are not of such a character, but if people enjoy it we can use the common 
themesand images to awaken broader concerns.

I once played Billy Bragg's version of The People's Flag for an Intro to Soc
class as a way of illustrating how music can serve to energize people and
form a common experience, frame of reference. Such common experience is a
potential source of common understanding and communication. Next time you're
down on the shop floor, try telling the guys and gals how Coltrane's
innovations relate to their own experience of alienation and resistance. While,
this can be done (they might enjoy it), it would be a lot easier to start from
Springsteen.
     Brian.






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