Brainstorm Blog #2

John Cage’s music could be seen either as “absolutely ridiculous” or an understanding of music as “a blurring of the conventional boundaries between art and life”. Either argument could make sense as Cage opened a new possibility in art and music. When something new and revolutionary appears, it is common to react in a resistant way, as the article describes it as catlike vulnerability to unfamiliar sounds. However, it is true Cage started a whole new way of expressing music in an art form. Due to his experimental stages, new forms were able to be made. For example, minimalism, ambient music, sound art, collages of sounds, and just the idea that silence can be music. If his work created emotions and caused people to talk and think, his music work is considered to be art. In fact, Cage’s life itself seems like his definition of art—a sort of experimental station in which one tries out living. Thankfully though, I am able to listen to ambient music, music made through technology, and admire the silence of my surroundings because of the change Cage brought to the music industry. 4 '33 " isn’t the only type of piece Cage focused on, and the fact that money wasn’t his motivation proves how truthful he was with his music. Personally, I do relate to the author of this article more than those who disapprove because Cage’s belief of silence being music and his use of everyday sounds are soothing in a way and helps me be more aware of where I am, with who. It cannot be argued that now wherever we go, we sense the influence of Cage in the world, even outside of just music and songs.