After Thursday’s presidential debate, not only are Democratic-friendly political analysts and pundits seriously questioning Biden’s run for the presidency, but there’s also increased handwringing among the Democratic Party faithful.
Understandably, no election, regardless of jurisdiction or importance, is won or lost solely based on a political debate between the leading candidates.
And it’s unrealistic to assume that most voters carefully weigh the pros and cons of contenders, their positions, party platforms, and accomplishments.
Mundane issues, such as weather conditions or childcare responsibilities on election day, can impact electoral outcomes.
More significant is the last-minute discrediting and often false information, that candidates reveal about their opposition to sway potential voters.
The deciding factor, however, is that election outcomes often depend on emotional feelings people have about candidates and their parties long before the official campaign begins.
If we consider the emotional aspect, Biden’s performance at the recent debate was disappointing.
He came across as a thoughtful, but forgetful grandfather—endearing in a family setting, but not necessarily the image of a strong leader.
The challenge of Biden’s age and its impact on his electability versus Trump has been a known issue for quite a while, not just among Republicans, but among the Democratic Party leadership, and Democratic voters.
And if age was really the issue then why aren’t we calling for Republican Senator Chuck Grassley (90) or Democratic Party representative Grace Napolitano (87) to step down. The issue here is the fossilizationof the American political party system that thinks it’s okay to keep running senior citizens for important political positions and thereby holding back younger, more diverse, skilled, and energetic candidates with new ideas to address the challenges of this country.
That being said, there are many factors at play, including the Democratic Party’s decision and strategy for supporting Biden. But from the day Biden was elected, the party should have been seriously considering an alternative ticket for when his term ended.
Few Americans want to see either a kind but forgetful elder statesman or a highly controversial and polarizing figure (not to mention convicted rapist, felon, etc.) like Trump with a problematic past as their commander-in-chief.
There are lots of alternative presidential tickets that might work. But the Democratic Party has to act now by supporting other electable candidates for the presidency. And Biden needs to fully support such new leadership.
If this is not done, then if Trump wins, the Democratic Party will have no one to blame but themselves.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-07-01-at-12.27.47 AM.png11962120Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-07-01 06:20:112024-07-01 10:13:37No Country for Old Politicians
In 1959, blues musician Elmore James wrote and released the song “The Sky is Crying.” This piece quickly became a blues standard, celebrated for James’s soulful slide guitar and heartfelt vocals. The song’s melancholic message, conveyed through a deeply engaging tune, captures the essence of the blues and resonated with many listeners.
“The Sky is Crying” did not go unnoticed and was soon covered by several well-known musicians. Artists like Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary B.B. Coleman, and Eric Clapton each performed their own versions, adding their unique interpretations to this classic. For a notable female rendition, check out Susan Tedeschi of the Tedeschi Trucks Band who delivered a powerful performance at Royal Albert Hall, showcasing her intense and emotive vocal style.
What sets Johnson’s version apart from the others? It’s difficult to explain precisely why it resonates with me so deeply. Among the thousands of blues songs I’ve listened to, Johnson’s interpretation uniquely conveys the imagery of a sky cracked open and raining. It evokes the mood of numerous film noirs I’ve seen and cold winter nights walking (or running) along deserted, wet streets.
I may also be drawn to this version because this was the first time I heard the song, long before I encountered Vaughan’s and Clapton’s versions. It’s like enjoying a bottle of wine at a restaurant with good company, only to find it tastes different when you purchase the same vintage to enjoy at home. The context in which I first experienced Johnson’s rendition undoubtedly shapes my perception.
The emphasis Johnson places on particular notes, and his interpretation of the lyrics, and the musical arrangement all contribute to the song’s appeal. The lyrics are simple yet evocative, and his soulful delivery makes the rendition hauntingly beautiful and undeniably catchy.
Would Johnson’s rendition of the song have been as impactful to me if I hadn’t heard his before Vaughan’s or Clapton’s version? Perhaps. However, the first encounter with a piece of music can profoundly influence subsequent experiences.
This leads to several important insights:
The first probably concerns the role of Subjectivity in Art. A person’s first encounter with a piece of music can be profoundly influential, coloring all subsequent experiences. My first experience with Johnson’s version of “The Sky is Crying” set a benchmark for all others.
The second highlights the Role of Context. Just as a wine might taste different at home than at a restaurant, the setting and circumstances of an individual’s first encounter with a piece of music can play a crucial role in its impact. Hearing Johnson live in an intimate blues club created a unique and unforgettable experience.
The third involves the Essence of Blues Music. This genre specializes in conveying deep emotions and personal stories. Johnson’s melancholic message and soulful delivery exemplify how blues can resonate with listeners on a deeply personal level, reflecting universal human experiences.
And finally, Nostalgia significantly shapes our preferences and perceptions. The first version of a song you hear often holds a special place, influencing how you perceive other renditions. This speaks to the lasting impact of initial impressions and the role of nostalgia in shaping our tastes.
All this to say, is that personal preferences are not always rational but often come from deep-seated memories that are often accompanied by emotional experiences. It’s important to be conscious of our biases, but we must avoid letting this awareness prevent us from making decisions and exploring new pursuits, ideas, and goals. Striking a balance between awareness and action allows us to grow and adapt without becoming paralyzed by self-reflection.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-06-23-at-8.27.16 AM.png13541022Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-06-23 07:27:242024-06-23 07:27:24Whose Version of “The Sky is Crying” is the Best?
Over the past fifty years, graffiti and street art have emerged as significant movements in public art and street culture, visible on all manner of surfaces throughout urban environments worldwide.
Predictably, this activity has elicited diverse responses from individuals and groups, ranging from admiration to condemnation.
Undoubtedly attention from different stakeholders influences the prevalence of graffiti and street art, and is effected by the local contexts in shaping this public art form.
Societal Responses and Effects
Reactions to graffiti and street art vary significantly. Many people, unless their property is affected, are indifferent often due to apathy or their preoccupation with other pressing concerns. On the other hand, reactions to graffiti and street art can influence its perception and prevalence, creating a recursive effect where attention can either amplify or diminish the activity. This awareness comes from diverse stakeholders, including admirers, detractors, and neutral observers.
Public Indifference vs. Active Engagement
Public indifference often stems from a lack of direct impact or preoccupation with the daily crush of pressing obligations. Conversely, active engagement can come in various forms, including but not limited to such as public exhibitions, media coverage, community projects, scholarship, book publishing, social media, and legal graffiti walls.
Positive attention (that which attempts to legitimate graffiti and street art) is often done by practitioners, who may seek to elevate graffiti and street art as respected forms of artistic expression. Negative attention (that which seeks to control, deter, or eradicate graffiti and street art) is typically spearheaded by community activists, social entrepreneurs, ghost buffers, politicians, and law enforcement, aiming to maintain public order and aesthetics.
Awareness and Its Impact
A key question is whether the responses to graffiti and street art condones and/or enables it, leading to increased activity (perhaps even motivating its practitioners to experiment with new styles, techniques, placement, etc.). Awareness can indeed impact the prevalence and nature of graffiti and street art, as heightened visibility and discussion may encourage more graffiti writers and street artists to participate, while also drawing more efforts to control it. For instance, research shows that cities with legal graffiti walls often see a reduction in illegal tagging, as writers and street artists have designated spaces to work legally.
Stakeholders and Channels of Influence
Different individuals, organizations, and channels of communication operating in various urban locations throughout the world have varying levels of influence. In New York City, for example, because of its long history of urban graffiti, galleries may play a significant role in legitimizing graffiti or more likely street art as an art form. Meanwhile, in places like Nuart, Norway, or Aberdeen, Scotland, annual street art festivals might be more impactful in fostering community engagement and international recognition.
Final Thoughts
The impact of societal responses and the role of different stakeholders in either amplifying or mitigating graffiti and street art are complex. The recursive nature of attention highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of how public art evolves in response to societal engagement. Understanding the motivations behind different viewpoints and the specific impacts of local contexts can provide deeper insights into the future of graffiti and street art.
Photo credit
Title: Berlin-Flughafenkiez (2024)
Photographer: Jeffrey Ian Ross, Ph.D.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4501.jpg480640Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-06-16 15:54:452024-06-16 16:02:41Enabling graffiti and street art in these crazy times?
No Country for Old Politicians
/by Jeffrey Ian RossAfter Thursday’s presidential debate, not only are Democratic-friendly political analysts and pundits seriously questioning Biden’s run for the presidency, but there’s also increased handwringing among the Democratic Party faithful.
Understandably, no election, regardless of jurisdiction or importance, is won or lost solely based on a political debate between the leading candidates.
And it’s unrealistic to assume that most voters carefully weigh the pros and cons of contenders, their positions, party platforms, and accomplishments.
Mundane issues, such as weather conditions or childcare responsibilities on election day, can impact electoral outcomes.
More significant is the last-minute discrediting and often false information, that candidates reveal about their opposition to sway potential voters.
The deciding factor, however, is that election outcomes often depend on emotional feelings people have about candidates and their parties long before the official campaign begins.
If we consider the emotional aspect, Biden’s performance at the recent debate was disappointing.
He came across as a thoughtful, but forgetful grandfather—endearing in a family setting, but not necessarily the image of a strong leader.
The challenge of Biden’s age and its impact on his electability versus Trump has been a known issue for quite a while, not just among Republicans, but among the Democratic Party leadership, and Democratic voters.
And if age was really the issue then why aren’t we calling for Republican Senator Chuck Grassley (90) or Democratic Party representative Grace Napolitano (87) to step down. The issue here is the fossilization of the American political party system that thinks it’s okay to keep running senior citizens for important political positions and thereby holding back younger, more diverse, skilled, and energetic candidates with new ideas to address the challenges of this country.
That being said, there are many factors at play, including the Democratic Party’s decision and strategy for supporting Biden. But from the day Biden was elected, the party should have been seriously considering an alternative ticket for when his term ended.
Few Americans want to see either a kind but forgetful elder statesman or a highly controversial and polarizing figure (not to mention convicted rapist, felon, etc.) like Trump with a problematic past as their commander-in-chief.
There are lots of alternative presidential tickets that might work. But the Democratic Party has to act now by supporting other electable candidates for the presidency. And Biden needs to fully support such new leadership.
If this is not done, then if Trump wins, the Democratic Party will have no one to blame but themselves.
Whose Version of “The Sky is Crying” is the Best?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIn 1959, blues musician Elmore James wrote and released the song “The Sky is Crying.” This piece quickly became a blues standard, celebrated for James’s soulful slide guitar and heartfelt vocals. The song’s melancholic message, conveyed through a deeply engaging tune, captures the essence of the blues and resonated with many listeners.
“The Sky is Crying” did not go unnoticed and was soon covered by several well-known musicians. Artists like Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary B.B. Coleman, and Eric Clapton each performed their own versions, adding their unique interpretations to this classic. For a notable female rendition, check out Susan Tedeschi of the Tedeschi Trucks Band who delivered a powerful performance at Royal Albert Hall, showcasing her intense and emotive vocal style.
In my opinion, the best rendition of “The Sky is Crying” is the version performed and recorded by blues musician and singer Jimmy Johnson (1928-2022). During the 1980s, I enjoyed seeing Johnson play live at B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted Street in Chicago. I was with my girlfriend, now wife of 33 years, and the experience left a lasting impression on me.
What sets Johnson’s version apart from the others? It’s difficult to explain precisely why it resonates with me so deeply. Among the thousands of blues songs I’ve listened to, Johnson’s interpretation uniquely conveys the imagery of a sky cracked open and raining. It evokes the mood of numerous film noirs I’ve seen and cold winter nights walking (or running) along deserted, wet streets.
I may also be drawn to this version because this was the first time I heard the song, long before I encountered Vaughan’s and Clapton’s versions. It’s like enjoying a bottle of wine at a restaurant with good company, only to find it tastes different when you purchase the same vintage to enjoy at home. The context in which I first experienced Johnson’s rendition undoubtedly shapes my perception.
The emphasis Johnson places on particular notes, and his interpretation of the lyrics, and the musical arrangement all contribute to the song’s appeal. The lyrics are simple yet evocative, and his soulful delivery makes the rendition hauntingly beautiful and undeniably catchy.
Would Johnson’s rendition of the song have been as impactful to me if I hadn’t heard his before Vaughan’s or Clapton’s version? Perhaps. However, the first encounter with a piece of music can profoundly influence subsequent experiences.
This leads to several important insights:
The first probably concerns the role of Subjectivity in Art. A person’s first encounter with a piece of music can be profoundly influential, coloring all subsequent experiences. My first experience with Johnson’s version of “The Sky is Crying” set a benchmark for all others.
The second highlights the Role of Context. Just as a wine might taste different at home than at a restaurant, the setting and circumstances of an individual’s first encounter with a piece of music can play a crucial role in its impact. Hearing Johnson live in an intimate blues club created a unique and unforgettable experience.
The third involves the Essence of Blues Music. This genre specializes in conveying deep emotions and personal stories. Johnson’s melancholic message and soulful delivery exemplify how blues can resonate with listeners on a deeply personal level, reflecting universal human experiences.
And finally, Nostalgia significantly shapes our preferences and perceptions. The first version of a song you hear often holds a special place, influencing how you perceive other renditions. This speaks to the lasting impact of initial impressions and the role of nostalgia in shaping our tastes.
All this to say, is that personal preferences are not always rational but often come from deep-seated memories that are often accompanied by emotional experiences. It’s important to be conscious of our biases, but we must avoid letting this awareness prevent us from making decisions and exploring new pursuits, ideas, and goals. Striking a balance between awareness and action allows us to grow and adapt without becoming paralyzed by self-reflection.
Enabling graffiti and street art in these crazy times?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossOver the past fifty years, graffiti and street art have emerged as significant movements in public art and street culture, visible on all manner of surfaces throughout urban environments worldwide.
Predictably, this activity has elicited diverse responses from individuals and groups, ranging from admiration to condemnation.
Undoubtedly attention from different stakeholders influences the prevalence of graffiti and street art, and is effected by the local contexts in shaping this public art form.
Societal Responses and Effects
Reactions to graffiti and street art vary significantly. Many people, unless their property is affected, are indifferent often due to apathy or their preoccupation with other pressing concerns. On the other hand, reactions to graffiti and street art can influence its perception and prevalence, creating a recursive effect where attention can either amplify or diminish the activity. This awareness comes from diverse stakeholders, including admirers, detractors, and neutral observers.
Public Indifference vs. Active Engagement
Public indifference often stems from a lack of direct impact or preoccupation with the daily crush of pressing obligations. Conversely, active engagement can come in various forms, including but not limited to such as public exhibitions, media coverage, community projects, scholarship, book publishing, social media, and legal graffiti walls.
Positive attention (that which attempts to legitimate graffiti and street art) is often done by practitioners, who may seek to elevate graffiti and street art as respected forms of artistic expression. Negative attention (that which seeks to control, deter, or eradicate graffiti and street art) is typically spearheaded by community activists, social entrepreneurs, ghost buffers, politicians, and law enforcement, aiming to maintain public order and aesthetics.
Awareness and Its Impact
A key question is whether the responses to graffiti and street art condones and/or enables it, leading to increased activity (perhaps even motivating its practitioners to experiment with new styles, techniques, placement, etc.). Awareness can indeed impact the prevalence and nature of graffiti and street art, as heightened visibility and discussion may encourage more graffiti writers and street artists to participate, while also drawing more efforts to control it. For instance, research shows that cities with legal graffiti walls often see a reduction in illegal tagging, as writers and street artists have designated spaces to work legally.
Stakeholders and Channels of Influence
Different individuals, organizations, and channels of communication operating in various urban locations throughout the world have varying levels of influence. In New York City, for example, because of its long history of urban graffiti, galleries may play a significant role in legitimizing graffiti or more likely street art as an art form. Meanwhile, in places like Nuart, Norway, or Aberdeen, Scotland, annual street art festivals might be more impactful in fostering community engagement and international recognition.
Final Thoughts
The impact of societal responses and the role of different stakeholders in either amplifying or mitigating graffiti and street art are complex. The recursive nature of attention highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of how public art evolves in response to societal engagement. Understanding the motivations behind different viewpoints and the specific impacts of local contexts can provide deeper insights into the future of graffiti and street art.
Photo credit
Title: Berlin-Flughafenkiez (2024)
Photographer: Jeffrey Ian Ross, Ph.D.