Artistic taste, in relation to intellect?

<Ollie> wrote: »

Quite curious about this really.

Like, is someone who listens to Oasis less intelligent to someone who, for example, listens to Elliott Smith? Smith was largely influenced by The Beatles, as were Oasis, but anyone with a half a brain cell will know the Gallaghers copied Oasis, whereas Elliott made his own music. Smith's music was/is beautiful and timeless. His fans were nice and decent people. Head off to an Oasis concert and you've got díckheads wearing hoodies and looking for a scrap. They probably never even listened to Elliott Smith.

Or, is someone who prefers Desperate Housewifes, to say, The Wire, less aware (for want of a better word)?

Are the folk who watch Pop Idol, X Factor et at. seriously lacking? The garbage they're watching - an 'artist' standing up on stage doing a cover of song, and folk at home voting for them. Art was never about competition. Alexandra Burke did an appalling version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah a few years ago and it made the Christmas No. 1. The John Cale version was great, as was the Rufus Wainwright version. The Jeff Buckley version is the best of all. But the people watching this shít (X factor) never even heard the original.

It really would make you wonder.

I'm not classing myself as an intellect by any means (I'm not an intellect). I'm just classing the 'others' as more stupid than I. Thanks.

When you say something is "better" than something else, what are you basing that on?

Some stuff is more challenging than other stuff, for sure. I think much of someone's taste reflects their personality rather than their intellect, though. Of course, someone's intellect influences their personality too, so taste and intelligence aren't independent.

The fact that someone enjoys X-factor doesn't make them a moron. If they only enjoyed X-factor, you might have to start asking questions though.

Edit: I wouldn't be so sure the best of Elliott Smith is better than the best of Oasis by any means. He's a bit whiney, is Elliott.

<Ollie> wrote: »

Common sense.

I smell an intellectual snob

How do you measure common sense?

From personal experience I'd say yeah. But theres large crossover.

<Ollie> wrote: »

It really would make you wonder.

It really doesn't. For the most part, I try to indulge myself in the music and tv which I enjoy as opposed to using other people as a benchmark upon which to base my interests.

brummytom wrote: »

If it's because everyone else does, then yes they're less intelligent. Look at Oliner and Oliner's study on locus of control (basically independent thought) and intelligent, it's interesting

[turkish] Well f**k me Tommy. What have you been reading? [/turkish]

My name is URL wrote: »

Taste and perceived intellect are both absolutely subjective

really thats all there is to it.

This topic is like something off the back of the school bus by the boys who just discovered their dads cd collection....
i've known doctors who giddily excitedly watched it. they aren't dumb, not by any imagination, but their musical taste might be questionable...

I think that it is dangerous to generalise. People tend to see things as a personal attack and react without actually reading the threads. As it has been said in an earlier post, if someone only enjoyed xfactor etc. then, yes there is something sadly lacking. (almost like someone onlyliking books with pictures in them?) I rarely watch tv but have watched these types of programmes when staying with friends and enjoyed them for what they are - candyfloss for the brain. (If I was going to comment on the programme to someone else the next day, I would start the sentence with "I'm ashamed to say that I watched ???? last night....")

I am a member of a film group when it is available and enjoy films from other countries that do not make it to the mainstream cinema. I have been teased by some about this calling me a film snob etc. That doesn't mean that I didn't laugh out loud when watching The Hangover while travelling on a boat. I thought it was the funniest thing that I had ever seen and it relieved the stress and sadness of my summer holiday coming to an end.

Music, a little more conservative maybe. There are 'types' associated with certain music. I cannot stand the Gallagher brothers and find them offensive and vulgar. Money not cancelling out the 'Shameless' upbringing that they had. However, I do like some of their music and own a couple of cd's. I would not go to one of their concerts though as I would not feel comfortable with their followers.

I too find it irritating when people do not realise that their favourite song is a cover version, or worse still, when they stare blankly when I try to tell them that their favourite film is an adaptation of a book and the ending is wrong. I know that they haven't got the natural curiosity to learn and I realise that I cannot change that and avoid them in my personal life wherever possible.


There is a taste issue with food choices too..(pardon the pun) but I think I have said enough for one posting....

Hmm, but what about those who love The Wire but also enjoy what you perceive to be less "highbrow" entertainment? They must really rock your world!
You might enjoy The Wire for its quality but still enjoy Housewives as a bit of fluff, nothing too taxing on the brain.

As for music snobbery, gah, music snobs can drown in a vat of piss. Yes, I like and appreciate geniuses like The Beatles, Dylan etc. etc. but I also can love genuinely great pop songs, or as the case may be, ****e and cheesey ones that I can dance to at 1am on a weekend night. It doesn't say anything about my intellect.

Anyway,
/rant

People tend to get their backs up very easily when this topic comes up but there is some blunt truth to it.

To put it another way, those of a certain degree of intelligence seek intellectual stimulation, and yes, a tv show like the wire is far more intellectually stimulating than desperate housewives. Of course there are cross overs , but there are those people out there who have no desire to be intellectually stimulated ever and I find it amusing people would get defensive and cry out that such people are equally as intelligent as a person who constantly seeks intellectual stimulation.

Imo when you have a certain degree of intelligence , you feel the need to feed it.

brummytom wrote: »

It's all a bit Emperor's New Clothes really.

You been playing LA Noire by any chance?

People who listen to metal are more intelligent....FACT!