Is classical music funny? The Witty Ditty Industry, made up of (mostly) white men in their 30s, would probably reply singing “Of course not!” Their retort would be snappily harmonized, with enough panache to make whoever questioned their authority look a bit silly; but not quite enough commitment to suggest this retort is entirely ironic. These Ditties, like “F Sharp” by Tim Minchin, or Bo Burnham’s “Art Is Dead,” ultimately seek to retain the bashful, self-effacing performativity of a group of musicians secretly gagging for a “quiet genius” tag.
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