I really enjoyed the descriptiveness of The New Yorker Article "John Cage’s Art of Noise". The author did a great job of painting a clear picture and story in this article with his choice of words. As a reader, I was transported into this time and the story of John Cages life and influence. John Cage’s “4'33"” is a controversial piece that questions the traditional ideas of music and silence. Premiered in 1952, it consists of a pianist sitting at the piano for four and a half minutes without playing any of the keys, allowing the sounds of the environment to become the music for the audience. I really like the inspiration behind this project being the intention to make people listen, highlighting that there is no real and true silence. During the performance, the sounds of nature and the audience became part of the experience. This event showcased that the perception of sound can be viewed in many different angles.
The article discusses John Cage’s motivations and influences. It revealed he was especially interested in trying new things and pushing boundaries that defined what art or sound really is. Cage experimented with different musical approaches and ideas. This included experimenting with incorporating ordinary noise and everyday sounds into his compositions. These innovations challenged conventional ideas of music, leading some to dismiss his work as a form of a ridiculous joke.
Cage was able to move past to criticism and backlash. His impact on art and the idea of what that may be is revolutionary. He is considered a pioneer of performance art and a key figure in the Fluxus movement.
Translating this background to this project is both interesting and a lot of fun. There really are no boundaries and being able to play with different sounds together is fascinating because I find myself listening closely to the noise around me and in the background when I usually do not pay attention.
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