This New Yorker article, "Searching for Silence: John Cage’s art of noise" by Alex Ross, touched on the history and background of John Cage, a well-known 20th-century avant-garde figure. Ross explores Cage's philosophical studies, specifically his interest with the exchange between silence and noise, as shown through the "4'33"". In this piece, people sit in silence, allowing ambient sounds to surround the space, which challenges modern music styles. Cage's work originates from aspects of Zen Buddhism. Incorporating everyday sounds, undetermined properties, etc. Ross emphasizes Cage’s ability to advance the norms of artistic expression. Ross’s perspective on Cage through his writing offers the reader a deeper understanding of how Cage influenced the world of music. He opened up the concept of silence through music and his philosophies are just as relevant today than it was back then. For the time, it offered a completely different perspective on how we view and listen to music. Although I do not find his studies the most satisfying or interesting, it is still good to know. I did not realize how much of an impact he had on society's music. Cage's legacy as an innovator and provocateur remains challenging audiences to engage with the concept of silence and noise in new and thought-provoking ways. Cage's experimental techniques and radical ideas have left an indelible mark on contemporary music and art, inspiring generations of artists to reconsider the nature of sound and creativity. Although I am surprised people still study and talk about Cage and his work, I am glad to know about the impact he had.
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