Cultural Imperialism and the English Department

Peter Russell feels that since I write articles that knock the English Department for forcing "dependent relationships" on students then I shouldn't go and write patronising record reviews. Sure. But I don't think it was patronising to feel that some Salient readers might not know that "Carmina Burana" is based on texts written in 1200 and set to music in 1937 by the German music teacher Carl Orff. Maybe classical buffs who lecture in German have that knowledge at their fingertips. It still seems arrogant to assume that everyone else should. In fact I chose to review this "famous" work precisely because it seemed almost unknown among the rock fans to whom the review was obviously written.

Since Peter is so worried about my "inconsistency" let's get this straight. I recommended that record because its rhythms and dissonances seemed closer to rock than most other classical works. In other words I tried to ground my review in the experience of the majority of those who might read it. That's exactly what the student group requested of the English Department, that it explain why Pope and Dryden are so much more relevant to our experience than say, Ken Kesey, such that they are compulsory while Kesey is not even taught at all. Far from being inconsistent with the English articles my review tried to put some of their ideas into practice.

On the other hand I dislike the implications of Peter's letter, i.e., that anyone who doesn't know all about Carl Orff must therefore be some kind of illiterate slob, since as he proclaims "Carmina Burana" is one of the most famous works in 20th century music. Well, maybe. But I wonder whether Peter Russell is equally worried that there are illiterate English teachers who are not aware of the equally "famous work" of Bob Dylan or Van Morrison. But I doubt whether he's that consistent. Peter Russell obviously rates classical music over rock music in much the same way that the English Department rates the Augustan period over modern literature. And he's quite welcome to, as long as he keeps it to himself. All along the student group has been arguing that we should all be free to decide for ourselves about the music and literature we like; our only bitch has been with cultural imperialists like Peter Russell and Don McKenzie who try to impose their tastes on other people.

So Peter, the real "inconsistency" is that people like you and McKenzie seem so intolerant of other ideas about what constitutes art. Yet you both claim to be teachers. How, come? Do you really stop learning as soon as you start teaching?

Gordon Campbell.