"The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good." Robert Graves
Mr. Graves makes an excellent point, which I will catalog as Theory #269: there is no relationship, direct or indirect, between popularity and quality or excellence. Hype doesn't make something good or bad - it just makes something hyped. The converse is true as well: obscurity has no relationship to quality or excellence either.
Take that, indie rockers.
20, 200, 262, 269...
ReplyDeleteThey're in order.
You seem to like the number 2.
I can't see a pattern (+180, then +62, then +7).
What does it all mean?
I wish I could tell you it has some deep meaning.
ReplyDeleteThey're the post number. Theory #262 is post #262.
Of course! Because all of your posts are guesswork 'theories'. That's too easy, I feel dumb.
ReplyDeleteWhile I pretty much agree, allow me to play the part of Justin for a second and be a devil's advocate.
ReplyDeleteWhat about things that are popular over the time. Maybe you can measure popularity in the long term. Like high school, short term popularity is fleeting. But in the long run, most things that last are pretty good: The Beatles, George Washington, Thomas Edison to name a few.
Jeff - Don't feel dumb. It' probably not that obvious.
ReplyDeleteHarrison - Great point. The "test of time" still holds.
Thomas Edison? That's a weird example.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's one clear example that disproves this long term hype = good. The Beach Boys, which are obviously just awful.
Whatever Jeff. I know when I'm being baited. Everyone knows you love the Beach boys too.
ReplyDelete