Chapter 5, Accounting for Taste
Aesthetic judgment is by nature more elusive than scientific method will allow. It requires patience, training, and a willingness to submit to our elders. It is very much like wisdom in that regard. (p.79)
This quote reminded me of a comment from Alfonso about his friend who didn’t like a painting. His father told him to stand in front of a masterpiece until he appreciated it. The problem wasn’t with the painting. I wish I could find the comment – it was a great story.
But sentimentality may be the most corrupting of these qualities. Kaplan is eager to acknowledge that the object of sentimentality may be quite worthy — love of country, familial affection, grief at the loss of a friend –“but the feelings called forth spring too quickly and easily to acquire substance and depth. They are so lightly triggered that there is no chance to build up a significant emotional discharge.”
Isn’t it, um, ironic, that the overly sweet (sentimentality) can make things rotten? Sort of like Mountain Dew and teeth. We’ve been conditioned to judge something by how it makes us feel instead of by objective standards. Take Debbie Boone’s song You Light Up My Life which ends with the words, “It can’t be wrong, when it feels so right.” Am I the only one who grimaces when hearing those words?
Chapter 6, Better to Receive
The final footnote about pop music’s limited emotional palette struck a chord with me. Here is the sentence from the text, followed by the footnote:
I learn something about mourning when I hear Brahms; I know of no similar lessons in popular music. Footnote: A friend recently remarked that so much of the music sung in evangelical churches today (influenced as it is by pop music) has such a triteness about it that “children aren’t learning songs they can sing at funerals.”
Well, you know funeral music is my thing. And when I read this my head bobbed up and down in agreement. Then I started to think. The most notable exception to this footnote is the modern hymn In Christ Alone. I can think of a few others that are sure to bring tears, but occupy the suburbs of Sentimental. Can you recommend some good, modern songs to sing at a funeral?
Give me the robust, sinewy lyrics of older songs.
How oft in grief hath not he brought thee relief,
spreading his wings to o’ershade thee!
~ Joachim Neander, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Whate’er my God ordains is right: Though now this cup, in drinking,
May better seem to my faint heart, I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.
~ Samuel Rodigast, Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right
Jesus! what a help in sorrow! While the billows o’er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking, He, my comfort, helps my soul.
~ J. Wilbur Chapman, Jesus What a Friend for Sinners
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.
~ What Wondrous Love is This, American folk hymn
where there is a 14 minute sampler. Bet you can’t just watch 3 minutes of it! If you are impressed, look over to the right. Used copies of the entire set are starting at $15.00. I ordered one this morning. 
into one sentence, it would be: “See, I told you so!” Churchill’s Theme of the Volume is
a companion book to a documentary by the same name. Initially, I thought I’d just flip through the book and return it to the library. The pictures, however, were compelling. Respect demanded more than a flip-through. Then the diary entries hooked me; soon I started on the title page and read through the book. 
A Living Pencil 