Bob and Scott journey through radio’s impact and media’s relentless flow, centered on Jeffrey O’Brien’s Sonata for Jukebox. They explore art’s role, the need for multiplicity, and question value, belief, and authenticity in the modern media landscape.
Bob Dobbs is a Zappa researcher and McLuhan scholar.
Scott Woods is a critic based in Toronto who manages the websites RockCritics.com and GreilMarcus.net.
Recorded January 18, 2010
00:00:00 – Introduction
Sonata for Jukebox: An Autobiography of My Ears by Jeffrey O’Brien.
00:02:05 – Extended Ears
O’Brien’s concept of an “autobiography of the ears,” including the idea of “extended ears” that reach beyond physical hearing to include media interactions.
00:05:02 – Radio as “Miniature City”
Radio as a “miniature city” composed of fragments like songs, jingles, and news.
00:09:00 – “Pop Music for Teens” Myth
The notion that radio and pop music were initially seen as products for teenagers, noting the 1960s shift as adults began to engage more with media due to leisure time increases.
00:16:16 – Beyond the Personal
Value of personal experience in radio criticism, noting O’Brien’s focus on his auditory journey.
00:22:48 – Radio as Art
Bob argues that O’Brien’s framing of radio as art overlooks a key McLuhan insight: the true art form is the media flow itself.
00:28:00 – Inevitability of Media Flow
Society’s dependence on media, portraying it as a necessity that people cannot break free from.
00:33:00 – Personal Experience as Cultural Filler
Bob questions the cultural emphasis on personal experience, calling it “lazy” and dismissing the significance of individual accounts in understanding media.
00:36:45 – Media and the Global Theater
Bob emphasizes the “global theater” created by media, in which social narratives—politics, disasters, and even art—become interchangeable parts in a larger spectacle.
00:38:20 – Irrelevance of Traditional Media Roles
Traditional media roles (e.g., politicians, journalists, artists) are becoming obsolete.
00:39:45 – Art, Value, and Economic Uncertainty
Value itself is now meaningless in a world dominated by the flow of information.
00:41:00 – Cultural Isolationism vs. Multiplicity
Scott challenges Bob’s isolationist approach, arguing for the importance of multiple perspectives in understanding culture.
00:44:00 – Importance of Multiplicity in Criticism
Scott defends critics like Richard Meltzer, who bring a wide range of experiences to their writing.
00:50:04 – Conceptual Limitation and Isolation
Scott argues that understanding anything in isolation is limiting.
00:56:00 – Non-Physical Perspectives
Bob shares his experiences with iON – a non-physical entity with extraordinary knowledge.
01:03:02 – Futility of Belief in Cultural Symbols
Bob contends that belief in traditional institutions (like the presidency or organized religion) has become performative, as they no longer represent deeper truth.
01:06:01 – iON’s Alchemical Influence
Bob describes iON as a new form of interactive, non-physical knowledge.
01:08:23 – Talk as Art
Bob reflects on his talent for conversation, viewing it as a form of art that he can continually use to explore new ideas.
01:10:00 – Critical Receptivity to Technology
Scott notes a gradual shift among critics in recognizing the impact of technology on culture.
01:13:02 – Final Reflection
Bob concludes by discussing iON’s unique perspective, seeing it as an unprecedented phenomenon with the potential to redefine human understanding.
Leave a Reply