The Good Life

Popular music has helped to keep composers in touch with their audience—that is, until the mid-twentieth century, when composers turned away from their audiences (and from popular music), with disastrous results....I am concerned with maintaining good relations with the audience; I see the composer as a moral force, as an instructor, and as an essential contributor to the good life. (William Russo, Composing Music, p.179)

Comments

[k]

I think that Calvin $ Hobbes is a social commentary on the way that society looks down upon the young. In the process the energy and creativity is suppressed. The young are taught that it is easier to do the expected and, in the end, loose that spark that we so desperately need.

[deborah]

But is biting sarcasm an appropriate response to perceived injustices?

[TomTom]

But what role does Hobbes play in all this? At times, he is the voice of cautious reason,warning the boy against whatever scheme he has concocted. Yet at other times, the tiger is the instigator. This could lead to the conclusion that Calvin suffers from some type of personality disorder. Maybe he just needs better meds.

[deborah]

More importantly than Hobbes, what role do the snowmen play? Are they a representation of the random evil in the world, the sin nature incarnate within Calvin, the hostility of Calvin towards the utter cluelessness of those that surround him or are the just plain good fun?

[k]

I personally find his issues with members of the opposite sex to be intriguing. He has this love/hate relationship with Suzie. Calvin is constantly looking to do evil things to her and finds her gross, yet Hobbes frequently wants to spend time with her. There is an internal struggle and implied sexual tension between them.

[TomTom]

Calvin appears to have some anger and self esteem issues, evidenced by the snowmen. He seems unable to express his emotions to his parents and resorts to the scenes of torment and agony using snowmen to represent his feelings.

[deborah]

Would that be a reflection of the breakdown in communication between the older and younger generation? Perhaps it is a metaphor for the relationship between the evangelical (modern) and emerging (postmodern) churces?

[k]

Calvin's attempts at time travel may be a subconsious attempt to go back and change things he feels are out of his control. Unfortunately, these changes never manefest themselves in his parents reality. Their inablility to see and accept his reality leads to much of the conflict in Calvin's life. Is this a subconscious attempt at distancing himself from others?

[Bill]

You know I get an e-mail whenever someone comments, right? Are you just trying to fill up my inbox?

[deborah]

This is a hijack. We will continue to fill your blog (and email in-box) with random and useless comments. Our demands are: chocolate, 1 new post each week on your new job, chocolate, 1 pirate eye patch, and chocolate. My cohorts may have their own demands. We will be in touch.

[Bill]

I'm too busy doing my job and going to stupid classes!

[TomTom]

I'd like to add chocolate to the list of demands. And some video games.

[deborah]

Hey, the chocolate is mine, all mine!

*and the in-fighting between the cohorts begins*

Will the bad guys get the chocolate?
Will Bill get his blog back?
Is Bill actually teaching at his job and learning in his classes?

Tune in next week in another exciting episode!

[k]

I want Mountain Dew...and...Mountain Dew.

And the Xbox 360 with Halo 3
(what? like he's going to give us any of the other stuff either).

[Bill]

Great, now I want Mountain Dew, too.

[TomTom]

Yet you don't say you want XBox or Halo 3... because you have them, don't you! Give it up or the comments will get even dumber, I'm warning you!

[ken]

I bet it's the special edition Halo3 one with the military green paint job too.

[deborah]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I got requested post and a pirate eye patch (okay, I stole it from the kids). All I'm missing is chocolate.

[ken]

technically, you didn't get the post. You specifically asked for a new post each week on his new job. The post was on his family. Doesn't count. He still owes us a post, chocolate, Mt. Dew, Xbox360, Halo3, and some video games, and more chocolate. ;-) Otherwise, the mindless ramblings about the deeper means of life as seen in C&H will continue. We haven't even touched on his duplication machine. I could do NUMEROUS posts on that alone. ;-)

[TomTom]

I REALLY want some chocolate. The good stuff, too, not like Hershey's. Cadbury at a minimum.
MMMMM, chocolate...

[Bill]

Chocolate is overrated.

[deborah]

I like M&M's.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[k]

Make mine Peanut. or Peppermint Patties...MMMMM.