GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Playback Listening
In the Thread: What I am doing?

Post Subject: The soul in the machine?Posted by Axel on: 7/19/2009

Now, -- I don’t think if I may call myself a very intelligent person. Some would say so – B U T then there are others that would have it differently.
My spelling is not too good at times, and so some people would consider this to be a sign of lacking in intelligence. Some would say, I do not agree with them, yet another sign of lacking intelligence, since they hold themselves, and their opinions, and knowledge as a pretty good sign of their intelligence. THEN, there is such a thing (at least to some folks) like emotional-intelligence. Thank God, I have not yet learned to be emotionally un-intelligent.

Why this preamble? The subject's now: “The soul in the machine?” (or tool? if wish).
I think my brand of intelligence tells me that things that ‘have’ soul are better, more worthwhile to look at, listen too, touch, and feel.
So what about 'tool-things'? The piano was mentioned, then e.g. a beautifully made and crafted work tool, sharpened and honed with patience, attention to detail and CARE?

I think in Japanese culture it is maybe better understood, that you ‘impart’ soul into an object by putting YOUR care, attention, and very best into it, whether it’s a tea-cup, a samurai-sword, or what ever. But this ONLY happens if it receives your devoted, care and attention. In Western language we come close with the ‘uncorrupted’ meaning of quality. A lot of marketing has watered down the word quality, I hope you may know what I mean.

In my wood-workshop my tools have ‘soul’, I care and attend to them and get VERY sad (and upset) if some person only sees them for their mechanical shape and purpose ---- doesn’t feel or notice how much of MY soul I imparted in to them. Yet, they (the tools) like the cat, I guess, don’t give a dam - as little, as a carelessly attended road-bridge or one that is looked after.

So the result in the end lies within the beholder if something has soul or not. B U T, there is a very touching and noteworthy thing --- some people just get it, right there. But you have to be OPEN to receive the message, get ‘touched’ by that CARE and attention to detail that went into making that tea-cup, caring, setting up and tuning that piano, sharpening and setting that hand-plane so it cuts to perfection (your perfection!).

So is audio (the equipment) soul-less, is the cat soul-less --- my answer is a clear NO, as long as you CARE for it! In fact I KNOW that things, objects, can be absolutely soul-less, too much about of it these days. The plastic boom-box, the throw-away paper-cup, the mass produced TV-dinner, the throw-away sex, and any bought today – discarded tomorrow sort of stuff.
Why? :-) Who CARES?! Exactly, unattended consumption junk, like use toilet-paper --- wipe yourself with it then flush it down the toilet. Then go buy another roll…

In closing, some say that taking drugs (coke, etc.) is a sign that you have just too much cash, at least at some stage…
Maybe having too much audio equipment-‘drugs’ could fall into the same category?
It is very difficult to care for stuff that is not used, appreciated, just sits around and is not much taken CARE, of to have any soul ---- it turns back into what it looks like only --- just a pile of wires, tubes, rotors and motors, etc. No good getting much into the music with soul-less, uncared for, dead stuff –isn’t it?

There are of course collectors that totally care for their collection, like 'kiss it good-night' every day :-) I’m NOT talking about that, since a beautifully cared for e.g. picture collection will be beautiful, touching, and soulful (at least in my experience).

Greetings,

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