Schopenhauer 2

“We are entirely satisfied by the impression of a work of art only when it leaves behind something that, in spite of all our reflection on it, we cannot bring down to the distinctness of a concept.” (101)

I consider a work of music to be particularly valuable if it elucidates something unique - an emotion or idea that can’t seem to be effectively represented outside of the work itself. There are certain artists, genres, and songs that make me feel something so specific, so vivid, that my view of the world seems slightly more varied and open because of the music's addition to my human experience. When certain music is unique and personally moving, its life continues beyond just the sound made after pushing “play” and ending - its ideas and components get stuck in the head and carry meaning that can’t be replaced by a simple summary of the song. This is different than, for example, a story or essay that can be broken down into main points that effectively convey the same or similar meaning as the original work. Music often carries emotions or concepts that feel ambiguous or are difficult to describe, so the only way to the fully re-experience the phenomenon of music is to listen again (similar to the phenomenon experienced from certain flavors in foods).

I choose a painting by Francis Bacon because he creates portraits with distorted imagery that cannot be reduced down to or replaced simply by words.

Likewise, I choose the track “Clouds” by Alex G because it conveys a unique combination of several ambiguous emotions that can be interpreted differently by each individual, and personally creates a unique feeling that can’t be exactly described or recreated by another work (neither music nor any other art). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv7d053B990