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| Henry David Thoreau |
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| Justin Vernon |
162 years later, we as Americans are fascinated by art created alone in the presence and influence of nature.
When released in 2008, Bon Iver's (Vernon's name for his band/solo project) For Emma, Forever Ago created quite a critical sensation. The record is a perfect blend of melancholy and aching beauty.
Accolades aside, in many ways the sound of the record has been somewhat overshadowed by the story of its creation. In 2008, Vernon could not escape discussing the transcendentalist situation that shaped the creation of the record.
Spend some time with the album.
Your Task: In the comment section of this post, discuss why you feel that Americans continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature. Also, weigh in on the music: Do you like it? Explain.
Responses are due before class, Monday, November 17th.
Americans are fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature for the same way we like reality tv shows, curiosity. Americans want to know and are curious about people's lives who are so different than their own. Americans, similar to what Thoreau said, want to see life in other people's eyes. Not many of us are stuck in a cabin or are real housewives of Beverly Hills or are called Honey Boo Boo and goes to pageants. Nevertheless, we still want to know how they go through life.
ReplyDelete"I hated the music because I'm Taylor and I hate everything."
Within the billions of people in the world, there is a minority peeping out of the people who care about Thoreau and his work. Even less than that are the people who even know about Vernon of Bon Iver. Yet the people who do are fascinated with them. They may not even like them or their projects, but they are interested about their time spent in the woods. It took guts for them to venture out by themselves, or maybe they were missing a few marbles, if you get what I'm saying. The question everyone is asking is "What drives a person to live in the woods by themselves?" No technology, no interaction with society, nothing. Just yourself, staring at the wall, bored out of your mind. The only possibility of fun is maybe getting adopted by a wolf pack. But these guys were different. They were bursting with passion, passion maybe a little bit too strong to release unto society right away. They had to figure out how to represent it. If Thoreau stood on a soap box and yelled at people walking by to stop paying taxes, he'd could get put in jail, maybe this time for two nights. If Vernon sobbed all day long about the girlfriend he lost, he wouldn't feel any better. Both of them had to get away and figure things out for themselves. They went on to create strong arguments against the government and beautiful music that touches hearts. To wrap it up, being in touch with nature brings out great things.
ReplyDeleteWow, I could listen to this album all day. I'll be sure to look up the album following this later. I like how some parts are like a lullaby, and then Vernon starts pouring his soul out. Thank you for introducing me to this great music.
Americans like to glamorize things that are not beautiful. Sadness, pain, and loneliness are some examples of that. However, there are cases where something beautiful is glamorized to an unnecessary extent. In particular, nature. Without a doubt, nature is physically beautiful. But in some situations, people tend to expect too much from it’s physical beauty. They expect it to bring peace, solitude, and newfound wholeness. They expect it to inspire them, when in reality, it’s just some trees and some lakes and some pinecones. So when art is created in nature, everyone jumps up and joins in on the glamorization. No longer is it the essence of the art, but it is the place where the art was created. And of course, if you make music in nature, you’re automatically some kind of magical/inspirational/other-worldly thing.
ReplyDeleteAs for Bon Iver’s album, I believe his inspiration came more from the solitude that nature gave him, rather than the actual nature. I thought the album was alright; it gave me a Gregory Alan Isakov vibe, but I enjoy Gregory much more. It’s probably really bad for me to say this, but I like Birdy’s version of “Skinny Love” a lot more than Bon Iver’s. I prefer Birdy’s piano instrumental over Bon Iver’s harsher guitar. In a way, the harsher guitar gives it a weird vibe; a vibe I’m not feeling. To me, Bon Iver’s original reeks of desperation, frustration and low-key anger. Birdy’s cover was more of a quiet, sad acceptance.
People all like different things, but for some reason we all tend to like things that are created from nature. Nature is very calming and peaceful, which is probably why we all like things created from it. This album is very calm and peaceful, but the message of it is very haunting. Nature is really the same way, its very calming and peaceful, but at the same time it can be very calming. We seem to be fascinated by this because of the beauty of it and how something so beautiful and calming can have such a haunting message to it.
ReplyDeleteI really like this album. I've always liked "sad music" over pop music because it helps me clear my head and get thoughts through my head easier. I never understood why, but now i understand it because of the whole nature, peace, calming, beauty thing. I'm really happy you showed us this album because i really like music like this. I'll be sure to look up more music like this.
Given the fact that Americans are hypocrites, it is not surprising that they are fascinated by art made in the solitude of nature. They cut down trees to make room for bigger houses that nobody needs and then become fascinated with the art that the trees inspired. To make room for the houses, trees are cut, animal life is forced to relocate, and nature is destroyed. Then, the people need artwork to remind them of what the nature was like, so they buy a copy of “Water Lilies” by Monet. Soon there will not be “solitude of nature”; people are fascinated with the past and how it differs from the present, so they are fascinated with art made as though it was created in the past, a past when “nature” actually existed. Thus, people do not experience nature much any more, so they are fascinated by the artwork inspired by it.
ReplyDeleteWords ruin everything when it comes to music. I did not care for Bon Iver’s music because, frankly, I do not care what the singer has to say about anything. The best music is able to tell a story without the need for words. This is why Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 is so good. This is also why Mozart and Tchaikovsky are much more awesome than Justin Vernon.
Just like Henry David Thoreau or Vernon in Bon Iver, a lot of pieces of art come from the result of solitude in nature. For instance when Thoreau wrote “Walden” he secluded himself from the world for two years to complete the novel. I believe Americans are fascinated by work that is created in nature because these Artists embark on a trip to find themselves all over again. Or because then the listeners or fans know for sure that the Artist made the album from within not from any outside forces making songs for the Artist.That’s what Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon did, he moved to his Father’s cabin in Wisconsin to clear his head and figure out who he really is. And with that came a new album called, “For Emma, Forever Ago.” Vernon lived their for three months doing the normal projects that you have to complete in order to live comfortably in a cabin, like cutting firewood. His goal wasn’t to produce an album while living in Wisconsin, it just happened. That’s is why I believe Americans love pieces of art made in nature, because no one can interfere with the Artists way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteGoing into listening Bon Iver’s album, “For Emma, Forever Ago” I already know that I’m not a huge fan of very emotional, melancholy type music. Sometimes the world can be a depressing and sad place, so I wouldn’t want to listen to something that would make me even more depressed and sad. However, if the Artist is portraying a meaningful message within the lyrics and the song then I don’t mind listening in, which Justin Vernon mostly does.
Americans are fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature. Unlike art created in a bustling city, or in the suburbs of LA, there is a unique style that comes from this sort of art. Thoreau created "Walden" while in the wilderness, and despite being in solitude for over two years, he was within walking distance of civilization. While in isolation, even for a short time, people tend to evaluate their lives and have really deep thoughts about their choices and decisions. One may contemplate what he/she did wrong. Thoreau analyzed how he believed that people are too attached to materials, prominently money, and that they could live more simply off the land. He also came up with wonderful illegal ideas such as tax evasion as to prevent the war. Justin Vernon, on the other hand, composed music that you cannot create anywhere else but in isolation. The outdoors is a great place to clear one's mind, and after spending a while there, things become much clearer. It can be inferred that Vernon was quite depressed while in the woods, but he created something out of it. Both "Walden" and the album "For Emma, Forever Ago" have something in common: they were created while the author/songwriter was alone and had time to think to themselves and enjoy nature. This may fascinate city folk and the like, but people who actually leave their house once and a while and go in the woods for even a while will find that it's not all that unique.
ReplyDeleteAs for Justin Vernon's work in Bon Iver, I'd like to appreciate it, but unfortunately, that's hard to do. For the majority of what I listened to, the only decipherable words barely sounded English and slurred like an alcoholic. In addition to the inaudible speech and out of place soprano voice, there were random parts that were auto-tuned and it sounded like a really bad Black Eyed Peas song from 2008. However, the instrumentals were really good and fit well with what few lyrics I heard. It was fairly enjoyable. I'd listen to it over any poor excuse for music like screamo. 3 attempts out of 5.
People like things that are unique or different. It's fascinating to see art that was created in the solitude of nature because most people don't have the guts to run away from society. It's not really nature that makes the art interesting, it's the fact that the artist is isolated from any other human interaction that really captivates people. They become curious on why the artist secluded him/herself, and they want to know what the artist learned from his/her experience. As Thoreau said, the variety of human experience is endless. So although people can't experience everything, we can live through the experience of other people when we hear their stories. The reason why art created in nature is so fascinating is because it gives people the chance to learn and feel all the emotions that the artist experienced without having to actually live in the wilderness themselves.
ReplyDeleteI actually like the music because it's slow and relaxing. I could read or knit to it in in the background without getting distracted. I know it's suppose to be really emotional, but I can't understand what he's saying half of the time. I don't know if it's because of his falsetto or because I just naturally tune out the words, but I have no idea what he's singing about.
American's continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature because it brings us back to a time when you could live a calm life style. Natures complex simplicity gives it its beauty, a beauty that is capture in its art. Art created in the calmness of the wilderness takes us briefly away from the ordered chaos that we live in today. The fascination of a long lost world, a world where there were no cars, skyscrapers, or cities. This world allowed you to listen to sounds and see the beauty of nature,and allowed you to look deep into the part of your soul that holds emotion. So in the end Americans are fascinated by art created in solitude because it gives us this sense of tranquility in an otherwise chaotic world.
ReplyDeleteI like this music, but I have no idea why. Its almost as if I can feel serenity. Within this music you can hear the sadness and pain of the musician but within this pain you can feel the love and peace. I know why I like this music, because its soothing. The time I've been listening to this I've just been relaxed, and for some reason I get this feeling that he's almost preaching a message of appreciate what you given in life because you never know when they could be taken away from you. I honestly like this music because of the serenity it promotes.
Most music orchestrated today is usually generated from a flashy recording studio with several available instruments, executives, microphones etc. This is well known in today’s culture, it’s orthodox, conventional. However, when someone does something completely unorthodox, something completely unconventional, like making music within a cabin in the woods, casted outside the confines of society, everyone suddenly becomes incredibly intrigued because of a certain natural element that is implied towards the musical creation. Justin Vernon made his own album (For Emma, Forever Ago) that is well loved and well known by many, though its origins coming purely from an isolated environment may have been a major contribution to the album’s success, precisely because of the interest gained by an alternate process of crafting art. Now, I’m not saying that it’s success comes from one factor alone, but if Justin Vernon produced his album through a general process, its fame wouldn’t have been as prevalent.
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ReplyDeleteFor some bizarre reason, most Americans love to be in presence of nature. Not being an American and having minimal knowledge of nature from my days as a boy scout, I have no intention of camping out and going “Man vs. Wild,” in my backyard. Unless of course I had a handy-dandy GPS and a cell phone in case my village in “Clash of clans,” was being invaded. But that might be the reason behind Americans and their love for nature. Being surrounded by wilderness, without the constant ring of a cellphone, or the commotion of a TV, Americans find beauty, comfort and simplicity in nature. It gives them peace and quiet to live their lives without having to worry about 21st century problems. There, in some creepy, old, cabin or a horribly set up tent; Americans can find out about more themselves and the about world.
ReplyDeleteAll my life I’ve always been a fan of “Rock” music. So much so that between the ages of 8-12 my dream in life was to become a rock star. Surprised? My parents surely were after years of expensive lessons and hundreds of dollars spent on guitars. But that was all in the past. The album “Bon Iver, Bon Iver,” was one the first alternative rock albums I had ever listened to. One of my friends had an older brother that was listening to this song in 2010, I think. But thanks to the exposure to alternative rock, I can say that it is one of my favorite genres of music.
I feel that Americans continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature because that is where the nature of humanity comes from. So when Vernon secludes himself, and lives off the grid, he reverts to nature, and writes what he feels, while not surrounded by things like crime, and money. Also, this kind of music is old fashioned, which also shows that he is reverting backwards to a simpler life.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I like these genres, country, and folk, because they are simple, and have a deeper meaning than average popular music today. I also like this music, because my entire family likes the genre, and I like Vernon's music in particular, because the story behind it is like many other famous people, including David Thoreau, and his work "Walden," in which he runs away to seclusion in Walden Pond.
Americans love beauty. And what’s more beautiful than nature itself. Or in this case the idea of art being created in the solitude of nature. I feel that Americans continue to be fascinated by this concept of art that is made in the solitude of nature because it allows one to really see what a person reflects on when he or she are all alone. The fact that one chooses to stay out in nature, completely disconnecting himself from the influence of society is something to be curious about, especially if he comes back with a whole album of songs or a book written. It’s not really the aspect of nature that is the main focus of this fascination, in my opinion, but rather the aspect of being in solitude. In solitude, a person can truly discover himself or herself without any pressure. One can think what he wants to think. One can write what he wants to write. One can feel what he wants to feel. One can do all those things and more. And I think that’s what makes people really captivated when they see art that was made in the privacy of nature. They can see a person’s pure self through the work of art.
ReplyDeleteI do like the music because of the fact that it’s relaxing and soothing. Although it’s supposed to be sad and all that, some parts actually sound light and airy to me. Other than the fact that I have no idea what he sings for a good forty-percent of the time, the album is something I would listen to if I was looking for some peace and quiet.
Mostly every American is stuck and trapped in their life. They're put on the schedule of work and family with little time for themselves. They are all locked in their lives with no escape. Each day the thought of leaving their 9-5 job runs through their mind however it isn't done out of fear. But they sit and they dream and wonder all about it. This is why Americans are obsessed with things created by people that aren't locked in with a clock-in clock-out life style because that is all they think about. They think the things created within this solitude must be amazing because you are in a perfect situation.
ReplyDeleteI like this album. The emotional attachment Justin Vernon has to this is something very clear with this record and I dig it. This is something he didn't plan to come out with but did nor did he expect it to be popular so it makes it so much realer.
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ReplyDeleteAmericans have always been fascinated by music that was created in nature. Americans are interested in what kind of music people can produce when they become secluded from society. If people are isolated in nature, they have time to think about every lyric they're putting in their songs. Many artists just put any lyrics in their songs because they sound good. Bon Iver actually puts meaning behind the words he sings and this is why Americans are so interested in art created from the solitude of nature.
ReplyDeleteI like Bon Iver's music because he puts meaning behind the words he sings and is able to tell a story. He puts a lot of emotion into his music and it's enjoyable to listen to. Most of the music of today is either loud or aggressive so it's nice to hear calmer music every once in awhile.
Americans continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature because art created alone casts an allusion that it holds a deeper meaning of something dark and unforgiving. Americans love the mystery of why within the thickness of the forest someone could come up with such miraculous pieces of inspiration. Thoreau strongly believed in something that was greater than one man. While Justin Vernon was just a cliché with a broken heart. Both had a bottled up passion struggling to reveal it to the rest of the world. Their weird venture into the wood provided the perfect intrigued interest they needed to have someone listen. Incredible works of literature and art have been produced from the most peculiar circumstance. Leave it to the creator to know the truth in why while we keep guessing as we admire their work.
ReplyDeleteBon Iver is different from Justin Vernon’s previous work as he uses his falsetto for the better part of the album. It displays heart break and change all the while entwining his experiences in a lonely cabin and his way of life. It’s nothing I can compare it to because like most music it’s one of a kind, with an artist’s own mind and soul mixed within.
Americans tend to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature. It speaks a certain truth to us. It makes us feel better about ourselves. Being isolated in the woods, you find yourself, and possibly even learn new things. It’s not like in the city where you have to walk around with this giant weight on your shoulders. You’re free. Maybe that’s why we like art created from isolation. We want to be free, we need to be free, but we don’t have the guts to leave everything behind. As said in Thoreau’s Economy, “Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind…” So we stick to reading Henry Thoreau and listening to Bon Iver. Through their works, we can be “free” while not actually having to spend a night or two in the woods.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I actually like this kind of music. I don’t care if I can’t understand a single word he’s saying; this type of music is very soothing. I can just sit back and do homework to it, or if I’m having trouble falling asleep, plug my headphones in and listen to it. I have no problem with falsetto music. I like all types of music actually. Well…all except for those heavy metal music where all they do is scream. That’s annoying.
Whenever a person do anything out of the ordinary, people are drawn to it. They have to know what they're doing. So when Justin Vernon went into solitude deep in the woods, people were attracted to him when he came out. They have to know what he did back there and how he was inspired to make his music. It's just the curiosity people have.
ReplyDeleteAs time goes by people's music taste changes. I use to listen to nothing but classic rock. It's what I grew up with so it's really all I knew. But a few years ago I started expanding and listening to new things. I truthfully like this album because of the meaning behind it. There are a few tracks that I don't really care for since they're too slow for me but the lyrics make up for it.
Art derived from solitude in nature continues to pique American’s curiosity for two reasons: The end result is as natural and original as art can possibly get. Vernon and Thoreau isolated themselves to cabins in the woods, with intentions of self-discovery. Vernon did not plan to create music on the level that he did, meaning the feeling he felt to do so, when that time came, was a natural feeling. He was creating music, writing lyrics, because each word he wrote down stemmed directly from his heart in that moment. The lyrics weren’t bs, unlike most music these days. They were natural, real, symbolic. Also, Vernon was not influenced by one single person while in solitude. There were no people with him, there were no people around him, so there were no opinions or suggestions that he could have based any of his lyrics on. They were truly original, also unlike most music these days. So, I guess I’m trying to say that we are intrigued by art created in solitude because most of us, though none would admit it, could not complete such a task.
ReplyDeleteI literally love Bon Iver (and Vernon). The music is so symbolic and meaningful. This album, especially, because everything can be taken into account: his tone of voice is higher which depicts a delicacy that can only be felt from the experience he had, from solitude. The lyrics are sad, but in a refreshing sort of way. Any music is good music as long as it contains true meaning. And all music contains true meaning to someone, to at least one person, so who am I to judge music simply based on the fact that it is not meaningful to me.
Americans are attracted to music created in nature because it's unique. We all like something different from time to time. Not only is it unique, but it's actually nice to listen to. It's calm and you could tell there is some thought put into the song, unlike some of today's garbage.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked being exposed to new types of music, so I enjoyed listening to Bon Iver's album. Although I couldn't understand some of the lyrics, I liked the melancholy feel throughout the album. The instrumentals and his voice blended perfectly together. It made me feel like I was listening to a Matt Corby song. However, the emotion put into each song is what made me like this album the most.
Americans easily will fall for anything that is unique and different than what the average American would do, whether it’s the weirdest thing or the most beautiful thing we've ever seen. In nature there are so many things to make art with. When Bon Iver was in the woods in solitude he was able to think naturally with nothing but peace around him. Americans find it amazing that art can come from scratch and straight from the mind. It adds a touch that not any person can record or write in a normal setting. Every thought is the truth and is deep just from being completely isolated from any person who can’t change the train of the thought of the person creating the art.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the tone of Bon Iver’s music. He does sound a little bit like a squealing animal but, for some odd reason I think it fit the music he was playing. I didn't really get the concept of his lyrics that well but I felt the actual music was very relaxing and peaceful of for a nice fall day. It’s not something I would listen to on a regular day but when I just want to listen to something to get my mind off things.
Americans are intrigued by art created in the solitude of nature because most people don’t have any idea what it’s like to live alone with just nature. Some people never come into contact with nature at all! When we hear music inspired by a singer that did something out of the ordinary, we enjoy it more because we are curious. Most people don’t have the time and energy to take off a few years of life to abandon everyone else and spend time in the woods. That is why when Americans hear a song inspired by an experience they’ll never have, it amuses them.
ReplyDeleteJustin Vernon’s falsetto voice has a nice sound to it. I wouldn’t mind listening to it. In fact, I’m starting to like it the more I listen to it! It’s something new and different. And the songs being sung in falsetto add to the emotionally heartbreaking mood of the songs. As a whole, I do like Bon Iver.
Americans tend to be quite fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature. No one has an exact answer on why society is so intrigued with it because it varies person by person but there are many interesting things about it that might attract people. Well first when most think nature thoughts of tranquility and just an escape from reality are usually present. But one of the main reasons it could be so fascinating is the fact that no one actually knows what a man all by himself in the woods is thinking. People are curious beings that always like to know every little detail with an explanation. So when a man is all by himself isolated from the world not bombarded with the struggles of everyday life people want to know what is running through his mind. So, people are so intrigued by art created in nature because they like answers and explanations. And when they cannot get them it only gives them more of a drive to listen and try and figure it out.
ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed Bon Iver’s album. I ended up listening to the whole the thing accidentally on Friday I started my homework and before I knew it I was still sitting there and the album was finished. It wasn't as much the lyrics I enjoyed cause I kind of tuned them out it was the type of music and the instruments and just in general how peaceful the vast majority of the album was.
Americans are fascinated by this music because it's different. When things are unique, people tend to like them better than things that are ordinary. All of the songs now and days are basically the same thing being played over and over again. People probably like songs better that are created in nature because it has a different perspective than songs that are written in a recording studio.
ReplyDeleteFor me, these would be great songs to fall asleep to. But, I'm not totally a fan of a lot of slow songs. With that being said, I'd rather listen to something else in my spare time.
Americans continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature because they are curious as to how someone can create art out of nothingness. When someone goes into the woods and comes out with a new album or a piece of writing like “Walden” it sparks listener’s/reader’s interest. Nature reveals the core and true feelings of a person this is why people are so intrigued. Plus, a lot of people would not be able to create a masterpiece while alone in nature. For many, nature is a sanctuary where one can collect their thoughts and be at peace with oneself, not to create art but, for Vernon and Thoreau, they have the skill of doing both.
ReplyDeleteI like Bon Iver's album a lot. I also find it interesting that this was created in nature. It gives you a complete sense of how Vernon was feeling and what he feels like when he is alone. I also like that the album is written in falsetto because it portrays his loneliness and his pain. I really enjoy sad music in general because it is thoughtful and there is a lot of passion in it.
Americans still continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature. Who wouldn't be? People might not care so much about the Sound of the music or what it is saying but they are curious about why someone would want to be in the middle of the woods by themselves. What could they possibly be doing all alone? Americans are fascinated by different things, and when they hear that someone made a song out in the woods they want to know what is would sound like, or what inspired it. Basically americans like to know why things happen , and in this case they want to know why he made songs in the middle of the woods.
ReplyDeleteAs for the song I do like it but it's not my favorite. His high voice is soothing but sometimes it can get kind of annoying. I do like how he tells a story in his songs though, I just think he could've done it in a more pleasant manner.
Its proved again that people reacts to aberration all the time. Unlike the aberration in "Invasion of Body Snatchers", Thoreau and Vernon's story brings up a good kind of aberration that, as you said, Americans are fascinated about. One can imagine a normal life to be like this: go to school, then get a job, then marry and have kids, and then grow old and die etc. This is true to some extent. It doesn't bring up the setting it takes place in. People who live in a certain place thinks its where their normal life takes place while others might think the same about their home. Coming back to aberration, when these 2 different societies comes in contact with each other, they think of it as a whole new and different life and therefore are fascinated by it. It's the same with Thoreau and Vernon. Almost everyone lives in a quiet place where you get to see lot of people but in a place like Vernon's dad's home, there is no presence of it whatsoever. Therefore when people come in contact with art made in such place, they become baffled and fascinated. People are aware of writers who make books and compose music in a place what they think its normal. When they come across people like Thoreau and Vernon, it makes them wonder about life in quiet and relaxing woods away from each other.
ReplyDeleteNow when it comes my opinion about the songs, I think its ok. Good point about it is the instrumental music that is relaxing. Bad points are that i don't like the tone of the voice he speaks in, its too hard to understand the lyrics because of it, and he gets off track sometimes. Not to be rude or offensive but i don't listen much American songs. I only do if i think the music is catchy and lyrics are clear. The reason i don't like American songs is that either the lyrics are boring or they are undecipherable and hard to understand. Now i know most people would say that its because english is my second language, but i want to say that i do understand english in some songs that are good and clear.
I am addressing the last 2 lines to some of my fellow classmates who have such views. I will not specifically say any names but if you are that person then you should know i am talking about you.
DeleteI think the emotion is conveyed despite the lyrics being indecipherable. Would you agree?
DeleteI do agree and that is why i said the music is good. The lyrics give meaning to the music and therefore i think he is expressing emotion but its hard to understand his emotions since the lyrics are not clear. I am not a music critic and therefore i am not an expert at it but some people, however, do have the talent to express emotions without lyrics and according to me, those are the actual music artists that everyone should praise.
DeleteAmericans continue to be fascinated by this concept of art that is made in the solitude of nature. Yet, It isn’t the nature itself that captivates people. It’s the fact that the artist completely disconnected himself/herself from the influence of society. And what really gets people going, is when the artist who chose to isolate himself/herself, comes back with a completed and successful piece of art.However, not everyone has the chance to truly discover themselves. Which is most likely because, they are either too afraid to leave everything behind or fear of what everyone else will think of them. So instead, they choose to listen to the stories of the people who did have the opportunity, and live through their experience.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, by art being created in nature, it allowed everyone to learn and feel the emotions that the artist experienced, without them actually having to go through what the artist did. This is why people still continue to be fascinated by this concept today.
I can honestly say, I liked some of the songs on Vernon’s album. They were so slow and soothing. I didn’t really understand the meaning of the songs, but I still enjoyed listening to them. This is the type of music I could just lay down and doze off to.
Americans are fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature because it is different. When we hear about these artist who seclude themselves to live in the woods, we are curious to know why. Why would they leave everything to live in the woods? Their works are mostly likely inspired by the thoughts they found while living in the woods. We want to know those thoughts because we want to know what is is like to live in the woods. We would never do what they did, but by seeing their work we can have an understanding of what it is like. It is this curiosity that makes us so fascinated with the artist and their work.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't understand half of it, and at first I didn't really enjoy it. However, after a couple of songs though, I started to like it more. Iver’s songs are the ones where you have to listen to it for a while before you actually like it. His falsetto was hard to get used to at first because it was really raspy but that makes sense since his voice is really deep. Overall I liked listening to it but you’re not going to find it in my playlist anytime soon.
I can't believe you are making me do this again, but I know I answered the first question, so...
ReplyDelete2. The music...it's alright, for a good part of it, I was falling asleep. Maybe it's because I just back from a five hour drive, but who knows. I can't actually understand a word but it sounds meaningful? Clark, I'm tired.
There are billions and billions of songs so anything unique catches our attention especially music created in nature because that means it could possibly be very natural. Meaning it wouldn't have all the unnecessary sounds made by the studio. Americans are so fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature because it's different and we are all so curious as to why they went there and what their songs are going to be about.
ReplyDeleteBon Iver's album is okay. I listen to really mainstream music and upbeat and happy songs so his music is like the opposite of my taste. Although his music is sort of soothing it's all so sad. I also love singing to music and I can barely here what he is saying especially in his song "For Emma."
Americans continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature because they are curious as to how someone can create art out of nothingness. When someone goes into the woods and comes out with a new album or a piece of writing like “Walden” it sparks listener’s/reader’s interest. Nature reveals the core and true feelings of a person this is why people are so intrigued. Plus, a lot of people would not be able to create a masterpiece while alone in nature. For many, nature is a sanctuary where one can collect their thoughts and be at peace with oneself, not to create art but, for Vernon and Thoreau, they have the skill of doing both.
ReplyDeleteI like Bon Iver’s album a lot. I also find it interesting that this was created in nature. It gives you a complete sense of how Vernon was feeling and what he feels like when he is alone. I also like that the album is written in falsetto because it portrays his loneliness and his pain. I really enjoy sad music in general because it is thoughtful and there is a lot of passion in it.
Everyone is always trying to follow the crowd and they don't see the true beauty of things. Although, everyone can agree that the most beautiful thing out there is nature. Nothing else can compare to it. When someone is different than everyone else they seem to stand out and everyone is always wondering what they are doing. So when Vernon finally returned from the woods people were curious. He came back with a whole new album of music and that was a very fascinating thing to hear. He created it all while in the complete solitude of nature which made him stand out making it a must-hear album. Americans will always continue to be fascinated by art created in the solitude of nature simply because it is different than everything else we have in this boring world.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this isn't something I would listen to on a daily basis I don't mind it. Its pretty soothing compared to most of the music out there in today's world. I didn't really understand what he was saying but there is probably a really deep meaning behind his songs which is something you don't see now a days.
American are fascinated by some type of art created in the solitude of nature. The reason why it attracts many other people is because the creator`s path of creating such an amazing piece of art.Also not every art that is created from the solitude of nature is a masterpiece. Being alone with nature, disconnecting all links from the outside world, and living your life in old fashion way(no electronics and no future technology). From reading this, you are curious and interested about it. That is the point. Curiosity is what hooks the Americans. We, Americans, are interested on how can that artist be able to living in the woods and how living in the woods inspires him/her? Also forgot to mention, Why would you solitude yourself in the woods? It is usually about the origins of the artwork other than the art itself.
ReplyDeleteThe album is actually not bad. Before listening to the album, for some reason I thought it is a country album. After giving it a try, I like it. The songs I like from this album has to be Lump Sum and For Emma. If I ever in the mood for calming and relaxing music, I will search up "Bon Iver music" on YouTube.
It's fair to say that many people are curious. And when something is released that was made in an odd way, well, this makes people more curious. So that is why everyone is fascinated with art made in nature. There is also normally a deeper meaning behind a song made in nature than a song made in a studio. If a song is made in nature it is normally for a different reason than the need for another song on an album. People like abstract things and they can be very curious about them, that is why many people are fascinated with art made in nature.
ReplyDeleteHis music is much different than things that I listen to so I don't really prefer it. I usually listen to rock, and much faster songs, with the exception of a few. I really wouldn't ever listen to his music but I think the story behind it is interesting.
When people hear an artist or musician consolidate themselves from the world, whether it be dissapearing in a cabin in the woods or anything, it opens a whole different mindset. I guess the attraction of it is that if someone separates themselves from "normal" life that they have no distractions and it should be their best work yet. Along with that underlying nosiness that almost all people have with each others lives, and just want to know what's going on in their life to make them go away; the big why? I personally already am a fan of Bon Iver so I like the music obviously. But I must say I only listen to them based on my mood.
ReplyDeleteHumans are always fascinated with art created in nature and solitude because the situation is something that not many people experience or get to experience. The art created in the act seems so pure and interesting. It definitely gives the work of art a deeper meaning then if it was to be made in a regular studio. Think about the quality of Justin Vernon's music; There's no autotune crap, he made all his own harmonies, and in making this music, he tried something totally new with his voice.
ReplyDeleteI really like the music that Justin Vernon made. It's very unique and you can't really find anything like it anywhere else. His music speaks volumes to me about heartbreak, the beauty of nature, what love was for him, etc. My favorite would probably be "Woods" because I can just imagine him cutting wood or just going for a walk in the woods he lived in. The simplicity of the piece made it so beautiful. If I ever need some calming down, I'll turn to Justin Vernon and Bon Iver.
I believe that people find interesting the fact that people go in the wooded to find solitude because how is it that people come back with such fine art. I think the reason why people do it because they either sick of people or can't seem to focus on their own task of whatever they do. So by getting to complete it they will go into the woods into nature to get away from all that. They won't have human interactions and they won't have to deal with the pressures of the world, work on their terms and not have to show it till the finish product which can be whenever you want. People are fascinated by this because it's way different from how they live with everything seemingly opposite of living in solitude plus I'm sure everyone at one point wanted to run away and enjoy that type of seclusion for any reason. I feel it to be a calm quiet place where you can think open mindedly and not worry.
ReplyDeleteI liked "the wolves" and "woods" by Bon ivor in woods even though there was only a couple verses it capture his time in the woods. In the wolves music video there was a little gate that the boy opened which led to the woods I think that symbloizing the gate as a door and the woods as his house. Bon ivor I think is a great singer and his songs really had insight on being in solitude in the woods
Americans are so fascinated by music created in the solitude of nature because it is different from their lives. Anything that differs from the average American life we consider weird or interesting. Also many Americans don't really know what nature looks like because they live in areas that are so developed. The closest most people get to nature is a zoo.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the music goes, its tolerable.
Tolerable? Be specific.
DeleteMany Americans may not be fascinated by the solitude from nature as a whole, but the background behind the music. Why did the artist venture out into the woods as a sort of safe haven where they felt comfortable writing their songs. People are so fascinated with mysteries and the meaning behind everything. Yes, we appreciate music and the stories within songs but mostly we wonder how that songwriter got there or what the real message was behind the song. Some songs display a certain mood that interests many people that can relate to the song and lyrics. When it comes to Bon Iver’s album I feel you must be in a certain mood. When you’re in a cabin for so long by yourself you tend to get lonely. Iver’s emotions can be detected in his music. His album did not interest me that much for the reason that it comes off very sad and depressing sort of like a cry for help. Maybe if I could relate to Bon Iver’s mood I would enjoy his music a little better. But quite frankly that’s how it is with every song. Certain ones you may like better when you're sad. Songwriters are good at portraying their feeling through music. As authors write books, artists share their views through painting and sculptures, and songwriters write songs. Music to me is very important. It’s another way of looking at life and oddly brings comfort to someone.
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