Re: Do We Perceive Beauty in an Unexpected Context

["Stephen Goodman" <spgoodman@earthlight.net>]

I concur!  I would naturally assume that on the way to work people are less 
likely to pay much attention.  In addition the pennies given to him could 
have been for a variety of reasons, like [a] all the change they could 
spare, [b] a gesture more than just passing by.  I would put forth that 
while going home people are more capable of appreciating a beautiful 
performance.  Any folks with busking experience out there?

> One thing that this story possibly suggests to me is that the  average 
> person has to be told what is good art or music, etc, and  they don't have 
> the ability to discern it themselves.

I don't think we can assume that's the case in this instance. If the
majority of those people were on their way to work, they didn't have
time to stop and listen. They may very have arrived at work and told
their co-workers that they had just heard the most insanely talented
violin player in the subway, and regretted they didn't have time to
listen more.

Jeff