"Notice audiences at high altitudes and audiences in northern countries tend to be attentive during performances while audiences at sea level or in warm countries voice their feelings whenever they have them."
This seems like a cultural difference too me, but is it actually possible that art is perceived and interpreted differently in various parts of the world? I think this question could be best answered by first doing a case study of audiences across the world in varying regions and recording their reactions to the performances. What really needs to be answered though, is the notion of whether or not an artist has a better chance of being well received or even successful in different locations. I have simply never entertained such a question, but now that it has been presented I cannot think of an answer.
I am not sure where this north/south/sea level audience distinction was made, or by who, but it really is fascinating. Is it that people from the south are more outspoken? Could he really be implying that maybe there's something in the water or even worse, our genes? I just can't wrap my mind around this quandary. Cage does touch on other topics in this brief 3 page diary entry, but this idea of a 'family reunion', 'people in the round', and the notion of an art 'meeting house' in relationship to how an audience as a whole responds to and absorbs the material presented to them is simply something I have never been confronted with. Fascinating, I must say.
