Poll of the Day > I think I missed something...

(+) Yeah! (+)

People keep talking about Lizzo playing a flute and desecrating history. What exactly are they talking about? I think I must be missing something here

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=lizzo+flute

But that doesnt explain why people are mad that she played a flute

Some history about the flute
James Madison was the 4th president of the US. In 1813 he was gifted the flute which has his name and the year engraved on it. This was to commemorate his 2nd inauguration. The flute was made by Claude Laurent who patented the design in 1806. There are only 185 Laurent glass flutes known to exist today. This one is either survived or escaped the British setting fire to the White House in 1814. It is unknown if anyone has ever played this specific flute until now.

So it should be a problem that she played the flute, I would think

theyd be mad at her no matter what she did

if she didnt do anything theyd call her out for that too

Oh. So, its those people? I see

LinkPizza posted...

So it should be a problem that she played the flute, I would think

I think it would demonstrate a lack of reverence that anyone would play the flute.
That flute has seen some shit. Which I wouldn't know anything about had the flute not been in the news as much as it has.
That, in turn, just makes it all the more questionable that someone who did know the history behind it would bring it out on a stage.

LinkPizza posted...

Oh. So, its those people? I see

No sure what you mean.

LinkPizza posted...

But that doesnt explain why people are mad that she played a flute

Because people are stupid.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

Because people are stupid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNUtreybeVE

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

I think it would demonstrate a lack of reverence that anyone would play the flute.
That flute has seen some shit. Which I wouldn't know anything about had the flute not been in the news as much as it has.
That, in turn, just makes it all the more questionable that someone who did know the history behind it would bring it out on a stage.

Its an instrument, right? I feel it would be meant to be played. If not, it wouldnt be playable, I would think And many people apparently didnt know about it from the little Ive heard Which makes it baffling that people seem to be mad over it If anything, it seems playing it has brought attention to it Still dont see the issue with playing it

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

No sure what you mean.

That was a response to Mead

ParanoidObsessive posted...

Because people are stupid.

This also makes sense

LinkPizza posted...

That was a response to Mead

Mead is in this thread?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/2/3/AAVgnZAADvEX.jpg

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Mead is in this thread?

They are if you know how to read usernames.

I don't think I get the same internet as everyone else...

ZangsBeard posted...

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=lizzo+flute

cringe

I don't see what the big deal is. The joy of a flute is in hearing it be played. I am curious though how she came about the flute. Like was it in some museum and the curator let her play it or did she buy it at auction or what?

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

I don't think I get the same internet as everyone else...

That shouldnt really change anything Just look at the usernames

hungrymike posted...

I don't see what the big deal is. The joy of a flute is in hearing it be played. I am curious though how she came about the flute. Like was it in some museum and the curator let her play it or did she buy it at auction or what?

Yeah. A flute seems to be useless unless you play it

LinkPizza posted...

That shouldnt really change anything Just look at the usernames

Using the search function in my browser "Mead" only appears in the body of a post, not as a poster.

I'll bet that 99.999% of the people complaining about it had never ever heard of that flute until she played it.

But did she play it well?

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Using the search function in my browser "Mead" only appears in the body of a post, not as a poster.

Im not sure if you trolling or ignorant

Metalsonic66 posted...

But did she play it well?

I think it was just a few notes during which it sounded like a flute. So I guess she did. I don't know music.

LinkPizza posted...

Im not sure if you trolling or ignorant

What do you mean?
I think I missed something...

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

That, in turn, just makes it all the more questionable that someone who did know the history behind it would bring it out on a stage.

Having seen the actual video clip, she seemed to know the history pretty well.

So mostly the issue seems to be that it was James Madison's flute and it was in the care of the Library of Congress who loaned it to her to play.

adjl posted...

Having seen the actual video clip, she seemed to know the history pretty well.

Then following from what I said, it's all the more questionable that she would bring it out on a stage and play it.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

I think it was just a few notes during which it sounded like a flute. So I guess she did. I don't know music.

Kind of impressive if it doesn't sound out-of-tune after all these years

Metalsonic66 posted...

But did she play it well?

yes, she is a classically trained flutist

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Then following from what I said, it's all the more questionable that she would bring it out on a stage and play it.

I believe the opposite. Why wouldnt she play it? Isnt that what am instrument is for.?

VampireCoyote posted...

yes, she is a classically trained flutist

That is pretty neat.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Then following from what I said, it's all the more questionable that she would bring it out on a stage and play it.

Somebody (presumably a curator of some sort) brought it to her to play. I'm not sure of the full context, but it very much was not done without the consent of everyone responsible for the flute's well-being, nor was anyone involved in the decision ignorant or disrespectful of its history.

Metalsonic66 posted...

Kind of impressive if it doesn't sound out-of-tune after all these years

I mean, there's not a lot to go out of tune on a flute, plus it was made mostly of crystal, which would eliminate most concerns about metal corroding. You can adjust the head joint as needed, but a lot of the tuning comes from the player themselves.

As a musician, I think it's cool that an old instrument actually gets played. Somehow, I trust a musician more than Kim Kardashian not to break something, lol.

Once again, like most things that have been 'controversial' online, it's only 'controversial' among people like Glenn Beck, who want to make fun of a black woman for being fat.

adjl posted...

I mean, there's not a lot to go out of tune on a flute, plus it was made mostly of crystal, which would eliminate most concerns about metal corroding. You can adjust the head joint as needed, but a lot of the tuning comes from the player themselves

That makes sense.

LinkPizza posted...

I believe the opposite Why wouldnt she play it? Isnt that what am instrument is for.?

Preventing people from using things for their intended purpose is an inherent part of preserving them for the future. That's why people seal graded comic books preventing anyone from reading them. That's why museums keep things in glass cases.

Hadn't heard about it did a quick google and see it's just some racists upset.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Preventing people from using things for their intended purpose is an inherent part of preserving them for the future. That's why people seal graded comic books preventing anyone from reading them. That's why museums keep things in glass cases.

You can pretty safely trust that the Library of Congress has a better understanding of what's needed to preserve this artifact than you do. If they decided that Lizzo could play it without harming it, there is literally nothing you can possibly contribute to the discussion that will have any value in assessing that judgement call.

I kind of wish Lizzo had gone full American Pie on it.

ZangsBeard posted...

I kind of wish Lizzo had gone full American Pie on it.

Given that it's made of crystal, that sounds potentially very dangerous.

adjl posted...

You can pretty safely trust that the Library of Congress has a better understanding of what's needed to preserve this artifact than you do.

My example wasn't to claim that the flute was harmed in any way. It was to demonstrate that not using a thing for its intended purpose is a common way that people show reverence for it.

adjl posted...

You can pretty safely trust that the Library of Congress has a better understanding of what's needed to preserve this artifact than you do. If they decided that Lizzo could play it without harming it, there is literally nothing you can possibly contribute to the discussion that will have any value in assessing that judgement call.

If it's in a museum it should stay in a museum unless the artifact was revealed to have been stolen.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Preventing people from using things for their intended purpose is an inherent part of preserving them for the future. That's why people seal graded comic books preventing anyone from reading them. That's why museums keep things in glass cases.

That kind of makes them useless, at that point. Why even have them anymore, tbh And it was made to be played. If the creator didnt want it to be played, they would have made it that way. But they made it in a way that it was playable Not playing it would probably be more of an insult to the creator

That said, like adjl said, the people who let her play it seemed to think or know shed be able to play it without damaging it

LinkPizza posted...

That kind of makes them useless, at that point. Why even have them anymore

Things can have meaning beyond their utilitarian value.

LinkPizza posted...

Not playing it would probably be more of an insult to the creator

Here's another example. I'm not sure how common it is today but people would receive a pen for however many years working at a company. Normally they would set it aside or display it on a shelf. The fact that they didn't use it to write with doesn't mean they didn't appreciate the gift. Actually, not using it showed the reverence they had for it.

Or, have you seen a signing ceremony where the US president uses dozens of pens to sign his name and gives them to the people who were involved with the document he's signing? What do you suppose those people do with the pen afterward?

LinkPizza posted...

shed be able to play it without damaging it

Again, not really the point I was making.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Things can have meaning beyond their utilitarian value.

Sure. They can. But based on the fact that it was made playable (with seems like it would take more time than just making a decoration), it was most likely made to be played. And even then, it doesnt change the fact that playing it shouldnt have been a big deal

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Here's another example. I'm not sure how common it is today but people would receive a pen for however many years working at a company. Normally they would set it aside or display it on a shelf. The fact that they didn't use it to write with doesn't mean they didn't appreciate the gift. Actually, not using it showed the reverence they had for it.

Or, have you seen a signing ceremony where the US president uses dozens of pens to sign his name and gives them to the people who were involved with the document he's signing? What do you suppose those people do with the pen afterward?

Even things like that are dumb. Id feel insulted if I have someone a pen, and they didnt use it. And for special things like that, you dont have to use it all the time. Id sign very important documents with it. Like when buying my first house or something. Having a pen that goes unused gels insulting, and almost feels like they dont appreciate it. I even think its dumb to keep comics and cards seal up. They feel pointless at that point Well, comics and cards that are actually used in games, that is. Cards that have a sole purpose of being a collectible are different. But in that case, that actually have no function or way to be used outside of collecting it. Which is different from card game cards and comics. So, to me, not using it doesnt show reverence. If I just wanted something for show, I wouldnt have gotten a working pen. Just a weighty shell would have done fine if all they wanted was a display

As for museums, they are slightly different for certain items. For the flute, for example. They cant leave it out for everyone to touch. And someone could easily break it. So, keep it in a case. But to let one person (or even more at a later date) play it, its shouldnt be a big deal. They dont have to have concerts every week. But maybe playing it once a year (or every couple of years) would be bad or hurt anything Let it be more than a hunk of crystal

As for the people with the pens, they should do what I said Id do. Which is use the pen for important documents. Im probably not the only one who thought to use it that way. And Im sure others use it for everything until it runs out. Some may set it aside after it runs out, while others refill it. And some probably keep it as a display, like you mentioned. Because everyone is different. Just because you would keep it and never use it doesnt mean everybody else would do the same. Maybe many would, or maybe only a few

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Again, not really the point I was making.

Kind of sounded like it when you mentioned things like sealing comic books and putting things in glass cases

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Again, not really the point I was making.

If people repeatedly misunderstand the "point you were trying to make", maybe it's on you to clarify...

LinkPizza posted...

Kind of sounded like it when you mentioned things like sealing comic books and putting things in glass cases

I brought that up to show that they weren't in use. Which was clearly the focus of my comment. Not once did I say anything about them being damaged.

ZangsBeard posted...

If people repeatedly misunderstand the "point you were trying to make", maybe it's on you to clarify...

I suspect they're intentionally ignoring context to make a point that isn't relevant to the discussion.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

I suspect they're intentionally ignoring context to make a point that isn't relevant to the discussion.

What an amazingly bad deflection.

Revelation34 posted...

If it's in a museum it should stay in a museum unless the artifact was revealed to have been stolen.

Well good thing it is in a library then.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

I brought that up to show that they weren't in use. Which was clearly the focus of my comment. Not once did I say anything about them being damaged.

You mentioned preserving them by keeping them seal in something. The only reason to seal them in something like that is to protect them from getting damaged. Just because you didnt say they were protecting them from getting damaged doesnt mean you werent talking about that

I don't think Kurt Russel caught this much flack, and he destroyed the priceless antique.

SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

My example wasn't to claim that the flute was harmed in any way. It was to demonstrate that not using a thing for its intended purpose is a common way that people show reverence for it.

I think it at least makes sense to note that this is heavily debated. Generally, I agree - historical items are often kept from human touch for preservation. However, there is definitely a precedent of historical items being 'used' by a professional so that it can be enjoyed by onlookers, whether it be simply opening a book or playing an ancient instrument.