we see what we expect to see

[jrtom]

and totally fail to recognize genius when it's somewhere that we don't expect to find it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html?hpid=topnews

Wow.

(from lethran, I think)

Comments

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

I agree with a comment on one of those links that they make the assumption that everyone will be stopped by the power of classical music. I wonder if the results would've been different for similarly skilled musicians in other genres.

Growing up in NYC, there was a Chinese man I often saw at Grand Central, playing a classical Chinese instrument - I don't know the name of it, it had one string and a long neck and a small round resonance chamber at the bottom. I always thought it was interesting to listen to, and when he was in the station I'd wait for my train somewhat near him. Then one day I was waiting with a friend of mine who played violin in some NYC orchestra and she told me he was a professional violinist. I got the impression from her that he was doing it for his own enjoyment and to spread the audience for classical Chinese music, not for the money.