I have read some pretty horrible books in my life--from one about a child whose telekinetic powers allow him to defeat an entire civilization of ants in outerspace to simply awful, cheesy romance novels that induce my gag reflex my roommates tell me I just have to read. I've always been able to finish them. I'm the kind of person that once I start a book, I finish it, no matter how horrifically craptastic, just so I know how it ends and that I persevered and finished it. Rhythm science is a first for me. I wasn't able to finish the assigned reading for Wednesday. Not because I didn't have time, or because I didn't try, but simply because the text was extremely off-putting and unpleasant to read. I found myself feeling like I do when I read aloud--going through the motions and "reading" but I'm not focusing on the actual words and thinking something else completely in my mind.
I know I'm in the minority of people who feel like this (I might even be the only one after listening to our discussion on Wednesday), but I feel like DJ Spooky is just trying way too hard to be different and loses a lot people who would be interested in his overall thesis simply by the way in which he presents his ideas. I don't find the hole in the book meaningful, as discussed in class. I find it irritating, and there simply so people will pick up his book in a bookstore and give it the "shock and awe" factor that might encourage people to buy it ("Cool, a hole in the book! Never seen this before--gotta buy it!"). Also, the way the text is presented on the page is extremely distracting. Reading the two inch width of text right by the crease is simply not necessary--nor are the random "illustrations" which interrupt his sentences with pictures of ghosts and playboy bunnies.
After class on Wednesday, with the interpretive ideas everyone had brought to the table, I sat down to attempt to read the book for the fifth time. Again, it was a no go. I know others love this book and it's an allegedly quick read, but honestly, I strongly disliked it (well, that that I could get through). I'll keep on trying, and hopefully I'll be able to finish it and derive some meaning from it, but as of right now, Rhythm Science looks to be the first book I've started and never finished.
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5 comments:
I agree that it is a very hard read. However, I think he gets his point across very well. My understanding of the book has allowed for more of a broader understanding of life. For instance, his argument of thinking outside of the box and breaking boundaries that are in our way that prevent more creative thinking. I believe it is progressive. Any field could be applied to this. Also I see that our culture is becoming more constrained by boundaries in law, how we conduct our jobs, and family life. Norms have developed that have created humans that act in a certain way in certain situations and almost everybody acts this way. I believe that such thinking that DJ Spooky talks about is very beneficial to our society.
I also think it's a difficult read, but I also think that he isn't just going for an effect. I think there is meaning behind his writing.
I do feel that if I didn't have a back round, even an amateur one, with some of this ideas before this book I wouldn't like it. Luckily my friend Richard is a professional musician in Boston and he's rambled on some of these topics before.
He could have made it more accessible though.
You hit the nail on the head. My feelings are the same on the food. I found the composition distracting and the purpose (if there is one) unclear.
Man, you really tore DJ spooky a new one there. While I too didn't quite finish the book it wasn't because I didn't like it. Not that I exceptionally enjoyed it, but I definitely respected his effort on the piece of work. He really tried to create something unique, and while I wasn't a huge fan of the entertainment value of the topic matter, I feel that the way that he presented it was really fascinating and an accomplishment.
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