Posted by krazeeviking at d221-216-98.systems.cogeco.net on March 15, 2002 at 22:29:03:
I read through your Arena columns Kevin (you don't mind if I call you Kevin do you? I mean chances are you won't read this anyway), the last of which being your Britney column and most of what you said made perfect sense. At the same time you left alot what needed to be said out of the column. This may have been due to a constraint on length or it ended up on the editor's toilet paper roll, but as many other bitter message board warriors I felt it my duty in life to add my buck fifty (Inflation, and ego. I like to feel my thoughts are worth more then other peoples). Britney isn't an individual in any sense of the word. She has no thought of her own that isn't edited, proofread, and rewritten by a team of spin doctors.
She is a true representation of the industry. Her personality is manufactured just as much as that mindless, overtly sexual drivel she claims as her own. She is a pleasing-to-the-eye record industry Frankenstein. She does not write her own music, she does not sing her own music, and most of her more noticeable physical features are undoubtedly not her own.
There is a method to the madness of the Industry however. For every single Britney and Boy Band that go multi-platnium (they're manufactured as well, ever seen popstars?), there are at least 10 other artists out there that are creating worthwhile music. It does take alot of money to produce music, good or bad. I am a huge fan of almost any kind of music excluding most rap (the ego doesn't appeal to me) and pop. I like to think of myself as discerning enough to appreciate good music so as long as there are progressive bands like Radiohead, Incubus, and System of a Down putting out music that pushes boundaries and people like me enjoy, I'm willing to suffer the Britney's and the Backstreet Boys. I may not like them, but their existence allows the REAL music to be produced.
PS - I hope this didn't come off as a flame, because it wasn't meant to. I love your movies (though Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back kinda sucked - sorry) of which Dogma was the best IMO. I thought I'd end the post with a line you've never heard before... I have an idea for a movie. Ever thought of teaming up with John Cusack? It would certainly be the ultimate cult movie.