There is something incredibly poetic about the hubris and cruelty required to create an instrument or other tool that enables art, something that does makes us distinct from the animals, out of the remains of needlesly taken lives. Transcending through art beyond human morals, somehow landing us back in the dirt with other worms, struggling only to self-satisfy. It’s only fitting that it looks pretty, it better does when the price is so high.
One could argue that every instrument made out of wood is needlessly taking lives, since the tree died. It’s also possible to extend the argument so that every instrument is needlessly taking lives, since no matter what material you use requires use of energy and we have no way to generate energy without something dying.
The question naturally comes down to what is needless. Needless for what? Needless according to whom? When it comes to art, as music does, it is completely subjective. It is completely valid to think this use of materials is needless but who’s to say what’s correct. The marker of this probably didn’t think their work was needless.
I’ll counter your trees with my humans. Would you agree that skinning children to make drums would be “needlessly cruel”? The creator might have thought that it was necessary for whatever reason, but neither the children nor any sane observer would agree. It’s fine to disagree on what’s moral and what’s not, and it’s up to the invidual to decide for themselves. I think killing turtles for vanity project is cruel, especially since you have all those trees that just deserve to be carved up for being so tall. I believe there is some common ground most interested parties can agree on. And if not, then the situation is probably quite complicated and you should rethink making those drums.
There is something incredibly poetic about the hubris and cruelty required to create an instrument or other tool that enables art, something that does makes us distinct from the animals, out of the remains of needlesly taken lives. Transcending through art beyond human morals, somehow landing us back in the dirt with other worms, struggling only to self-satisfy. It’s only fitting that it looks pretty, it better does when the price is so high.
Hi, it’s me, the devils advocate.
One could argue that every instrument made out of wood is needlessly taking lives, since the tree died. It’s also possible to extend the argument so that every instrument is needlessly taking lives, since no matter what material you use requires use of energy and we have no way to generate energy without something dying.
The question naturally comes down to what is needless. Needless for what? Needless according to whom? When it comes to art, as music does, it is completely subjective. It is completely valid to think this use of materials is needless but who’s to say what’s correct. The marker of this probably didn’t think their work was needless.
I’ll counter your trees with my humans. Would you agree that skinning children to make drums would be “needlessly cruel”? The creator might have thought that it was necessary for whatever reason, but neither the children nor any sane observer would agree. It’s fine to disagree on what’s moral and what’s not, and it’s up to the invidual to decide for themselves. I think killing turtles for vanity project is cruel, especially since you have all those trees that just deserve to be carved up for being so tall. I believe there is some common ground most interested parties can agree on. And if not, then the situation is probably quite complicated and you should rethink making those drums.
As someone who has been on public transportation with children who were in tantrums, I’m going to call that one not cruel enough.