{"id":51,"date":"2015-03-23T17:54:24","date_gmt":"2015-03-23T17:54:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=51"},"modified":"2021-05-20T23:41:37","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T23:41:37","slug":"on-pink-floyd-and-rigid-schooling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=51","title":{"rendered":"On Pink Floyd and “rigid schooling”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I visited the\u00a0Rock & Roll Hall of Fame<\/a>\u00a0(above) in December 2014, during a Christmas visit to Cleveland. One exhibit was on Pink Floyd<\/a>, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.\u00a0 You can see their full bio at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum | RockHall.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The group carried rock and roll into a dimension that was more cerebral and conceptual than what preceded it. What George Orwell and Ray Bradbury were to literature, Pink Floyd<\/strong> is to popular music, forging an unsettling but provocative combination of science fiction and social commentary.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Which could be another way of saying they were like some prophets in the Bible. Those old-timey prophets also<\/em><\/strong> made “‘unsettling and provocative’ social commentaries.” Pink Floyd\u2019s variation on that theme was undoubtedly Another Brick in the Wall<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. That hit was actually \u201cthree songs set to variations of the same basic theme, on Pink Floyd<\/a>\u2018s 1979 rock opera<\/a>, The Wall<\/a><\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part 2 of the 3-part set was \u201ca protest song<\/a> against rigid schooling in general and boarding schools<\/a> in the UK in particular.\u201d See Wikipedia<\/a>, which added \u2013\u00a0 as a side note \u2013 that both the single<\/a> and album were “banned in South Africa<\/a> in 1980 after the song was adopted by supporters of a nationwide school boycott protesting racial inequities in education under the apartheid<\/a> regime.\u201d<\/p>\n

See also Pink Floyd\u2019s The Wall<\/em>:\u00a0 A Complete Analysis<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Pink Floyd\u2019s the Wall<\/em><\/strong> is one of the most intriguing and imaginative albums in the history of rock music\u2026\u00a0[T]he Wall<\/em><\/strong> traces the life of the fictional protagonist, Pink Floyd, from his boyhood days in post-World-War-II England\u2026 From the outset, Pink\u2019s life revolves around an abyss of loss and isolation\u2026 Every incident that causes Pink pain is yet another brick in his ever-growing wall[, including:] an out-of-touch education system bent on producing compliant cogs in the societal wheel\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cCompliant cogs in the societal wheel?\u201d That sounds like what Harry Golden<\/a> was about. (In his “sanity amid the braying of jackals,” he was definitely not<\/em><\/strong> a “compliant cog.”)<\/p>\n

\"\"Which brings us back to prophets like Isaiah (at left).\u00a0Isaac Asimov<\/a> said such prophets – 3,000 or more years ago – were also<\/em> the \u201cspokesmen of protest\u201d and the \u201cradicals of their day:”<\/p>\n

The priesthood then, as always, was primarily interested in the minutiae of ritual<\/strong>. This was something that could easily be followed by anyone and generally presented no difficulties. It might be a tedious way of gaining God\u2019s favor, but it was not really painful\u2026 The prophets, however, were likely to disdain ritual and to insist, instead, on a high ethical code of behavior, something that could present serious difficulties.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

See Isaac Asimov\u2019s Guide to the Bible<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(Two Volumes in One),\u00a0 Avenel (1981), page 527, emphasis added. He noted it’s both extremely difficult to perform<\/em> that higher good, and to learn just what that ethical good might be. Which is another way of saying going by the book<\/a><\/em> isn’t always the best course. It’s always a good place to start, and it’s always easier to do<\/em>. The problem comes when that’s all<\/em><\/strong> you know.<\/p>\n

For example, William Shakespeare<\/a> had Juliet tell Romeo, “You kiss by the book.” But I don’t imagine many people <\/span>like to get kissed “by the book.” See also SparkNotes: Romeo and Juliet: Act 1, scene 5<\/a>, which said that the comment could be taken two ways, one involving Juliet’s “lack of experience.” Or it could be interpreted like this:<\/p>\n

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Juliet\u2019s comment that Romeo kisses by the book is akin to noting that he kisses as if he has learned how to kiss from a manual and followed those instructions exactly. In other words, he is proficient, but unoriginal<\/strong>…\u00a0 (E.A.)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In other words, going by the book can<\/strong> <\/em>mean you do something “in the correct or proper manner.” Or it can mean “completing a task according to the rules or without cutting any corners to save time.” On the other hand, going by the book tends to degenerate into learning by rote<\/a>. (Learning “by memorizing without giving any thought to what is being learned.” As in, “I learned history by rote; then I couldn’t pass the test that required me to think<\/strong>. If you learn things by rote, you’ll never understand them.<\/em>” Emphasis added.)
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That in turn can degenerate into some of the synonyms for “unoriginal:” banal, trite, hackneyed <\/em>and\/or uninspired<\/em>.\u00a0 See also Rote learning – Wikipedia<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Rote learning is a memorization<\/a> technique based on repetition<\/a>… [Alternatives] include meaningful learning<\/a>, associative learning<\/a>, and active learning<\/a>… Rote learning is sometimes disparaged with the derogative terms parrot<\/a> fashion<\/em>, regurgitation<\/a><\/em>, cramming<\/em>, or mugging<\/em>…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"BartolomeoWikipedia added that “students who learn with understanding are able to transfer their knowledge to tasks requiring problem-solving with greater success…” So maybe that’s why the Apostle Paul (at right) took such care to distinguish the dead letter<\/a><\/em> of the law and its “life-giving spirit<\/em><\/strong>.” (In 2d Corinthians 3:6<\/a> he said followers of Jesus were ministers “not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”)<\/p>\n

See also letter and spirit of the law<\/a>. And maybe that’s <\/em>what Pink Floyd was protesting: Rigid teachers who seem to lose sight of the spirit<\/em> – the originality – of what they were supposed to be teaching.<\/p>\n

For another perspective, consider this from The Zen Way to the Martial Arts<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Every martial art \u2013 judo, kendo, aikido, etc. \u2013 has its own forms, actions, procedure. Beginners must learn the kata<\/em> and assimilate and use them. Later, they begin to create out of them<\/strong>, in the way specific to each art. (E.A.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Or take the Bible… (Please!!<\/em><\/strong>) Some people think it should be taken literally, and only<\/strong> <\/em>literally. But others think it should be interpreted broadly, and maybe even – gasp!<\/em> – liberally. That way applies “to more things or in more situations than would be the case under strict construction.\u201d See liberal Interpretation<\/a> and also On Jesus: Liberal or Fundamentalist?<\/a><\/p>\n

Taking the Bible example a step further, maybe the “real goal is to help you grow and develop,” and not<\/em><\/strong> to give you “an effective instrument of aggression and domination.” (Which Pink Floyd may have been protesting as well: The misuse<\/em> if not ab<\/strong>use<\/em> of the Bible.)<\/p>\n

All of which brings us back to the main point, like something Buddha once said:<\/p>\n

Do not believe on the strength of traditions even if they have been held in honor for many generations…\u00a0 Believe nothing which depends only on the authority of your masters or of priests. After investigation, believe that which you yourself have tested and found reasonable<\/strong>, and which is good for your good and that of others. (E.A.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(But see also 1st John 4:1<\/a>, “do not believe every spirit, but test<\/em><\/strong> the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”\u00a0E.A.<\/em>)
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So maybe that’s<\/em><\/strong> what Pink Floyd was saying with “We don’t need no thought control.<\/em><\/strong>” Teach us how to create out of the basics. Teach us how to become both proficient and<\/em> original. But don’t<\/em> try to turn us into “compliant cogs in the societal wheel\u2026”<\/p>\n

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The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame\u00a0– Image Results<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The image of Isaiah is courtesy of Book of Isaiah – Wikipedia<\/a>. The full caption reads:\u00a0 “detail of entrance to 30 Rockefeller Plaza showing verse from Isaiah 33:6 Rockefeller Center<\/a>, New York<\/a>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Re: “take the Bible… (Please!!<\/strong>)” See Henny Youngman – Wikipedia<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Re: “Buddha \u2026 on the strength of traditions.” See How to Meditate\u00a0 A Guide to Self-Discovery<\/strong>, Lawrence LeShan, Bantam Books (1975), at pages 101-102.<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u201cEvery martial art \u2026 has its own forms.\u201d See Deshimaru, Taisen.\u00a0The Zen Way to the Martial Arts<\/strong>, trans. Nancy Amphoux, Arkana Books, 1991, at page 116. See also page 3:
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Many people these days come to the martial arts as if to a sport or, worse, as if seeking an effective instrument of aggression and domination<\/strong>. And, unhappily, there are studios that cater to this clientele\u2026 (E.A.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Re: “The real goal.” See\u00a0How to Meditate<\/strong>, at page 38, vis-a-vis Zen meditation in the martial arts: “The real goal is to help you grow and develop \u2026 not to become a better archer or karate expert.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: “thought control.” See Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2 – Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” (lyrics)<\/a>. On the other hand, the members of the chorus singing “we don’t need no education” sound precisely as if they do<\/strong> need a bit of education. See double negatives<\/a><\/em> and also Wiktionary<\/a> on “ignoramus<\/a><\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Re “compliant cogs … societal wheel.” See also\u00a0Whoso would be a man, must be a noncomformist<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

The lower image is courtesy of Gautama Buddha … Goodreads<\/a>. See also Gautama Buddha – Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * I visited the\u00a0Rock & Roll Hall of Fame\u00a0(above) in December 2014, during a Christmas visit to Cleveland. One exhibit was on Pink Floyd, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.\u00a0 You can see their full bio at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum | […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=51"}],"version-history":[{"count":86,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10871,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions\/10871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}