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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: Ann 03:57 pm EST 11/01/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - Michael_Portantiere 03:32 pm EST 11/01/15

... some of the criticism of HAMILTON is all about people trying to make themselves sound intelligent

But everyone's allowed to have their own opinion, right?

If there ever was a show that isn't permitted to be criticized, it's this one.


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 05:30 pm EST 11/01/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - Ann 03:57 pm EST 11/01/15

It is "permissible" to criticize the show. Some people think there's too much rap in the show (or don't like rap at all), or they don't like the types of near-rhymes used in lyrics, or they feel it's sometimes hard to keep up with the story because so many words are being sung or spoken so quickly. Those are all valid opinions based on the actual show. But it seems to me, as to ryhog, that some of the criticisms here aren't supported by anything in the writing. I guess you could say that's my opinion, but since I'm talking about what is or is not present in the content of the show, to me it's much more objective than subjective.


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: Ann 10:34 pm EST 11/01/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - Michael_Portantiere 05:30 pm EST 11/01/15

From your other comments, it seems these things you refer to as being in the content are subjective eye-of-the-beholder things, not facts.


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: ryhog 06:05 pm EST 11/01/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - Michael_Portantiere 05:30 pm EST 11/01/15

I think the point may be that content does not "land" the same for everyone, and that is where the subjectivity comes in. I know that's the case for me. There are shows that are liked generally that just absolutely don't work for me. And I think that most of the regulars here have expressed exactly the same thing at one time or another. If something blows right by you without being absorbed, in your reality, it is not there, even through it is certainly in the script. And while we kinda hope critics are picking up most all of the content, even that is not always the case. I also think that sometimes what resonates depends on our own background. Will Hamilton mean as much to a person from another country? We don't know yet. I have a friend who remarked the other day that he wondered if Hamilton would be viewed differently by someone who has never been on the subway in New York. that's a good question too.


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:02 am EST 11/02/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - ryhog 06:05 pm EST 11/01/15

"I think the point may be that content does not 'land' the same for everyone, and that is where the subjectivity comes in."

Again, very well phrased, and very cogent. I would say that Hamilton's motivations, for example, are definitely present in the text of the show, but it's possible that they just don't "land" for certain audience members -- whether because those people have trouble hearing some of the lyrics, or aren't paying full attention, or don't understand what's being said, or maybe just because they don't think the writing is effective in those sections.


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: jero 06:38 am EST 11/02/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - Michael_Portantiere 12:02 am EST 11/02/15

Any comments on WHY someone might not be 'paying full attention?" theoretically?


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: ryhog 09:30 am EST 11/02/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - jero 06:38 am EST 11/02/15

There are more possible reasons than there are founding fathers. They can range from the unrelated (sick, tired, angry, drunk, etc.) to the related (disinterested in subject, don't like the music, prefer shows that entertain without requiring so much attention, etc.)


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: jero 11:01 am EST 11/02/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - ryhog 09:30 am EST 11/02/15

how about boredom? for me, I liked the music.


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re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON?

Posted by: ryhog 01:47 pm EST 11/02/15
In reply to: re: Did I miss something at HAMILTON? - jero 11:01 am EST 11/02/15

I think both of the other "related" examples I gave speak to boredom. Boredom, of course, can also be a personal problem. Teachers will tell you that even the most un-boring teachers bore students in two categories-those too dumb for the subject matter and those too smart for it. (And I am not in the least suggesting you fall in either of those categories.)


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