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Software for People
Collection of 26 articles by well-known composer Pauline Oliveros. Articles range in variety from analytical to philosophical to mystical. A unique collection. Originally published in 1984, finally back in print.
- GenresMusic
320 pages, Hardcover
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 20, 2024
Full review to come, but here are my general thoughts for now:
To anyone who feels like what they’re creating is too far out there, that you can’t make what you want because no one will ever want it: there will always be someone who loves your creations. If you’re already creating something and people aren’t loving it, you just haven’t found the right audience yet.
If Pauline Oliveros—a woman who lived in the mid-late 1900s, spoke out about feminism when it wasn’t cool yet, was openly lesbian despite the rampant homophobia here in the US, and wrote some of the weirdest music I’ve ever heard in my life—could not only find an audience for her music, but also lifelong friends who supported her and gave her opportunities to keep making music, so can you. And if anyone tries to tell you that what you’re creating isn’t worthy because it’s different, it’s not trendy, or they don’t like it, that’s their problem for not seeing you as the amazing person you are.
As long as what you’re doing is making you happy, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to be a professional. You don’t need to be good. All you need is passion for something you love. That’s all that should ever matter. Period.
Real review here:
http://aminoapps.com/p/94b68oj
To anyone who feels like what they’re creating is too far out there, that you can’t make what you want because no one will ever want it: there will always be someone who loves your creations. If you’re already creating something and people aren’t loving it, you just haven’t found the right audience yet.
If Pauline Oliveros—a woman who lived in the mid-late 1900s, spoke out about feminism when it wasn’t cool yet, was openly lesbian despite the rampant homophobia here in the US, and wrote some of the weirdest music I’ve ever heard in my life—could not only find an audience for her music, but also lifelong friends who supported her and gave her opportunities to keep making music, so can you. And if anyone tries to tell you that what you’re creating isn’t worthy because it’s different, it’s not trendy, or they don’t like it, that’s their problem for not seeing you as the amazing person you are.
As long as what you’re doing is making you happy, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to be a professional. You don’t need to be good. All you need is passion for something you love. That’s all that should ever matter. Period.
Real review here:
http://aminoapps.com/p/94b68oj
January 6, 2017
Start with "On Sonic Meditation" and "Software for People". The rest is for diehards only, most of it pretty boring. Oliveros is not a great writer, but it's worth knowing more about the thoughts informing her music. There is some nice historical information throughout, in particular in "On the Need for Research Facilities", which recounts her early days in the Bay Area.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews