1950 now-famous “Lecture on Nothing” by John Cage exemplifies his outlook on art and music. Cage inspired artists such as Rauschenberg and Kelly, whom he made friends with in 1949, to approach their art without preconceived ideas and with great openness. Actually, it was probably mutual influence taking into consideration “White Paintings” by Rauschenberg (below) and 4’33” by Cage.
At the beginning of this lecture, Cage tells the listener that the lecture has no point and will go nowhere :) “I am here and there is nothing to say. If among you are those who wish to get somewhere, let them leave at any moment” (Cage Silence 109). He implores the audience to enjoy each and every moment of the lecture even though he admits that it is pointless. Asks why are we the Westerners forced to see value only in things seeming to have deep meaning or that have eventual goals or aims? “Our poetry now is the realization that we possess nothing. Anything therefore is a delight (since we do not possess it) and thus need not fear its loss” (Silence 110). Openness to new things, pure openness, I just love his way of thinking and feeling.
But it is a below excerpt I wanted to dedicate to the New Year Twenty.Ten:
“I begin to hear the old sounds – the one that had thought worn out, worn out by intellectualization – I begin to hear the old sounds as though they are not worn out. Obviously, they are not worn out. They are just as audible as the new sounds. Thinking had worn them out. And if one stops thinking about them, suddenly they are fresh and new.”
Well, I wish you all the ability to see old things in fresh perspective, not worn out.
