To the Editors of The Crimson
In accordance with one of my new year's resolutions, I must take exception to the rock column in the January 5 edition of What is to be Done? Mr. Blinken shows a fundamental misunderstanding of both the process of making music and the music industry itself in making statement such as "Anyone can play a synthesizes" and "anyone can hope to become the next big thing--and actually succeed."
To claim that artistic merit is wholly dependent upon the medium employed is about as sophisticated an analysis as saying "my kid sister could have done that" when viewing a painting by Pollock.
Furthermore, despite rare cases of so-called "overnight successes," the record industry, especially in times like these, has been conservative to the point of rejecting new musicians and styles. For any new artist to emerge successful in this endeavor requires a good deal of plain old work and, above all, patience.
Both Mr. Blinken and Mr. Hirschorn have, throughout 1983, displayed a tendency to neglect these facts in favor of emulating the trendy style of other, better known music publications. As my new year's thought to Mr. Blinken and Mr. Hirschorn, I wish them the best of luck in avoiding the use of cliches in their writing. Kenneth Rethfield '84
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