Buddhist Bubblegum

Autori

• Matt Marble

Parametri

• Arte / Cultura
• Hobby
• Tematica musicale

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Raised in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Arthur Russell (1951-1992) emerged as a visionary cellist, singer, composer, and producer in Manhattan's "Downtown" arts scene during the 1970s and 80s. His enigmatic music transcended genres, blending Indian raga, Americana folk, avant-garde composition, and disco. Russell infused popular music into the avant-garde art scene while incorporating Buddhist-inspired experimentalism into American popular music. Poet Allen Ginsberg noted his ambition to create "Buddhist bubblegum" music, aiming to transmit the dharma through accessible forms. Following Russell's untimely death from AIDS at 40, composer Philip Glass remarked on his ahead-of-his-time creativity. Although some of his dance singles became underground classics, Russell's work was largely overlooked for over a decade. However, through archival releases from Audika Records, a documentary film, and a biography, his radical vulnerability has gained a 21st-century audience. Today, artists like Kanye West and Rosalía celebrate his influence, making his music both accessible and mysterious. This exploration delves into Russell's lifelong Vajrayana Buddhist practice, tracing his spiritual journey from a Buddhist monk on a Bay Area commune to his engagement with Japanese Shingon and Indo-Tibetan traditions in Manhattan. The narrative reveals how Russell creatively adopted traditional methods of mantra, mandala, meditation, and more.

Lingua: Inglese

Pubblicato: 2021

(In brossura)