well, as an advocate for my stubborn view of absolute truth, no. something's inherent worth makes it valuable. to use an example that will make sense to some of us here, bands that many people probably won't remember in a few years, because they were never very popular (Elliot Smith, Ben Folds, Jars of Clay) are still awesome bands, well people in some of those cases, whether or not people know they existed in a few hundred years. time will not rob them of the fact that they are awesome. in the same way, just because people still read them does not make Classics, such as the Odyssey, or Lord Jim, or the Grapes of Wrath better than other books of their time. some genuinely are good, some are just still around. that doesn't make them good or bad, you have to judge for yourself. but their lasting power doesn't make them better, no.
thats what i was kinda leaning towards when thinking of this. when im reading latin love poetry by catullus, the only guarantee that i have that catullus was the best poet of his time is the fact that his manuscript is the only one that made it to present day. the question is, did it survive by chance or because it was so good. how do i know that catullus didnt hold a candle to his good buddy cotullus? i dont perhaps.
this raises the question, how will our own culture be remembered? if the only things that survive are candy ads and none of our literature and pop culture, what will our descendants think of us.
because they were never very popular (Elliot Smith, Ben Folds, Jars of Clay) are still awesome bands, well people in some of those cases, whether or not people know they existed in a few hundred years. time will not rob them of the fact that they are awesome.
I don't think you can really argue that point because the fact that these bands are "awesome" is solely a subjective thing. I think Keane is "awesome" in that respect, but you don't, and you won't consider them awesome even if they do stand the test of time. Other people will. It's the same concept as The Grapes of Wrath; I absolutely abhorred that book, but there are many (i.e. Mrs. Richardville) that do enjoy it and value its worth as a classic piece of American literature. And as such, it will continue to be read by whiny teenagers in classrooms across the globe
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this raises the question, how will our own culture be remembered? if the only things that survive are candy ads and none of our literature and pop culture, what will our descendants think of us.
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I don't think you can really argue that point because the fact that these bands are "awesome" is solely a subjective thing. I think Keane is "awesome" in that respect, but you don't, and you won't consider them awesome even if they do stand the test of time. Other people will. It's the same concept as The Grapes of Wrath; I absolutely abhorred that book, but there are many (i.e. Mrs. Richardville) that do enjoy it and value its worth as a classic piece of American literature. And as such, it will continue to be read by whiny teenagers in classrooms across the globe ( ... )
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