Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-eddie.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxj!mhuxn!ihnp4!mit-eddie!nessus
From: nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (Doug Alan)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: When is it okay to make personal attacks in a review?
Message-ID: <5013@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 17-Aug-85 18:12:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.5013
Posted: Sat Aug 17 18:12:15 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 20:19:50 EDT
References: <4991@mit-eddie.UUCP> <3493@dartvax.UUCP>
Distribution: net.music
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 45
Keywords: Madonna, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchel

> From: merchant@dartvax.UUCP (Peter Merchant)

>> [Me:] Do you have to be able to make vile, vicious and
>> unsubstantiated personal attacks at honest and sincere artists, just
>> because you don't like their music?  How could anyone with a human
>> soul say such things about about someone who makes an honest and
>> sincere artistic effort, even if they did have no talent?

> However, I have seen many personal attacks on Madonna and their like
> in this newsgroup.  People who say all sorts of nasty things about a
> performer just because she shows off her belly-button, has a high
> voice, or has "sold-out".

Madonna isn't an artist, and is neither honest nor sincere nor nice.
She doesn't care about art.  She's in it for the money and the fame.
She degrades and commercializes art and presents a harmful manipulative
image of sex that rubs off on and affects people.  She deserves the
abuse she gets (though certainly not for her voice -- who give a shit
about her voice?).  Maybe I'm being vicious, but at least I supported my
reasons.

What did Kate Bush ever do to hurt anyone?  She's incredibly nice
person, and does not deserve any kind of personal attack.  She doesn't
care much about money and fame -- she just wants to be able to continue
her art -- she puts most of her profits into being able to make more
music and videos, etc.  If you're a reviewer and don't like her music,
wouldn't a review saying you don't like her music be most appropriate?
The Melody Maker reviewer thought her music was dated and dull, and
because of this and the fact that others like her a lot, that she should
be burned at the stake!  And her nipples must be phony!  Someone should
be burned at the stake for making music you don't like?!?

There are lots of artists that I consider honest and sincere, but whom I
don't like, who maybe I find dated and dull.  Joni Mitchel, for example.
Lots of people like her.  That's fine with me.  I'd be just as upset if
someone went on a tirade about how Joni Mitchel should be burned at the
stake, and how her nipples must be phony, etc.  I don't like Joni
Mitchel's music, and don't think she's all that inspired, but that's
just my opinion.  She is an honest and sincere artist, and deserves
respect.

			"Is there so much hate for the ones we love?"

			 Doug Alan
			  nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (or ARPA)