Looking Beyond Manipulative Rhetoric Toward Deeper Understanding and Insight
Description
Matt Smith is a nationally recognized musician, founder of Six String Ranch, and Music Studio Director of Phoenix Academy Austin, a youth residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. Here he recounts how, as a young street musician, he came to understand both the importance of deep listening and the power of manipulative rhetoric. In addition to saving him from a potentially dangerous situation as he encountered the California-based People’s Temple cult, these insights have also become foundational to his current work as a musician and teacher.
]]>http://humanitiesmoments.org/moment/spellbound-by-a-sleeperThe Night of the Hunter, a film essentially ignored directly after its release in 1955 but celebrated by critics decades later. (In fact, in 1998 the magazine Cahiers du Cinema listed it as the second most beautiful film of all time.)]]>2023-03-24T19:51:31+00:00
Title
Spellbound by a Sleeper
Description
Musician Dave Wilson describes being struck by the legacy of The Night of the Hunter, a film essentially ignored directly after its release in 1955 but celebrated by critics decades later. (In fact, in 1998 the magazine Cahiers du Cinema listed it as the second most beautiful film of all time.)
Source
The Night of the Hunter (1955), directed by Charles Laughton
Contributor
Dave Wilson, lead singer-songwriter of bluegrass group Chatham County Line
Identifier
spellbound-by-a-sleeper
Player
]]>http://humanitiesmoments.org/moment/steven-van-zandtThe Ed Sullivan Show electrified the nation. Four months later, a young Steven Van Zandt had an “epiphany” while watching The Hollywood Palace, another variety show. That night, singer Dean Martin hosted—and then teased—The Rolling Stones, representing a generational shift. The past met the future, and it opened up new possibilities for an aspiring musician.]]>2023-03-24T19:22:56+00:00
Title
The Musical Awakening of Steven Van Zandt
Description
On February 9, 1964, The Beatles’ group appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show electrified the nation. Four months later, a young Steven Van Zandt had an “epiphany” while watching The Hollywood Palace, another variety show. That night, singer Dean Martin hosted—and then teased—The Rolling Stones, representing a generational shift. The past met the future, and it opened up new possibilities for an aspiring musician.
Source
The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Rolling Stones’ performance on Hollywood Palace
Date
1964
Contributor
Steven Van Zandt, musician (E Street Band), actor (The Sopranos), and founder of Rock & Roll Forever Foundation
Identifier
steven-van-zandt
Player
Referrer
Andy Mink
]]>http://humanitiesmoments.org/moment/butthole-surfers-blew-my-mindButthole Surfers was the band. Locust Abortion Technician was the album. Bob Schneider’s life would never be the same.]]>2023-03-24T19:53:45+00:00
Title
Butthole Surfers Blew My Mind
Description
Butthole Surfers was the band. Locust Abortion Technician was the album. Bob Schneider’s life would never be the same.
Source
Butthole Surfers, Locust Abortion Technician
Date
1989
Contributor
Bob Schneider, musician, songwriter, and artist based in Austin, Texas
Identifier
butthole-surfers-blew-my-mind
Player
Referrer
Andy Mink
]]>http://humanitiesmoments.org/moment/my-favorite-things I was taking trumpet lessons and playing baritone horn in my high school’s concert band. I had been listening to music, including classical music, and buying jazz albums for years. High school was not the high point of my life but music had always brought me to a higher understanding of my feelings toward the world around me. It still does.]]>2019-11-13T19:44:15+00:00
Title
My Favorite Things
Subject
I was taking trumpet lessons and playing baritone horn in my high school’s concert band. I had been listening to music, including classical music, and buying jazz albums for years. High school was not the high point of my life but music had always brought me to a higher understanding of my feelings toward the world around me. It still does.
Description
At the age of 74, I could describe many humanities moments but this one stands out. Sometime in 1961, my brother was driving me home when I first heard Symphony Sid play John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things” over the radio. I was a veteran jazz listener at that time but the sound of this recording captivated us. From the time it started, it took less than the 13 odd minutes of the performance to get home but we could not leave the car until the music was finished. Afterwards we turned off the radio and sat in silence for 5 minutes before we talked about what we had just heard.
I was taking trumpet lessons and playing baritone horn in my high school’s concert band. I had been listening to music, including classical music, and buying jazz albums for years. High school was not the high point of my life but music had always brought me to a higher understanding of my feelings toward the world around me. It still does.
Creator
John Coltrane
Source
“My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane
Date
1961
Contributor
George Bailey, 74. Retired helicopter pilot (45 years). Failed musician, proficient amateur illustrator, avid sailor.
Identifier
my-favorite-things
]]>http://humanitiesmoments.org/moment/steve-earle-how-i-came-to-oppose-the-death-penaltyIn Cold Blood in the late 1960s. In tandem, these experiences contributed to his becoming a passionate advocate against the death penalty.]]>2023-03-24T19:23:35+00:00
Title
How I Came to Oppose the Death Penalty
Description
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Steve Earle discusses the impact of witnessing his father write a letter to the Texas governor on behalf of a condemned man in San Antonio. Having already begun to reflect on the importance of political engagement and the ethics of capital punishment, Earle felt especially moved by both the book and film version of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood in the late 1960s. In tandem, these experiences contributed to his becoming a passionate advocate against the death penalty.