Noise: The Political Economy of Music (Theory and History of Literature, Vol. 16) (Volume 16)

Item was exactly as stated!

The book was written at end of the era of Free and cheap for peasants- youth. It explains lot of past discoloration and suggests our Obamasque post traumatic socio-economic disorder. The language is difficult or demanding better to say. The ?s it gives them rise. Mankind dives periodically to Dark ages - ideologically and materialistically . Digital amplification of present has something to do with it. To comprehend technological mechanism for control of human intelligence without social self-destruction Greece and Cyprus or Middle East or insanity of individual - one should view DNA evidence for parasitic origin of so called Human intelligence , religion and materialistic schizophrenia by Junius J. Thomas. Mr Attali went to run European bank for reconstruction an development - reading his book I would ask why ?

Sometimes lazy people like to use phrases like "literary{wind} " to justify their inability to understand difficult topics, or to cover for their own, lacking, vocabularies. The foregoing review did just that. The fact is, sometimes precise thought demands precise language.Anyway, this book provides valuable insight into the relationship of fringe art/music, and the future of society. Attali postulates that society is founded upon the idea that bad noise must be subverted. Therefore, all forces effecting social change, at some time, have been subverted. Given time though, they find their way into society by way of, here, music, and begin to cause change.This is a very interesting and well conceived book. A great read for philosophy student and musician alike. It puts a new spin on the effect of music on culture, and the reciprocal relationship between art and society. Good stuff.In closing, and in response to the previous reviewer, "college isn't taken as seriously as it once was" simply because the hallowed halls are clogged with students who readily dismiss works of sound thought because they don't like having to look up words or work for their own enlightenment.ENDs

A musicology professor of mine recommended I use this book in a presentation I gave on aesthetics. I compared Attali's approach to that of Benjamin and Adorno and found myself highlighting and smiling and nodding. I found this book to be so brilliant and hopeful (where Adorno was so pessimistic) that I used it again in a presentation for another graduate musicology seminar.If you don't like to read books that use complex sentences and multi-syllabic words, you should not be in higher education in the first place. Attali makes arguments that may seem outlandish, but with more thought and consideration, prove to be intelligent, fresh, and seemingly common sense.

The music industry is on trial as well as it should be. The cloning of America starts with it's youth, and when Bill Graham closed the Fillmore East in 1971 it was due to the capitalism of the recording industry. Image formula's, profit puppets, and total escape became the norm. What is interesting here is that Attali looks at serious contemporary composition as the only hope to create new forms and provides us with social parallels. That is exactly what John Cage was thinking. The only real freedom is internal, but through exposed sound structures multiperspectives on reality - our current situation will eventually collapse. As Varese said, "The modern day composer refuses to die."

I agree with the difficulty in the read, but I will blame it on a poor translation than Attali's writing prowess (not that I have compared with the French version). The ideas in the book are not very complex, so they do not necessarily require such awkward phrasing.It is too bad, because there is a lot of value in this text, but its language is holding it back from reaching a wider audience, which is sort of ironic since Attali urges renewed study and composition of music by non-specialists. Many advanced topics (which this text does not really contain) can be explained to almost anyone if they truly understand a topic. If a new edition is printed, please revise the translation!!

This is simply one of the very best books I've ever read in my life. If you're interested in music, or maybe about, don't laugh, the meaning of life in general, this text is a total eye-opener. I just don't look at things the same way as I did before I read it. Very provocative and sophisticated, but very clearly written, needs 100% concentration on the subject and an open mind. Basically renders most of the traditional musicology and approach to music useless. Asks more questions than it answers, but hey, you'll gain new persepective. Rad

If you're into music, you need to read this book, super useful information.

Recommended to me by the CEO of one of Europe's largest music-tech startups. Highly relevant to the transformation the music business has been growing through over the last 20 years (and by extension ever since the invention of the gramaphone).A timeless analysis of what music means to us- and how we value it in return.A joy to read and an invaluable tool to anyone interested in a career in the music business.

Text book

Great book, super fast service.

Visionary if a little heavy....