Today I had lunch with Miriam, an old college friend from my undergrad days at Columbia. She now has a PhD in Art History and is a curator at a major New York museum. She’s a great person, but she can also be a little snooty. But that’s OK. I like snooty. We haven’t seen each other in a few years, so we spent the meal catching up with each other.
Towards the middle of the meal, I suddenly blurted out, “Oh, I almost forgot one of the most interesting things going on in my life. I started a blog last year! And now I have all these people who come and read it every day!”
Her response was, “Why in the world would anyone want to read YOU?”
Now I know this sounds insulting. But I didn’t take it like that at all. I knew exactly where she was coming from — academia. She has been taught the importance of cultural standards — the “great books” and the “great works of art.” In her world, only someone canonized by an authority is worthy of someone’s time. That’s why the paintings of August Renoir are studied in art history classes. The paintings of Tony Curtis are not.
This is a pretty common way of seeing things. I know many people who will not read a book unless it was already well-reviewed in the New York Times. Otherwise, what’s the point of reading it?
“I don’t get blogging at all, Miriam said. “If I wanted to read something interesting, why not read “War and Peace” instead of your blog?”
For a second, I sat there and thought, “You know, that’s not a stupid question. Why should I read Retropolitan‘s latest blog post when I could be reading “War and Peace?”
Of course, in my case, blogging hasn’t replaced my time reading “War and Peace.” It has replaced my time watching “The Apprentice” and socializing with real live human beings. But, I could be reading me some Tolstoy! Maybe Sophia could even read it to me in the original Russian!
Yeah, but then I would have to take Sophia away from watching her “24.”
But I do get where Miriam is coming from. I studied “the liberal arts” in college and grad school. But despite the years you put in, you’re never treated with the same authority as a doctor or a lawyer. Miriam told me that being a museum curator can be frustrating, because everyone thinks her job is mostly about placing the frames on the wall. I’ve heard similar complaints from web designers, where clients think they can just have their daughter do the job for free because she knows a little HTML.”
So, unless you go to law or business school, the only real pleasure you can get out of your expensive liberal arts degree is lording it over everyone about how smart you are.
Now that I’ve finally read half of one book by David Sedaris, I bring him up all the time in conversation.
“You mean you haven’t read David Sedaris?” I say, snickering.
It feels good to be part of the cultured class. I remember coming home during my freshman year in college and scolding my mother, “How can you read these trashy novels when you should be reading Plato’s Symposium instead!”
Almost all my friends from college now work as members of this cultured class –publishing, media, television, etc… the arbiters and critics of what we should watch, see, buy, and read.
But the internet is screwing things up.
The academic world does not prepare you to think of a housewife in Ohio as a “writer” or a blogger/fireman as having anything interesting to say. No one expect two teenagers from Taiwan to make a compelling video and put it on YouTube. Hey, they didn’t even go to NYU Film School!
I actually love this democratization of the media. And I get something from blogging that I can’t get from a novel. I can’t interact with Tolstoy. And as long as I wait, he’s never going to write a snarky comment back on my blog, acknowledging my existence — although he will probably do it before Dooce does.
But many find the growth of the individual blogger as scary, especially those who already work in the media. Is a newspaper columnist really that much more interesting than some political blogger — other than the fact that one gets paid and the other doesn’t? Should we depend on cultural arbiters to decide what is considered “worthy” of our time, or should we let the “American Idol” spirit of “Hey, let’s vote on the next superstar!” be the new ideal? And if everyone considers themselves a creative writer, videographer, cultural critic, etc. – what happens to the experts? Does what they say still count? Or could a housewife’s blog be as worthy reading material as something published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux?
So, the answer to Miriam’s question to me, “Why in the world would anyone want to read YOU?” is obvious.
It’s shorter than “War and Peace.”
P.S. –
Immediately after writing this, Sophia tore apart my entire argument. She said that it’s human nature for people to want an “expert” to show them what to read, watch, and “what NOT to wear.” Look at the home design “experts” on TV. Look at all the “expert” advice given in magazines. Look at all the blogging sites telling you what blog to read.
Sophia even told me about this new ABC show, How to Get the Guy, where “love coaches,” will help single women meet men.
“Teresa Strasser is one of love coaches,” she said, knowing that she is on my short list of cute Jewish brunettes who appear on television.
“Oh, yeah?” I said, my eyes widening. “Didn’t she used to be a home design expert on another show? And a fashion expert on another show?”
“She must be very educated,” Sophia joked. “But what makes this single woman a love coach? If anyone should be a love coach, it should be my mother. She’s been married for forty years!”
Sophia gave me one example after another of how Americans love to take advice from experts — even if these experts don’t know any more than anyone else. Look how one word from Oprah can make a book an instant bestseller. Or how people wait in line to hear advice from “experts” at seminars.
“Hmmm…..,” I thought to myself as Sophia spoke…
P.P.S. –
Announcing: (from the producers of BlogHim)
Meeting Hot Women Through Blogging
A Three Day Seminar by blogging and relationship expert Neil Kramer
July 14-15-16
The Valley Inn
Ventura Boulevard (adjacent to Burbank Bowling Alley)
Burbank, CA
Cost: $4000
Special for readers of “Citizen of the Month”: $4500
Single women and previous “blog crushes of the day”: Free!
A Year Ago on Citizen of the Month: Online Dating Works for Some
Stupid American. You should be reading my work in the original language instead of perpetrating this nonsense! Or at least posting more photos of goats. Come work with my peasants in the fields if you have such time on your hands…
Snarkily,
Count Leo Tolstoy
p.s. But I do agree with you about the ridiculous shape of the American silicon breasts.
So if single women go free, do you also pay the air fare for English, single girls?
Neilochka, love how you take your followers on a complete tangent of a journey.
Would rather read someone’s hard work, when it is catastrophic, challenging and funny, not unlike my own life. I was an I.C.U. Manager before motherhood, now a bar and restaurant manager, and the blogs I follow religiously are for the amusing stories, true or not (I don’t care), and the time the author takes to write their shit, and read my mindless drivel in return.
Education versus blog – no competition.
Blogging = interaction
Also it’s great for the toilet humour, and every now and then someone says ‘FUCK’ and we are connected!
New word of the month = ‘fuckwittage’
$4000? That’s it? What a steal LOL..listen this Sophia chick was probably secretly jealous that you have a blog…she’s probably starting one right now!
Neil,
Thank you first of all for turning me on to Tony Curtis and his fabulous art work. I think I’m going to buy some of his paintings to hang out in my garage.
Secondly, I read your blog because I miss having someone make me laugh everyday. At my old job we’d crack inappropriate jokes all day about corn dogs and the “grand Tetons”. At my new job, I don’t get to do that. I’m too busy working. So, I read your blog on my lunch break and get a good laugh, and thusly fufill my need for dirty jokes and snarky comments.
and also, I have read War and Peace…Intellectual, yes…Snarky…NO.
Mernitman — I hate that you showed up today because you are a prime example of someone who screws up my thesis. You are an EXPERT. I actually quoted your terrific “Romantic Comedy” book in a paper years before I would expect that I would ever encounter you on the blogosphere. In that film class paper, I compared something you wrote to something Albert Bermel said in his “Farce” book. I wish I could remember, but my mother threw all my old papers out! Can you believe that?
By the way, have you ever read Albert Bermel? I hope not, so I can lord it over you and make you feel dumber than me.
But I guess you are the perfect example of an expert who knows his stuff and therefore, no one in his right mind would ever disagree with any of your opinions.
Hey, Miriam could at least have read your blog first before dissing it!
Blogging is a new ‘art’ and as yet it is democratized, but give it a few years and the media ‘experts’ will come rolling out, decreeing that a certain blogger is an artiste, while another is just a pleb.
Thanks for the link! Though I want you should know that I didn’t work up the nerve to comment here because of the link — it’s because I’m sneaking in with Jessica. Hi Jessica!
I have no idea why anybody reads what a housewife has to say. Maybe for the poop jokes? You develop a large repertoire of poop jokes when you spend all day with preschoolers.
Miriam’s disdain for blogging isn’t coming out of academia, though. Academics are all over teh blogging. Hell, everyone on my blogroll is either an academic or a housewife. Except for Jessica. And you. And that guy who runs the Jonathan Richman fan blog — god knows what he does for a living.
I think blogging for many people is about self-expression. For every blog I find that is composed of atrocious writing I find two which are engaging and thought-provoking. Tell Miriam it’s also about communication. Blogging doesn’t replace reading or talking to people or even watching television. It is an activity unto itself and one which can be very rewarding.
Personally, I find you very interesting to read, Neil, and I find Miriam just a tad full of herself. Keep writing and we’ll keep reading, but what’s more, we’re entering into a discussion with you. Miriam doesn’t get it at all, but what do you expect from a woman who stares at old canvas all day long?
I’ve never read Sedaris. Don’t judge me.
Today’s phrase is “cultural arbiter.” Who need’s Plato when I’ve got you, Neil.
Wordgirl — Because there are so many elements in a blog, I don’t even make the usual distinction between “well-written” blogs and “atrocious” ones. I see plenty of awful blogs that people love. Some blogs have amazing photos. Some offer a window into a new world, even if the writing isn’t perfect. I love reading blogs from other countries. The commenters on the blog are also essential to making it interesting. I guarantee you that if I didn’t have such clever and hot commenters coming here, this blog would be dullsville. I have a feeling Tolstoy would have a pretty good blog, but he would have been really grouchy in his comments. Everyone idolizes great artists, but most of them are probably assholes in person. Did you see “Ray?” “Amadeus?” Countless other movies about famous artists?
I’ve never read War and Peace. And I was an English major. I feel like such a hack.
(I have read David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs, however.)
Hey — I’m blog crush of the day and I just noticed!
My week three workout report: Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
And it is almost the end of the school year. I’m dying.
People in their right minds (and unright ones) disagree with me all the time, and yes, I am dumber than you, never having read Albert Bermel. I’m on way way to amazon, w/dunce cap on.
Hee…hee… and Mermitman teaches at UCLA. Some expert!
Sometimes when I’m reading a blog the line blurs between real life and drama. I have to remind myself that this is some one’s life I am reading about. I love the term “Citizen Journalism”. In junior and senior school I absolutely hated English class, if blogs were available back then, I’d like to thing that would be different, but somehow I doubt it.
Anyway, I still don’t like snooty.
Great post neil.
Plus, Tony Curtis sucks.
English preferably! Am into one right now. First time am spending a week over a book. It’s rich and can’t really e read quickly. “Soul Mountain” it’s called.
Fitèna
Fitena — You’re amazing! Have you been multilingual since you were a child?
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The move is to say “You read David (eyeroll) Sedaris?” Then scoff. Openly.
I want credit everytime you use David Sedaris to prove how cool you are. Remember who turned you onto him in the first place!
With blogging, there’s the opportunity to read something brand new, in some cases literally within minutes of it being written. While the classics have their place, blogs allow people to react instantly, and that (mixed in with the journal/voyeur factor) makes them appealing to read.