Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
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Is being stupid good?

Connoisseur by Michele R. Kennedy

So, is it better to be stupid and happy, or clever and sad? The answer to that may depend on your perspective.

While intelligence, intellect and depth of knowledge in a subject can provide for deep and rewarding experiences, they can also have their downside. It is certainly interesting to know how the Renaissance painter Raphael mixed his paints, the value of Lapis Lazuli and other raw ingredients and the techniques of application. So too, to have the sophisticated and analytical taste buds to distinguish every ingredient and all 9 species of fish in a traditional Bouillabaisse, or to detect the nuance and interplay of aromas in a still youthful and spectacular '82 bottle of Chateau Haut Brion Pessac-Lognan. A depth of knowledge and experience can lend to a greater appreciation of our indulgence and indeed of life.

Such sophisticated knowledge also gives us the ability to analyse and critique, to dissect, compare, judge and provide for in-depth discussion or comment. When the meal, wine, painting, dance, theatrical performance is of such high standard it can be rewarding and fulfilling on so many levels, but it can also be deeply disappointing when it falls short. Being able to see or detect when a wine is not truly balanced or when a stage interpretation has not matched the subtlety of the writer's meaning, or when a performance is lacking in depth or magic can lead to dissatisfaction, dismissal, rejection and disappointment.

This notion comes to mind after a particular experience I had at the London Proms a week ago. I had the good fortune to get last minute tickets for an all-Mozart concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The concert reportedly had been sold out for weeks, I called the ticket office several times in the hope of getting returns. On my third attempt I got some....in a box towards the front in the Grand Tier. I wanted good seats as the performers were violinist Maxim Vengerov and the youthful Verbier Festival Orchestra playing two violin concertos, a concertante with viola player Lawrence Power and a symphony. I have long admired Vengerov's playing, the sure and near faultless technique and his Heifetz-like bowing. Vengerov was also conducting this 'trainee orchestra' for young musicians after working with them intensely for two weeks in a kibbutz in Tel Aviv. He is now on tour with them before making a Mozart recording.

We enjoyed the performance immensely. Maybe there were occasions when they were not quite 'together', but in general, I felt it was a spirited performance and Vengerov played with anticipated excellence.

I was chatting with someone last week who knows many professional musicians and she told me that this performance had been highly criticised. Apparently it had been described by these musicians as being "awful, just terrible". I asked what was so bad about it but they hadn't elaborated on their judgment. It certainly didn't sound as though they had enjoyed the experience. Whereas I had had a lovely time. My knowledge and experience in music is very limited, but I come from a musical family, and am blessed with a little awareness; enough to help me get a lot out of a performance and appreciate it. However, I am not a critic or judge and wouldn't pretend to be so. I play my own violin to a very modest and beginner level, and listen to a lot of violin music which helps me learn.

So, where I came out of the Royal Albert Hall smiling and feeling fulfilled after an enjoyable performance, it seems that others were disappointed enough to be highly critical. Who had the most fun? Whose body was creating endorphins, feeling happy and gaining in health and well-being from the experience? I can't imagine the critics would be smiling. Clearly, either they heard far more imperfections than I did, or maybe there is some professional jealousy of which thankfully I am also free.

So which is better? Is it good to be stupid and happy, or clever and sad? Well, as one person pointed out to me, that lack of knowledge is not a sign of stupidity. And I agree. There are many people who have a great deal of lknowledge whose actions may be considered stupid. And someone who lacks knowledge can act very sensibly. They don't equate. So stupid is probably not the right word to use. But a lack of knowledge is often missinterpreted as such. So I use the word losely.

I would suggest that it is fine either way. It's fine to be unaware of many deep and intricate aspects of a performance, flavour, or work of art. It doesn't mean we don't enjoy them or appreciate some aspect, all be it on a more superficial level. It is also good to have an in-depth understanding as it can help provide for a rich and meaningful experience. But if a piece of music sounds heavenly to my stupid ears, and if it sounds lovely to a more expert set of ears too, then, lovely is .....well, just lovely.

We pick up on different things. I remember many years ago, going to the National Gallery with a friend who was an expert horse rider. She said she had not got any appreciation of art, but fancied going to the gallery for a day out. We entered a picture gallery that had on display a large number of equestrian paintings. I thought she may appreciate them and help with her experience with art. She looked at them, many being of horses ridden by cavalry and quickly commented she couldn't stay in here. I asked why not and she said that all the horses eyes looked frightened. I hadn't noticed this, personally being taken with the artists' masterful depiction of scenes, but these were overshadowed for my friend who only saw the emotion in the horses eyes. They resonated with her own experience. We left. We can all see different things in the same subject. It depends on the spectator's perspective. Neither is right or wrong, good or bad, better or worse.

But in my own simple way, I would rather be happy than sad and will do anything for my own upliftment and fulfillment. A little knowledge can be a good thing. A lot can be a good thing. And no knowledge can also be a good thing. We can view the same painting, hear the same music and taste the same meal, but each of us gets something different out of the experience. Which is better? None. They're all fine. And it's also good to feel that we're not lacking. How blessed I feel to have had an enjoyable experience when others did not.

:-)

Posted by Noël on August 23, 2006 8:08 AM | Permalink