[Powderworks] Oils on World Cafe
Kate Adams
kate@dnki.net
Mon, 29 Apr 2002 20:58:02 -0400
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I get the feeling that the reason PG and Hirst tend to flog the art side of
things is because they see themselves as artists and their work as an
expression of themselves transmitted through their media. They don't
scheme to make politcal statements with great forethought because they
don't have to! "Political" is just there at the core of their
personalities and leaks out here, there, and everywhere. Garrett's ACF
work outs him as a political animal at the base, and Hirst's probable
position in a drum-free alternate universe would be as some form of
professor of Aussie history or political science is rather abundantly
clear. They think about this stuff all the time and follow it avidly. It
leaks out of its container like the contents of a 55 gallon drum at a
superfund site.
This is probably even more true of Moginie, who has improved markedly as a
spokesperson for himself since that painful Black Fella/White Fella clip,
but who usually hangs in the background spinning out remarkable musical
composition and his own fair share of politically charged (but more subtle)
lyrics. The extroverts get to field the questions and dig into it with
reporters.
Having found that the Oils have provided a soundtrack that has led me ever
further away from engineering consulting for commercial products to a much
more satisfying life that is true to all those environmental-themed poster
contests I seemed to win as a kid, I'm ever so glad that the green politics
and native issues leak into their work from their busy heads.
At 03:09 PM 4/29/02 -0700, Kelly Morris wrote:
>I know what you mean about it being hard to separate
>the band's motives from the individual members'
>motives. Is there a difference? Well, it strikes me
>that Peter Garrett does see a distinction, at least a
>small one. It is confusing to see comments like his
>when the band has done so much, like giving benefit
>and protest concerts and singing about activism that
>they commit themselves to in their personal lives.
>
>It's my guess Peter wants people to pay attention to
>the music as well as the lyrics, and that is why he
>sometimes pushes the band's musical side in
>interviews. Many critics, if not fans, seem to
>consider Midnight Oil's activist side as being the
>most important part of the band, hence reviews that
>criticized Capricornia for not being political enough.
> That is unfortunate because the band's musical talent
>merits equal attention. They don't copy or try to fit
>in with musical fads and their songs are powerful and
>original.
>It is sad that they are not recognized as much for
>their music as for the issues they sing about.
>
>I decided to mention the interview from the World Cafe
>broadcast because none of the other workers seemed to
>have heard it (at least, no one else has mentioned it
>yet) and it was interesting stuff.
>Anyway, sorry that I came across as so defensive. I
>admire Peter Garrett very much, and it's obvious that
>you do too. I hope I explained how his comments can
>be interpreted in a positive way.
>Kelly
>
>--- fish_oil@space.com wrote:
> > On Mon, 29 April 2002, Kelly Morris wrote
> >
> > ~snip
> > >
> > > Personally I don't think he sounds like a sell out
> > at
> > > all. That's a harsh judgement on someone who has
> > > done so much.
> >
> > And who continues to be more active than most of the
> > people who criticize him (myself included.) I didn't
> > intend it as a slam against Mr Garrett, or you for
> > that
> > matter. I think you raised a very worthwhile point.
> > At
> > 49 years of age, Mr Garrett has certainly done his
> > share to make the world a better place. In addition
> > to
> > raising a family, lecturing, heading the ACF, etc.
> > his
> > commitment to changing the world spills into and
> > lends
> > passion to his music.
> >
> > > I think you are confusing the band members'
> > > personal opinions and concerns about the world
> > with
> > > the band's motives itself.
> >
> > Yeah, I'm afraid I am. It's a conscious choice. The
> > two
> > seem inseparable in my mind. Midnight Oil IS these
> > men
> > and everything they believe in. That's what makes
> > them
> > different from every other band. I realize that the
> > whole is much more than the sum of its parts, but
> > the
> > component parts are all there and always present in
> > the
> > music. All that stuff about being 'true to art'
> > first
> > is just talking shit to me. Sorry. I'm afraid I
> > don't
> > get it. A band's first responsibility is to be true
> > to
> > themselves IMO. And the Oils have long ago waded
> > into
> > the political fray (thankfully). If they choose to
> > back
> > off now, that's cool. I just don't like the idea of
> > hiding it behind some vague notion of being true to
> > art, as though that's more important than changing
> > the
> > world. It begs the question of the purpose of art.
> > Is
> > it simply some cathartic process that serves only
> > the
> > artist? Is it about laying bare reality? In whos'
> > service is this? The artist's? The community's? I
> > don't
> > have any corner on truth here, but that's how I read
> > it. And for some reason I refuse to think of the
> > Oils
> > as mere artsy entertainment. That may be MY problem.
> >
> > > All Pete was saying was
> > > that the band does not exist to spread a message
> > > around the world. It exists first to make music.
> >
> > > However, it's natural for the band's opinions to
> > > appear in their music. People write what they
> > know
> > > and what they care about.
> >
> > To what end do people write or care? To know and be
> > known? Or to share concerns, passions, etc. in order
> > to
> > Bring On the Change? Maybe the medium is the message
> > for mass cultural consumption, but I hope to God
> > there's more to it for any who choose to go
> > deeper...
> >
> > > Maybe it will help put his comments into a
> > > better context.
> > > This is word for word by the way, so if you don't
> > > like what he says, don't attack me.
> >
> > Thanks for taking the time to post this. THe context
> > is
> > helpful. Please don't take the flame personally,
> > they
> > were directed not at you personally, but at the
> > comments, and the implication that we are such pin
> > heads that we don't get it and need our noses rubbed
> > in
> > it, or that we don't know our political arses from
> > chads and dimples. REst assured that if I ever
> > manage
> > to meet the esteemed Mr Garrett I'll see if I can't
> > straighten him out about who he REALLY is, how he
> > SHOULD behave himself, and what the band OUGHT to be
> > doing. ;)
> > Meanwhile, we continue to "kick at the darkness
> > 'til it bleeds daylight."
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > bruce
> >
> >
>___________________________________________________________________
> > Join the Space Program: Get FREE E-mail at
> > http://www.space.com.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Powderworks mailing list
> > Powderworks@cs.colorado.edu
> >
>http://www.cs.colorado.edu/mailman/listinfo/powderworks
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness
>http://health.yahoo.com
>_______________________________________________
>Powderworks mailing list
>Powderworks@cs.colorado.edu
>http://www.cs.colorado.edu/mailman/listinfo/powderworks
*********************************************************************************
Kate Adams
Graduate Student
Department of Work Environment
UMass Lowell
*********************************************************************************
Global Free Trade: All the economic benefits of colonialism, without all
those nasty responsibilities.
****************************************************************************
*****
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I get the feeling that the reason PG and Hirst tend to flog the art side
of things is because they see themselves as artists and their work as an
expression of themselves transmitted through their media. They
don't scheme to make politcal statements with great forethought because
<i>they don't have to! </i> "Political" is just there at the
core of their personalities and leaks out here, there, and
everywhere. Garrett's ACF work outs him as a political animal at
the base, and Hirst's probable position in a drum-free alternate universe
would be as some form of professor of Aussie history or political science
is rather abundantly clear. They think about this stuff all the
time and follow it avidly. It leaks out of its container like the
contents of a 55 gallon drum at a superfund site.<br>
<br>
This is probably even more true of Moginie, who has improved markedly as
a spokesperson for himself since that painful Black Fella/White Fella
clip, but who usually hangs in the background spinning out remarkable
musical composition and his own fair share of politically charged (but
more subtle) lyrics. The extroverts get to field the questions and
dig into it with reporters.<br>
<br>
Having found that the Oils have provided a soundtrack that has led me
ever further away from engineering consulting for commercial products to
a much more satisfying life that is true to all those
environmental-themed poster contests I seemed to win as a kid, I'm ever
so glad that the green politics and native issues leak into their work
from their busy heads.<br>
<br>
<br>
At 03:09 PM 4/29/02 -0700, Kelly Morris wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>I know what you mean about it being
hard to separate<br>
the band's motives from the individual members'<br>
motives. Is there a difference? Well, it strikes me<br>
that Peter Garrett does see a distinction, at least a<br>
small one. It is confusing to see comments like his<br>
when the band has done so much, like giving benefit<br>
and protest concerts and singing about activism that<br>
they commit themselves to in their personal lives. <br>
<br>
It's my guess Peter wants people to pay attention to<br>
the music as well as the lyrics, and that is why he<br>
sometimes pushes the band's musical side in<br>
interviews. Many critics, if not fans, seem to<br>
consider Midnight Oil's activist side as being the<br>
most important part of the band, hence reviews that<br>
criticized Capricornia for not being political enough.<br>
That is unfortunate because the band's musical talent<br>
merits equal attention. They don't copy or try to fit<br>
in with musical fads and their songs are powerful and<br>
original. <br>
It is sad that they are not recognized as much for<br>
their music as for the issues they sing about.<br>
<br>
I decided to mention the interview from the World Cafe<br>
broadcast because none of the other workers seemed to<br>
have heard it (at least, no one else has mentioned it<br>
yet) and it was interesting stuff. <br>
Anyway, sorry that I came across as so defensive. I<br>
admire Peter Garrett very much, and it's obvious that<br>
you do too. I hope I explained how his comments can<br>
be interpreted in a positive way. <br>
Kelly<br>
<br>
--- fish_oil@space.com wrote:<br>
> On Mon, 29 April 2002, Kelly Morris wrote<br>
> <br>
> ~snip<br>
> > <br>
> > Personally I don't think he sounds like a sell out<br>
> at<br>
> > all. That's a harsh judgement on someone who has <br>
> > done so much.<br>
> <br>
> And who continues to be more active than most of the<br>
> people who criticize him (myself included.) I didn't<br>
> intend it as a slam against Mr Garrett, or you for<br>
> that<br>
> matter. I think you raised a very worthwhile point.<br>
> At<br>
> 49 years of age, Mr Garrett has certainly done his<br>
> share to make the world a better place. In addition<br>
> to<br>
> raising a family, lecturing, heading the ACF, etc.<br>
> his<br>
> commitment to changing the world spills into and<br>
> lends<br>
> passion to his music.<br>
> <br>
> > I think you are confusing the band members'<br>
> > personal opinions and concerns about the world<br>
> with<br>
> > the band's motives itself.<br>
> <br>
> Yeah, I'm afraid I am. It's a conscious choice. The<br>
> two<br>
> seem inseparable in my mind. Midnight Oil IS these<br>
> men<br>
> and everything they believe in. That's what makes<br>
> them<br>
> different from every other band. I realize that the<br>
> whole is much more than the sum of its parts, but<br>
> the<br>
> component parts are all there and always present in<br>
> the<br>
> music. All that stuff about being 'true to art'<br>
> first<br>
> is just talking shit to me. Sorry. I'm afraid I<br>
> don't<br>
> get it. A band's first responsibility is to be true<br>
> to<br>
> themselves IMO. And the Oils have long ago waded<br>
> into<br>
> the political fray (thankfully). If they choose to<br>
> back<br>
> off now, that's cool. I just don't like the idea of<br>
> hiding it behind some vague notion of being true to<br>
> art, as though that's more important than changing<br>
> the<br>
> world. It begs the question of the purpose of art.<br>
> Is<br>
> it simply some cathartic process that serves only<br>
> the<br>
> artist? Is it about laying bare reality? In whos'<br>
> service is this? The artist's? The community's? I<br>
> don't<br>
> have any corner on truth here, but that's how I read<br>
> it. And for some reason I refuse to think of the<br>
> Oils<br>
> as mere artsy entertainment. That may be MY problem.<br>
> <br>
> > All Pete was saying was<br>
> > that the band does not exist to spread a message<br>
> > around the world. It exists first to make music. <br>
> <br>
> > However, it's natural for the band's opinions to<br>
> > appear in their music. People write what they<br>
> know<br>
> > and what they care about.<br>
> <br>
> To what end do people write or care? To know and be<br>
> known? Or to share concerns, passions, etc. in order<br>
> to<br>
> Bring On the Change? Maybe the medium is the message<br>
> for mass cultural consumption, but I hope to God<br>
> there's more to it for any who choose to go<br>
> deeper...<br>
> <br>
> > Maybe it will help put his comments into a<br>
> > better context.<br>
> > This is word for word by the way, so if you don't <br>
> > like what he says, don't attack me.<br>
> <br>
> Thanks for taking the time to post this. THe context<br>
> is<br>
> helpful. Please don't take the flame personally,<br>
> they<br>
> were directed not at you personally, but at the<br>
> comments, and the implication that we are such pin<br>
> heads that we don't get it and need our noses rubbed<br>
> in<br>
> it, or that we don't know our political arses from<br>
> chads and dimples. REst assured that if I ever<br>
> manage<br>
> to meet the esteemed Mr Garrett I'll see if I can't<br>
> straighten him out about who he REALLY is, how he<br>
> SHOULD behave himself, and what the band OUGHT to be<br>
> doing. ;)<br>
> Meanwhile, we continue to "kick
at the darkness<br>
> 'til it bleeds daylight."<br>
> <br>
> Best wishes,<br>
> <br>
> bruce<br>
> <br>
><br>
___________________________________________________________________<br>
> Join the Space Program: Get FREE E-mail at<br>
> http://www.space.com.<br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> Powderworks mailing list<br>
> Powderworks@cs.colorado.edu<br>
><br>
http://www.cs.colorado.edu/mailman/listinfo/powderworks<br>
<br>
<br>
__________________________________________________<br>
Do You Yahoo!?<br>
Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness<br>
http://health.yahoo.com<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Powderworks mailing list<br>
Powderworks@cs.colorado.edu<br>
http://www.cs.colorado.edu/mailman/listinfo/powderworks </blockquote>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
*********************************************************************************<br>
Kate Adams<br>
Graduate Student<br>
Department of Work Environment<br>
UMass Lowell<br>
*********************************************************************************<br>
Global Free Trade: All the economic benefits of colonialism, without
all<br>
those nasty responsibilities.<br>
*********************************************************************************</html>
--=====================_1070470605==_.ALT--