Fiddler on the Sub
I was surprised to see few comments posted on the blog. I cannot believe that some of you actually cared to read through my boring monologue.
I recently came across a story, written by a Pulitzer Prize winner (funny how a prize becomes someone’s identity) . I found the story very fascinating and thought provoking. On a busy morning, one weekday on a subway station in DC, Weingarten sees that people pass by, without caring much about musician clad in rags, playing a cello.
Puzzled if it's the quality of the music, musician’s attire or that people do not care for beautiful things anymore- Weingarten wanted to explore the subject deeper. With the help of a friend, Weingarten managed to pursue world class violinist, Joshua Bell to play for pennies at the subway station and be a part of this social experiment.
In spite of his outstanding hour long performance, the violinist was able to earn only a few dollars.
After interviewing some of the by standers and passerby, the author concludes that
It’s not that people do not care about beautiful things anymore. Neither is it that they are too busy to appreciate beauty.
The human nature is such that it prioritizes its choices. If it was a Friday evening or an afternoon on a lazy summer weekend - lots of people would have gathered to enjoy the music. Monday morning on the subway , on the way to work- music , no matter how pure, how beautiful does not get many listeners.
How true is the observation and so in line with my own thoughts. We have knit our web of life such that- we are always busy chasing our futile desires. Whole life goes running after education, job, providing for the needs of family till you retire (if ever).
What is all this for – after all?
I recently came across a story, written by a Pulitzer Prize winner (funny how a prize becomes someone’s identity) . I found the story very fascinating and thought provoking. On a busy morning, one weekday on a subway station in DC, Weingarten sees that people pass by, without caring much about musician clad in rags, playing a cello.
Puzzled if it's the quality of the music, musician’s attire or that people do not care for beautiful things anymore- Weingarten wanted to explore the subject deeper. With the help of a friend, Weingarten managed to pursue world class violinist, Joshua Bell to play for pennies at the subway station and be a part of this social experiment.
In spite of his outstanding hour long performance, the violinist was able to earn only a few dollars.
After interviewing some of the by standers and passerby, the author concludes that
It’s not that people do not care about beautiful things anymore. Neither is it that they are too busy to appreciate beauty.
The human nature is such that it prioritizes its choices. If it was a Friday evening or an afternoon on a lazy summer weekend - lots of people would have gathered to enjoy the music. Monday morning on the subway , on the way to work- music , no matter how pure, how beautiful does not get many listeners.
How true is the observation and so in line with my own thoughts. We have knit our web of life such that- we are always busy chasing our futile desires. Whole life goes running after education, job, providing for the needs of family till you retire (if ever).
What is all this for – after all?
posted by Bug at
12:19 PM
|
1 Comments
