October 9ths
10/9/1914 Wittgenstein hears continuous cannon fire in the distance for 12 hours. [A cinematic audio treatment from Rings of Saturn that could underscore this moment, although they’re different World Wars] 10/9/1998 Andrew Vachss, legal advocate, crime novelist, blues musician writes essay in Pulse magazine, “Can music be a vehicle for social change?” He makes a valid point that song lyrics are generally innocuous. The power of text (McLuhan: the invention of the alphabet) is somehow tamed when combined with music, not as powerful. (Does anyone really pay attention to the lyrics?) The real vehicle for social change is visual media because it has the capacity to simulate reality. Music is more a “passenger” than a vehicle. It’s a manifestation of worlds created by things we see with our eyes. But the power of pop music is largely dependent on whose ears are hearing it. The message is subjective, even if it’s specific. [ Discuss the use of music for socia...