Distance Quote by David Grubbs
“I found myself thinking about the distance between the 60s and today through certain moments. Like the Henry Flynt interview with Ubuweb founder Kenny Goldsmith, where he talks about how he was scarred by how proud John Cage was to be ignorant of popular music. Goldsmith says, "Nobody thinks twice nowadays about listening to everything!" Something that had seemed so uniquely, radically syncretistic in Flynt's day seems much more commonplace now.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Wire, 2019
Music listening habits have shifted from rare, deliberate encounters to ubiquitous, genre‑blending consumption.
In simple terms: Listening is now everywhere and less selective.
Key Takeaway
Embrace diverse music without over‑curating.
Themes
culture
music
history
technology
media
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
cultural
observational
When to use this quote
- personal playlists
- radio streaming
- music education
- curatorial practice
Key Concepts
Postmodernism
cultural diffusion
digital media
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “listening to everything” mean for artistic depth?
- How can we balance breadth and depth in music consumption?
A Different Perspective
The loss of deep, focused listening may reduce critical engagement.
