Perception Options

[porilo]

PERCEPTION

. . . Something To Think About . . .

THE SITUATION

In Washington DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
++ == ++ == ++

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station, was organised by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognise talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . . How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

[Aquarelle]

What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?

Anyone remember who wrote that - I've forgotten.

[porilo]

Wasn't it William Davies?

[barry-clari]

Unless I'm in a mega hurry, I'll stop to listen to good buskers, and give them a little bit of coinage (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[BadStrad]

Wasn't it William Davies?

Yes William Henry Davies's - poem "Leisure."

[ChristopherO]

Wasn't it William Davies?

Yes William Henry Davies's - poem "Leisure."

Sorry, I'm busy working at my PC - can't stop to think about anything like this.

[Arundodonuts]

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station, was organised by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

There was a video of this on line at the time. It's probably still around somewhere.

[viola-mad]

I love buskers. They give pleasure to so many so freely. And it takes guts to do, especially if you're on your own. I love to stop for a while to listen and appreciate, and sometimes I'll have a chat with them too. However I have to admit that I only give them money if I feel they are putting on a performance and playing their stuff well, however simple the music might be.

[janexxx]

Yes I remember seeing this....But there is something about context that the experiment didn't really explore, or at least the popular feedback / conclusions didn't explore.

For example:
* In a station at rush hour, I guess most people are rushing to work, lateness may have serious consequences, they most likely did not have 45 mins to stop and listen. Some may not have any minutes to stop and listen.

* At a concert you have put aside a few hours to go and sit and listen in a quiet, acoustically good environment, with like minded people, not in a noisy bustling station with nowhere to sit comfortably

* Classical concerts are still a minority attraction, out of all those passing through how many would regularly attend classical concerts, or even free classical concerts.

* If it had been a top band from popular culture (wider audience) would the outcome be the same

I'm sure I can think of more. I would like to think if I had been passing I would have noticed Josh - I would certainly have noticed the Bach and the quality of his playing.

Paul McCartney once busked in London...with similar consequences...mind you he was hamming it up!!

[ChristopherO]

I love buskers. They give pleasure to so many so freely. And it takes guts to do, especially if you're on your own. I love to stop for a while to listen and appreciate, and sometimes I'll have a chat with them too. However I have to admit that I only give them money if I feel they are putting on a performance and playing their stuff well, however simple the music might be.

Yes, a sax player I knew in Bristol, when I expressed apprehension about my ability to busk said - << no one hears you for more than a matter of a minute of less so you just need to have a few bars and keep playing them over and over >>.
I told him that I thought this was a bit sad and that if I wanted people to pay I should earn it.
And if Joshua Bell doesn't collect so much then I had better up my game if I ever expect to make a few pounds (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[janexxx]

* If it had been a top band from popular culture (wider audience) would the outcome be the same

Done a little googling

Badly Drawn Boy got ?1.60

Tom Jones got more but this was obviously publicised, and not an incognito thing

[Swell Box]

I think this misses, or perhaps raises two points.

Firstly, everyone is in such a hurry today, and I doubt that many people would stop for anything, however worthwhile, unless it is programmed into their Blackberries, iPhones or whatever. This is especially the case in a big city like London or New York, where I am sure that the majority of people hate their jobs, and they turn into automatons on their journey to and from work. Just try arriving at Paddington railway station on a train at 6.00 pm and you will know what I mean. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Secondly, buskers usually bust for money, and most people don't like being asked for money unexpectedly.

I find it sad that so few people would stop to appreciate such talent, but I find it even more sad that people feel they have so little time to enjoy their lives.

On a similar subject, some of you may have seen the following You Tube clip from Maceys Store in Philadelphia, which just happens to have the biggest fully functioning pipe organ in the world, including a Gravissima 64, and six or more 32' stops. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Halleluiah Chorus at Maceys Store

Just watch the faces of the shoppers when they unexpectedly hear Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from the organ, and from choristers mingling in the crowd. I often wonder what would happen if this were performed in the Gateshead Metro Centre on the last Saturday before Christmas. Would the shoppers and shop keepers rejoice and join in the fun, or complain that it intruded on their shopping and lost sales? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Just make sure you have the volume turned up before listening!

SB

[ChristopherO]

Wow! That just blows you away!!
What would our world be like if we had 'Random Acts of Culture' like this more often - joyous!

[corenfa]

Sometime this year I started enforcing walks outside at lunchtime upon myself. It's hard to tear myself away from my desk but I've managed it every day so far. OK, it's not a random act of culture, but it's an attempt to be more mindful.

[ChristopherO]

Sometime this year I started enforcing walks outside at lunchtime upon myself. It's hard to tear myself away from my desk but I've managed it every day so far. OK, it's not a random act of culture, but it's an attempt to be more mindful.

So you e-mail new people each day and tell them where you are walking. If some turn up to join you and the number increase each day - would that be a Random Act of Culture?