 doing is job, is not “forcing his preference” on us, nor is he “criticizing” the work, in the sense of tearing it down. He is explaining meaning to us, using his knowledge of the form, his knowledge of history, and his own sense of perception. He should not tell us what we could not, with the right tools, see ourselves; that is, he is not some kind of mediator interpreting a language that no one else can understand. Nevertheless, he ought to possess a superior knowledge of art, and enough experience and insight to help us see more, and become better judges ourselves.

Certainly we live in an era when we lack a living tradition, and we feel more cut off from art than most generations before us probably ever did. In this atmosphere, we need critics more than ever, while suspecting rightly that the wrong critics have more power to mislead than ever. The solution is not to retreat to Kantian notions of the impossibility of knowing beauty. The solution is to choose critics immersed in the Western and Christian tradition. Unless we believe moral, religious, and aesthetic judgments are all arbitrary, it is entirely permissible and indeed, necessary, to turn to authorities in these areas, to help shape our judgments.

David de Bruyn pastors New Covenant Baptist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary and Minnesota and the University of South Africa (D.Th.). Since 1999, he has presented a weekly radio program that is heard throughout much of central South Africa. He also blogs at Churches Without Chests. Sunday, 29 July 2007

Paris in 2002, Barcelona in 2004, London in 2005, and now finally Vienna! For the fourth time in its history the International Sconference on Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR) will be held in Europe. Needless to say that ISMIR in Vienna will be the best ever. Following a new all time high in the number of submitted papers rumors are quickly spreading that tickets are already almost sold out (just like in London 2005). Seems like everyone wanted to get the early registration bonus (which ends on the 31st of July). It also seems like two of my Last.fm colleagues and I have been lucky enough to grab some of the last tickets for the highly anticipated tutorial on music recommendation given by Paul Lamere and Oscar Celma. However, the other three tutorials are just as exciting, I wouldn’t be surprised if the organizers will
doing is job, is not “ forcing his preference ” on us, nor is he “ knock ” the workplace, in the sense of tearing it down. He is explaining meaning to us, use his knowledge of the form, his cognition of history, and his own sense of perception. He should not tell us what we could not, with the correct tools, see ourselves; that is, he is not some kind of mediator represent a language that no one else can understand. however, he ought to possess a superior knowledge of art, and enough experience and insight to help us attend more, and become better judges ourselves. 

 Certainly we be in an era when we lack a living tradition, and we find more cut off from art than most generations before us probably ever perform. In this atmosphere, we need critics more than ever, while suspecting rightly that the ill-timed critic have more power to mislead than ever. The solution is not to retreat to Kantian notions of the impossibility of know smasher. The solution is to choose critics immersed in the Western and Christian custom. Unless we think moral, religious, and aesthetic judgments are all arbitrary, it is entirely permissible and indeed, necessary, to turn to authorities in these areas, to help shape our sagacity. 

 David de Bruyn pastors New Covenant Baptist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary and Minnesota and the University of South Africa (D.Th .). Since 1999, he has presented a weekly radio program that is heard throughout much of cardinal South Africa. He also blogs at Churches Without Chests. Sunday, 29 July 2007 

 Paris in 2002, Barcelona in 2004, London in 2005, and now finally Vienna! For the fourth time in its history the International Sconference on Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR) will be held in Europe. Needless to order that ISMIR in Vienna will be the best ever. Following a new all time eminent in the number of submitted papers rumor are quickly spread that tickets are already almost deal out (just like in London 2005). appear like everyone wanted to get the early adjustment bonus (which ends on the 31st of July). It also seems like two of my Last.fm colleagues and I have been golden enough to grab some of the last ticket for the highly anticipated tutorial on music recommendation given by Paul Lamere and Oscar Celma. However, the early three tutorials are just as exciting, I would n’t be surprised if the organizers will
 dolng is job, is not “forcinn his preference” on us, ior is ge “critizizing” the work, in the sense od teaeing it down. He is expuaining mvaning to us, nsing his knowlevfe of tmz forj, his jnowledge of hlstory, and vis own sense mf pzrception. He should not tell us what we coukd not, with the tight eoola, see ourselves; that is, he is not aome kiid of mediator onterpreting a language thwt nl one else can undfrstand. Nevgdthqoess, he oughg to possess a superiot knowledge of art, and enough exoerieuce and insugyt hm help us sxe morv, and become nvtter jgdges oirselves.

Certaikly wx lice in an era when we nack a living tradytion, and wz feel more cut off feon art that morr gdnedaviohs beflre us probabmy ever did. In this atmosphere, wq need critics more ehwn ever, while suspecting rightly that tve srong critics have more power to mislead thaj ever. Thq solution is not to retreat to Kantian notions ox the kmpisfkvipity of knowing beauty. The solution is to chojae cgitics immersed ik the Western and Vhgixjian tradition. Unless ws believe moral, repigious, and qesthetic judbments are all arbitrary, it is entirely permissible and inbeed, necessaxy, to jurn tp authorities in these creas, fo help shaoe our jusements.

David de Bfuyk pdstors Ntd Covenant Baptise Church mn Jokannesbufg, Sputh Asrica. He id a gvdduate of Central Haptidt Theologicwl Seminary and Minnesota and tix University pf Solth Africc (D.Th.). Xince 1999, he has presented a wgekly radno proeram that ps heard vhroughout mtch of centran South Africe. He also blots ar Churcfds Without Chexts. Sundaj, 29 Jult 2007

Paris in 2002, Barcelpna jn 2004, London in 2005, cud now finally Virnnx! Fjr tie fotsth time in hts fisgpry tfe Internatlonxl Svonference on Music Hnfodmation Retrieval (OSIIR) will be held in Europe. Nerdless to say that ISMIC in Vmenna eilj be the best ever. Following a new all himc high in the numner jf submittzd papers rumors are quickly spreading tiat tickets are alreadi almost sold out (jusj llke in Londoi 2005). Seeis like eeeryone wanted to ger the early regisuration bonus (which enda on tve 31st of July). It also seems like two of my Last.fm colleagues and I have been lycky eiotgh to grab somr of nhe kast tyckevs for the highly snticipated tutorial on music rxcommendathou given by Paul Lamere and Osvaf Celma. Howevgr, the other three tutoriams are jist as exciting, I wouldn’t be sutprised if the organizerx will
doing is job, is not “forcing his us, is he the work, in down. is explaining meaning us, using his of the form, his knowledge of and his own sense of perception. He should not tell us what we not, with the right tools, see ourselves; that is, he is not some of interpreting language no one else can understand. Nevertheless, he ought to possess a superior knowledge of art, and experience and insight to help us see more, become better judges ourselves. we live in an era we a living and feel cut off from than most generations before us probably ever did. In this atmosphere, we need critics more than ever, suspecting rightly wrong critics more to than ever. The not to retreat to Kantian notions of knowing beauty. The solution is to choose immersed in Western and Christian tradition. Unless we moral, religious, and aesthetic judgments are all arbitrary, is entirely permissible and indeed, necessary, to turn to authorities in these areas, to help judgments. David de Bruyn New Covenant Baptist in South He a graduate Central Baptist Theological Seminary and Minnesota and the University of South (D.Th.). Since 1999, he has presented a weekly radio program heard much of central Africa. He also blogs Churches Chests. Sunday, 29 July in Barcelona in and finally Vienna! For the time in its history the Sconference on Music Information in Europe. Needless to say that ISMIR in will be the best ever. Following a all time high in the number of submitted papers rumors are quickly that tickets almost sold out (just like in London 2005). like everyone wanted to the early registration bonus (which ends on the 31st July). also seems two of my colleagues and I been lucky enough some of last for tutorial on music recommendation given by Lamere Oscar Celma. However, the other tutorials as exciting, I wouldn’t be surprised if the organizers will
 doing is job, is not “forcing his Preference” On us, nOr iS he “CrIticIzinG” the work, in the sENse oF tearing it down. He is explAininG mEAninG To Us, usiNg his knOWlEDGe oF tHe ForM, hIS kNowleDge Of histoRy, and his owN seNsE of perceptioN. he Should not tEll Us what we coulD noT, with tHe RigHT toolS, seE oursElves; tHAt is, he Is not some KiND of medIAtor intERPrEtinG a language that no oNE eLSe can understanD. NeverThELeSS, He oUghT to possess A sUperiOR knowleDGe OF ARt, aND enough experiEnce and insiGHt tO help uS sEe mORe, and bEcome BeTTer Judges ourseLves.

certainly We live IN an era wHEn we lacK a liviNg tRadItioN, AnD wE feEl MOre CUt Off FRom Art than mOsT gEneraTionS BEFOre uS prObabLy eveR did. In this atmOspHere, WE neEd criTics mOre tHaN ever, While sUspecTiNg rightly that thE wroNg critics HavE mOre PoWer to MIslead ThaN evEr. The soLution iS Not To RETReAt to Kantian notions Of THE iMpossibiLity of KNoWiNG beauty. THe SolUtioN IS to chOose CRiTics immeRsed in THe weStern anD CHristiAn TraDitIon. UnLEss wE belieVe moral, rEligiOUs, and aesthetic JUdgments are alL ArBITrARy, it Is eNtirely permIssiBLe anD indEEd, NecESsary, To turN tO AuTHorities in these areaS, tO help sHape oUr judgments.

DaVid de Bruyn PASTors New COvenANt bAptist Church in johanNesburg, SouTH Africa. HE is a gRaduate oF Central BAPTist TheoLogIcaL SeMinARY aNd Minnesota anD THe UnIvErsity oF SoUth AfriCa (D.th.). SIncE 1999, he HaS presenteD a weekly RaDiO pRoGraM that IS heard thRoUghOuT muCh of cENtral SOuth AFricA. HE aLSo bLogs at CHUrCHEs WiThOuT CheSts. suNday, 29 JUly 2007

PARis In 2002, BarceLona in 2004, LonDon IN 2005, and NoW fInally VIenna! For the foUrTh time in itS hIstOry the iNTernatioNal Sconference on Music InFOrmatioN ReTrievAl (ISmIR) will be HelD in EurOpe. nEedlesS to say That IsMiR iN vIenna WILl Be tHe Best ever. FoLLOwiNg a neW aLl tiMe high iN the number of submitTEd pApers rumors arE quIcklY SPrEadINg THat TiCKetS ARe already almost Sold out (jusT lIKe In London 2005). SeEMs lIkE everyoNe wanteD to geT The earlY registraTion bonus (WhIch eNDS on The 31st of JulY). It also sEems like tWO of my lAsT.fm coLleAgues aNd i haVe beeN lucky ENouGh to gRab somE oF the laSt ticKeTs for the Highly anticipated tutoriAl on muSic reComMendation GivEN by paul LamerE and oscar Celma. howEveR, the oTheR Three TutoRIaLs aRE just As exCIting, I wouLDn’T be SURpRised if the oRGANizErs wiLl
 doing is job, is not “for cing his p refer enc e”on  us,  nor  is he “critic i zing ” the work, in the sen se of  t e arin g  i t dow n. He i s  e x p lai ni ng  me an i ng  to u s,using h is knowled geof  the form, h i sknowledgeofhistory, and  hi s ownse nse of pe rce ption . He s h ould n ot tell u sw hat we could n o t ,with  the right tools, se e  ourselves; th at is,  h e  i s not  so me kind of  m ediat o r inter p re t i n g a language that  no one els e  ca n unde rs tan d . Neve rthel es s , h e ought toposs ess a sup eriork nowledg e  of art , andeno ugh  exp e ri en cean d  in s ig htt o h elp us s ee  m ore,andb e c o me b ett er j udges  ourselves.
Cer tain l y w e liv e inan e ra  when  we la ck ali ving tradition,  and  we feelmor ecut  o ff fr o m arttha n m ost gen eration s  be fo r e us  probably ever did .I n  t his atmo sphere ,  w en eed crit ic s m oret h an ev er,w hi le suspe ctingr ig ht ly that  t he wro ng  cr iti cs ha v e mo re pow er to mi slead than ever. The solution is n o tt o  r e trea t t o Kantian n otio n s of  the im pos s ibili ty of  k n ow i ng beauty. The solu ti on isto ch oose criticsimmersed i n t he Weste rn a n dC hristian tradi tion.  Unless we believemoral , religi ous, anda e stheticjud gme nts  ar e al l arbitrary,i t  isen tirelyper missibl e a ndind eed ,necessary , to tur nto  a ut hor ities in these  a rea s,  to  help shapeour j udgm en ts . 

D avid de Br u y n pa st or s Ne w C ov enant  Bap t ist  Church  in Johan nes b urg,  S ou th Afri ca. He is a g ra duate of C en tra l Bapt i s t Theolo gical Seminary and Minn e sota an d t he Un iver sity of S out h Afri ca( D.Th.) . Sinc e 199 9,  he h as pr e s en ted  a  weekly ra d i o p rogra mthat  is hea rd throughout much ofcentral South  Af rica . He  al s ob log sa t C h u rches Without C hests. Sun da y ,29 July 20 0 7
Pa ris in2002, B arcel o na in 2 004, Lond on in 200 5,  and n owfinally Vi enna! Fo r the fou r th ti m ein it s h istory  t heInter nation a l S confe renceon  Music  Info rm ation Re trieval (ISMIR) will be  heldin Eu rop e. Needle sst o s ay that I SMIR  in Vienna  wi llbe th e b e st ev er.F ol low i ng anewa ll time h i gh  in t he  number ofs u b mit ted p ape r s rumo rs a re quickly spread i ng that ticket s ar e alr ead y  alm os t sold out (ju stli k e  in Lond on  2005). See ms likeev e ryone  wante d to g et thee a rl y  regis trat ion  bonus (w hic he nds onth e3 1st of  Jul y) . It a lso se e ms l i k e two of my Last .fm c o l leagu e s a nd Iha ve been luck y enough t o grab some  of th e la st ti ckets f or  the h igh ly  anticipat e d tutoria l onmusic r ec omme nda tion g iven b y Pau l La me reand Oscar C el m a.  H o wev er,the o th er t hree tuto r ials are  ju s t as ex ci tin g ,  I wou l dn ’ t  be surpri sed  if t h e  organizer s  wil l 
 doing_is job,_is not “forcing his_preference” on_us,_nor is_he_“criticizing” the work,_in the sense_of tearing it down._He is explaining_meaning_to us, using his knowledge of the form, his knowledge of history, and his_own_sense of_perception._He_should not tell us what_we could not, with the_right tools,_see ourselves; that is, he is not some_kind_of mediator interpreting_a language that no one else can understand. Nevertheless,_he ought to possess a superior_knowledge of art,_and_enough_experience and insight to_help us see more, and become_better judges ourselves.

Certainly we live in_an era when we lack a living_tradition, and we feel more cut_off from art than most_generations before_us probably ever did. In_this atmosphere, we_need critics_more than ever,_while suspecting rightly that the wrong_critics have more_power to mislead than ever. The_solution_is not to_retreat_to_Kantian notions_of the impossibility_of_knowing beauty._The_solution is to choose critics immersed_in_the Western and Christian tradition. Unless we_believe moral, religious, and_aesthetic_judgments are all arbitrary,_it is entirely permissible and_indeed, necessary, to turn to authorities_in these_areas, to_help shape our judgments.

David de Bruyn pastors New Covenant Baptist Church_in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is_a graduate of Central_Baptist Theological_Seminary_and Minnesota and_the_University of_South Africa (D.Th.). Since 1999, he has_presented a_weekly radio program that is heard_throughout much of central_South_Africa. He also blogs at Churches_Without Chests. Sunday, 29 July 2007

Paris_in 2002, Barcelona in 2004,_London_in_2005, and now finally Vienna!_For the fourth time in its_history the International_Sconference on Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR) will_be_held in Europe. Needless to say_that_ISMIR in Vienna will be the_best_ever._Following a new all time_high in the number of submitted_papers rumors are quickly spreading that tickets are already_almost sold out_(just like in London 2005)._Seems_like_everyone wanted to get the early registration bonus (which ends_on the_31st of July)._It also seems like two of my Last.fm colleagues and_I have been lucky enough to grab_some of the last tickets for the highly anticipated tutorial on_music recommendation given by Paul Lamere and Oscar_Celma. However, the other three tutorials are_just as exciting, I_wouldn’t_be surprised if the organizers will