saxitoxin wrote:I am willing to bet that the majority of this year's entering Freshman class at Harvard have NOT seen a live Opera.
This has nothing to do with the opera. Based on his life story I'd warrant Robert Johnson never attended an opera before his untimely death either.
I think the question is: should grown, adult men be able to hold a conversation in which they are able to make - and understand - cultural references of a higher caliber than what joke about which bodily function XYZ cartoon character on last week's episode of
South Park cracked?
Are those who cannot hold such a conversation contributing members of society and helping to progress the human species or are they just worker/breeder automatons?
Your snobby 'tude is unworthy of you.
One does NOT need to know anything about the Opera nor about Blues to be a valuable contributing member of society.
Again, do I think it's
good for one to be well-rounded culturally. Yes.
That said... it's not a requirement that defines a person's value.
Additionally... because I don't care about Opera and know little about Blues... this does not mean my 'cultural exposure' is limited to carttoons. (Though eve if it was... who the f**k cares?)