Where Art And Research Collide
Written Jan. 5, 2009 by Larry Rosin in Content with 0 Comments
As representatives of a company which provides research information to broadcasters (among other things), we are regularly accused of "ruining" the very products we are attempting to improve. While we don't exactly agree with this argument, we do know how things can be taken to inappropriate extremes.
This past weekend's broadcast of "This American Life" reminds us all that there are good and bad sides to trying to research art. If you go to this site and click on the "free download," you can hear about a research project to create the least and most preferred paintings and the least and most preferred songs. The songs are hilarious - fast forward the player to the 13 minute mark to hear this part of the broadcast.
If you click through to the site of the people who created the songs, they describe the 'most unwanted song' according to research:
"The most unwanted music is over 25 minutes long, veers wildly between loud and quiet sections, between fast and slow tempos, and features timbres of extremely high and low pitch, with each dichotomy presented in abrupt transition. The most unwanted orchestra was determined to be large, and features the accordion and bagpipe (which tie at 13% as the most unwanted instrument), banjo, flute, tuba, harp, organ, synthesizer (the only instrument that appears in both the most wanted and most unwanted ensembles). An operatic soprano raps and sings atonal music, advertising jingles, political slogans, and 'elevator' music, and a children's choir sings jingles and holiday songs. The most unwanted subjects for lyrics are cowboys and holidays, and the most unwanted listening circumstances are involuntary exposure to commercials and elevator music. Therefore, it can be shown that if there is no covariance--someone who dislikes bagpipes is as likely to hate elevator music as someone who despises the organ, for example--fewer than 200 individuals of the world's total population would enjoy this piece"
I have to say that in this case research does seem predictive. But the song is completely hilarious.
Reader Comments
Your 2¢, in chronological order — add your comment below.