The Washington Post recently had an article entitled "Pearls Before Breakfast" in which Joshua Bell, one of the worlds greatest living violin players was asked to play in a D.C. train station during rush hour. It's a long article - but it's truly fascinating.
The experiment suggested one large err in human judgement - most people don't realize a good thing unless it hits them in the face, (even then, it is often unappreciated). I am also guilty. We are in such a narcissistic rush to be individuals that we forget to enjoy the wonderful things that fall into our laps on a daily basis. When it comes to aesthetics, most human beings have similar tastes. There is a general consensus about beauty in Western culture, especially among those with a similar ethnic and educational background. The individuals passing Joshua Bell in the train station were mostly educated government officials going to work... people who would pay to go to a symphony or opera.
Why didn't they stop?
Also interesting is the idea of context in human relationships. Human beings are often only able to deal with the world outside of ourselves in the context of our own minds. Joshua Bell would have been more appreciated had he been playing in his usual context - on a stage for a large symphony with patrons paying $100 to see him. But, his playing in a train station went almost unnoticed. Furthermore, many thought it a distraction.
What's wrong with us? How many beautiful experiences are we missing out on?
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