John Cage created a particularly interesting piece of media which put the conventional reception context and expectations of an audience out the window.
In 1952 American Composer John Cage stunned audiences globally with his composure 4’33 which entailed him walking out in front of his audience and sitting in front of a keyboard for four minutes and thirty three seconds. This piece is renown for being one of the most controversial pieces of music any composer has ever created, as the simplicity of silence explored the idea that any sound at all could be “music” and the influence coming from within Zen Buddhism.
This idea has vaster implications onto not just the music world as a whole but media across the board. I.e. What is the common conceptions of media? and how are they perceived.
Different minds mould silence differently and throw 30 people in a room where a surprise 4’33 exercise is being done it is likely that 30 people will respond to it all in various ways, confusion? annoyance? analytically? the list is seemingly endless however there is no “correct” response to a 4’33’ situation, and further there is no concrete interpretation of any media which we as consumers use.
But the biggest question I find in the context of John Cage, is this.
How did the reception context of each individual differ their experience of the performance? How did their expectations hinder how they viewed the 4’33? and what the difference would be if it were performed to a different demographic than those whom are fans of John Cage.
Leave a Reply