wise baby — nineeyedoracle: witherwithout: Washington, DC...

nineeyedoracle:

witherwithout:

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
4 minutes later:The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.
The questions raised:
In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
Do we stop to appreciate it?
Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…
How many other things are we missing?

Oh my god THIS. is absolutely extraordinary. I would have listened for hours. To anyone who can play the violin well. <3 Or anyone creating art at all. I would be all over it.

That’s what I meant when I said: “I wonder if some people really like the music they listen to or if only because someone else said it’s cool”. Same thing goes with any kind of artistic expression from photographs to fashion. I’m convinced that if I painted a canvas identical to picasso or dressed identical to any celebrity, no one would want to buy my painting or feature my picture in some fashion magazine. So my question is: how many of you out there sincerely like the things you say you’re interested in or contrarily seem to disapprove of things you actually like? Don’t be afraid to be a little honest and be yourself…(so what, if I like indie AS WELL as Taylor Swift?)

witherwithout:

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

Do we stop to appreciate it?

Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…

How many other things are we missing?

Oh my god THIS. is absolutely extraordinary. I would have listened for hours. To anyone who can play the violin well. <3 Or anyone creating art at all. I would be all over it.

That’s what I meant when I said: “I wonder if some people really like the music they listen to or if only because someone else said it’s cool”. Same thing goes with any kind of artistic expression from photographs to fashion. I’m convinced that if I painted a canvas identical to picasso or dressed identical to any celebrity, no one would want to buy my painting or feature my picture in some fashion magazine. So my question is: how many of you out there sincerely like the things you say you’re interested in or contrarily seem to disapprove of things you actually like? Don’t be afraid to be a little honest and be yourself…(so what, if I like indie AS WELL as Taylor Swift?)

(Source: Washington Post)

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