A couple of seemingly simple questions such as "what we like and why?" May be the key to guide the development of a cultural article. Thus began the second session of Module Music Grant Gabriel García Márquez cultural journalism. Scholars and teachers went on Naples Sacred Music concert, which took place last night, to try to decipher the exact impressions of the concert in which were interpreted Giovanni Batista Pergolesi pieces. Some focused their attention on the wide range of variations of the contralto voice of Sara Mingardo, several preferred the stage presence, facial expressions and voice projection of the soprano Valentina Varriale, and others pointed to the weakness of the string group, the atmosphere of the theater, the shoes of the soprano or the lack of interest of the audience -some dozing, others focused on the screens of their phones during the concert-.
For the participants is an exercise that allows them to confront their immediate impressions, look for the reasons of those things that no longer belongs to the field of taste but it can be argued, and reconsider the importance of musical aspects and not necessarily technical but contribute to the enrichment of experience. For teachers is an opportunity to highlight one simple truth of this profession: "Is not a science. There are no right or wrong answers, and sometimes earlier comments, which could skew the opinion and generate prejudices, are refuted by experience on the stage. Diversity opinions confirms that subjectivity is an essential component of cultural journalism. " After this initial excercise, the fellows resumed the articles they are writing. Some made major changes in the form and structure, after the feedback during the first session. Others, affected by the concerts, decided to change course and start all over focusing on specific topics. It is not easy to choose a central path and discard other attractive aspects of a topic, but it is necessary to deepen rather than being on the surface by pretending to be exhaustive. About this choice, the importance of seeking the exceptional was repeated as a key to engage the reader. In the words of Jonathan Levi: "Expected is not a surprise. The good story is not: 'Dog bites man', but 'Man bites dog'".
Also in that direction to seduce the audience and convert the text into a magnetic read from beginning to end, excessive and unsubstantiated data were questioned again. How to discriminate whether an item have more relevance soprano shoes all the awards he has accumulated? The answer depends on each individual case and is linked to the journalist's motivation in choosing the topic. Feeling obliged to saturate the texts with ancillary information is not a whim of journalists, is a habit of some kind of press and a demand for some publishers. According to the teachers, that's the reason for this space: "The idea of this workshop is to revolutionize the habits and dare to write what the editor hesitate publish".
Revolve a profession is not also move the pillars that give it strength, as research and argumentation. In that sense, some value judgments angrily thrown in the texts of the fellows were confronted by arguments shortage or total lack of sources.
The opinions on the quality of loose interpretation of a musician, without clearly stated technical reasons or critical references to experts in the field are strictly personal. And this is a very delicate margin to define the meaning of subjectivity in cultural journalism is one thing intelligent argumentation supported by the opinions of qualified critics and other comments from a journalist bit adventurous connoisseur.
The culture of a world of tastes, but the opportunity of leading journalism opinion about those tastes requires an additional responsibility on the part of those who sign the pages that many read with confidence.