263 upvotes, 8 direct replies (showing 8)
View submission: John Cage 4’33
The initial idea was about how there is no such thing as silence. So the song is everything that is happening in the room, and even if the room was completely silent you'd still hear the sounds of your own body. It's definitely gimmicky and pretentious but it's also quite beautiful and the point it's making is an interesting one.
Comment by maud_brijeulin at 02/02/2025 at 13:15 UTC
146 upvotes, 4 direct replies
I wouldn't say "gimmicky and pretentious"; what Cage was going against (well, that's part of it anyway) was the pretentiousness of classical concert audiences: challenging the fact that you had to listen to music in complete silence in order to honor the music. Music doesn't care. There's also the fact that Cage had a sense of humor. It's a really fun piece.
Comment by MyCatIsSuperChill at 02/02/2025 at 12:22 UTC
23 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Agree! I always saw it as an exercise in negative space. Someone who would start leaving or making a scene during the performance is really just playing the music. John Cage is a man that believed if a joke wasn’t funny on the first 5 telling, keep trying and eventually it will become funny.
Comment by JustBumblebee9459 at 02/02/2025 at 13:42 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
After the war, Cage was inspired by Zen Buddhist thought and wanted to challenge the relative value we place on intentional sound (like played by instruments) versus unitential sound (like someone unwrapping a candy at a performance). My understanding of the piece, originally played in Central Park, I believe, is that it was designed to have people queued up to listen to music, which would then help them hear the surrounding noise as music. Still super pretentious, though!
Comment by Alive-Monk1142 at 02/02/2025 at 11:09 UTC
6 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I like how you articulated that. I think it would also be more impactful if I saw the performance live.
Comment by Blowjobs4TheHomeless at 02/02/2025 at 16:20 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This. It’s the same concept behind White Painting by Robert Rauschenberg. Three white canvases placed side by side, the light and shade cast in the room dictate what is seen on them. 4’33 was a nod to White Painting, as the two artists were friends
Comment by SillyPuttyGizmo at 02/02/2025 at 17:43 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Be glad it wasn't this
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longplayer
Comment by theriddeller at 03/02/2025 at 00:56 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This isn’t exactly music though, is it? If someone says this is their favourite song, it’s a wanky answer. It’s like my saying my favourite tv show is a static, untuned channel.
Comment by NJdevil202 at 02/02/2025 at 20:27 UTC
-3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
the point it's making is an interesting one.
Is it really though?
This is the same faux artistry as Warhol putting a soup can in a museum.
Sophistry in art form.