The Special Liveliness of Hooks in Popular Music and Beyond

Description

This book illuminates the aesthetically underrated meaningfulness of particular elements in works of art and aesthetic experiences generally. Beginning from the idea of "hooks" in popular song, the book identifies experiences of special liveliness that are of enduring interest, supporting contemplation and probing discussion. When hooks are placed in the foreground of aesthetic experience, so is an enthusiastic “grabbing back” by the experiencer who forms a quasi-personal bond with the beloved singular moment and is probably inclined to share this still-evolving realization of value with others. This book presents numerous models of enthusiastic “grabbing back” that are art-critically motivated to explain how hooks achieve their effects and philosophically motivated to discover how hooks and hook appreciation contribute to a more ideally desirable life. Framing hook appreciation with a defensible general model of aesthetic experience, this book gives an unprecedented demonstration of the substantial aesthetic and philosophical interest of hook-centered inquiry. Acknowledgments Contents About the Author Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Some Relevant Aesthetic Principles Special Liveliness Usable Models Ringing Realizations Chapter 3: Inauguration Hooks What Is It to Start? Characterization Gateways Transgression The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship First Four Measures Next Four Measures Inauguration Hooks in Other Art Forms Pictures Movies Literature Chapter 4: Problem Hooks Problems of Musical Tone Problems of Passion and Attitude Problems of Time Nifting Problem Hooks in Other Art Forms Pictures Movies Literature Chapter 5: Resolution Hooks Examining the Elements Concentration Demonstration The Decisive Synthesis The Potent Blend Repurposing The Grand Solution Resolution Hooks in Other Art Forms Pictures Movies Literature Chapter 6: Termination Hooks The Plenary; the Lush So Be It: the Amen and the Fiat The Clear-Your-Palate; the Hand-You-Over The Twist The End as New Summons From Cosmos to Chaos The Nifty Termination Hooks in Other Art Forms Pictures Literature Movies Chapter 7: Interlude: Are There Bad Hooks? Chapter 8: The Problem of Love The Problem of Physical Urgency The Platonic Problem The Sartrean Problem The Patriarchal Problem The Greatest “I Love You” Love Hooks in Other Art Forms Movies Pictures Literature Chapter 9: The Problem of the People The Musical Mobilization of Pronouns Dances for Everyone The People in Crisis Utopia and Dystopia The Geographical People The Historical People The Religious People People Hooks in Other Art Forms Pictures Movies Literature Chapter 10: Hooks in the Development of Aesthetic Interpretation Qualities to Identify Complexities to Sort Out Implications to Unpack Master Metaphors and Models to Install Resources for Interpretation in Other Art Forms Chapter 11: Epilogues A B Appendix A: More Detailed Analyses of Some Time Hooks 1. Radiohead, “How to Disappear Completely” (2000) 2. Baby Animals, “Nervous at Night” (1993) 3. Sly and the Family Stone, “Stand!” (1969) Appendix B: Larger-Scale Interpretation: Hooks in Andrei Rublev Index