beyond words

I hardly know any texts or books that have interesting things to say about music and why it moves people the way it does. Do you? - The book "Voorbij de Woorden" (“Beyond Words”) by Belgian theologian and philosopher Jan Koenot is an exception for me. Koenot argues that modern individuals are no different from earlier generations in that they have a need to anchor their existence in a mythological structure in order to lend coherence and stability to their lives. The best known myths to date are those provided by religion and philosophy. However, Koenot claims, the environment in which we live has made it impossible for many to cling to myths that are logocentric, i.e. based on language and linguistic tradition. Every day, we witness how advertising and marketing try to manipulate us with words, how illusive information channeled through mass media has become, and how self-referential scientific explanations of reality appear. The same goes for the world of imagery, perhaps in an even more drastic dimension. Since logocentric convictions and imagery have become disqualified, Koenot asks, wouldn't it be appropriate to say that for many people Rock music has become a new popular myth, a myth for an era “beyond words” (thus the title of his book)? Koenot describes Rock music as a source of transcendental experiences, and reveals a lot of striking parallels between religious practices and the habits of Rock musicians and their followers.

Most pieces of Rock music do have words in them, but to many they are not as important as the sound, and the meaning of the words is transposed, so to speak, by being part and parcel of a more comprehensive meaningful element (the song). What the words signify becomes more or less a matter of subjective interpretation. According to Koenot, it is the spontaneous, overwhelming and inexpressible feeling of vitality springing from Rock music that binds people together in their mystical musical experience.

It is interesting to hold Koenot's thesis of Rock being a myth beyond words against the theme of this blog. Actually, I think that many of the aphorisms and puns collected here direct listeners' attention precisely to the frailty of the link between language and reality that Koenot expounds. The point of these phrases would often be lost if the same content was expressed in different words. In this they are like poems. They differ from poems however in that they do not purport to be aesthetic objects in themselves, but are rather a vehicle of surprise or disconcertment, pointing to the irreparable gap between the words and the world. Next to the subjectiveness of interpretation that song lyrics afford, this is another means of expressing doubts in the reliability of language as a cultural common ground.

The upshot seems to be that when it comes to our myths, we cannot do without language, but we can use it in ways that remind us of its limitations.

~

I found a fatal flaw in the logic of love. (The Shins, “Gone For Good”)

Desire breeds desire. (Toad The Wet Sprocket, “Desire”)

Since we're through with morality - can I sleep with your wife?
(The Lilac Time, “Entourage”)

We're the stars of CCTV. (Hard-Fi, “Stars Of CCTV”)

I'd have a breakdown, but I don't have the time. (Richard Ashcroft,
“Bright Lights”)

Ain't it funny how it really ain't funny at all. (The Connells, “Back To Blue”)

You've made your point: It's pointless.
(The Lemonheads, “I'll do it anyway”)

Wort ist das falsche Wort. (Erdmöbel, "Wort ist das falsche Wort")