Gary and I went to another wonderful musical performance at SOSU. This time it was a brass quintet, Manhattan Brass. They performed a variety of music from Bach to Duke Ellington. This was another performance in the “Musical Arts Series”. Some of the events are presented in association with the Red River Arts Council. Appearing this spring will be Velvet Brown (tuba soloist), Zephyros Winds (chamber ensemble), Katona Twins (guitar duo), Oklahoma Opera Festival, SOSU Symphonic Band, and the Biava String Quartet.
I enjoyed the music, but what I also found entertaining was the intermission. The audience was filled with young music students and as soon as the performers left the stage I saw little blue glowing lights appear as cell phones were switched back on. (Everyone had been asked at the beginning of the performance to please “turn off anything that talks or makes a noise”.)
As the phones came back to life no one spoke. Oh, no…fingers were flying as the students sent text messages. And I don’t think anyone was reporting on the concert. I heard giggling and comments behind me that were much more personal! J
I’m just getting used to email, and you remember my experience with my new cell phone, so I guess it’s no surprise that I don’t understand the need to constantly send text messages. I’ve heard from parents of teens that their children are sending and receiving hundreds, sometimes thousands, of messages. I wonder what they have to say that can’t wait until the end of a concert, or until after class, or until they get out of their car.
I wonder, too, if this generation will be able to speak English as they grow older, or if they will adapt to the language of their electronic devices. I imagine sometime in the future the conversations of this generation will evolve into a shorthand of grunts and perhaps six to eight essential words. No will make eye contact. Everyone will have calluses on their fingertips. Little blue lights will glow in the night…
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