its as white as indian classical music is indian

i.e. a lot, but not absolutely

are the musicians playing it some of the best in the world? Depends on what one means by musician

if this is restricted to technical skill alone, not even close

few among them reach the standards of even passable classical musicians (not soloists either)

and the ones that do reach such standards are rarely any good

but if taken in the sense of one who produces music, which encompasses both elements of music production

the technical element as well as the abstract, creative element

then I would certainly think they have been the best in the world as far as any kind of western music is concerned, for >100 years

does metal music occupy the same place, or does it have the same function

as western classical music?

I don't think it does

its closest to greek theatre or folk music types that involve storytelling

high level bard music

as a result I think in ultimate terms metal music is superior to western classical music because the latter ignored these elements or abstracted them away from human experience too much

Wagner tried to bring things together but went about it completely the wrong way, upside down even

he tried to rediscover a root using the very tools and thought that had caused drift away from that root

sort of like using scientific experiments to get to the bottom of your relationship with a loved one

Music is divine, and the greatest music is as a result possessed of a (divine) simplicity

it strips everything away

classical music (in general) is not like that, but metal music is

@Jossi DEPENDS ON THE METAL, BUT YES, IT CARRIES FORWARD THE CLASSICAL SPIRIT. IT IS WHITE IN ORIGIN, BUT OTHER CULTURES MAKE THEIR OWN ADAPTATIONS WHICH REFLECT MORE OF THEIR TRADITIONS.

@Jossi @fallot I AGREE ALSO THAT IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF ROMANTICISM, WHICH WAS IN MANY WAYS A REDISCOVERY OF CLASSICAL SPIRIT INSTEAD OF OUTWARD IMITATION OF ANCIENT CULTURE

ROMANTICISM WAS DIVIDED HOWEVER, MUCH LIKE LEFT AND RIGHT

"HIGH LEVEL BARD MUSIC" IS GOOD, ALTHOUGH I WOULD ADD THAT IT IS SORT OF THE ONLY REAL FOLK MUSIC WE HAVE

"FOLK MUSIC" IS USUALLY PRETTY BAD

It is also cultural/religious music in a sense. It serves the same purpose as "praise and worship" music for a certain group of people

"transcendent" etc. but I think "romantic" carries all of that meaning

that's what romanticism is about isn't it after all

blind religion/following laws (medieval music, baroque music) ---> enlightenment, abstraction, intellect, distance from "pagan consciousness" (classical music) ---> *CONSCIOUS* rediscovery of faith via intellect and abstraction (Romanticism, Metal, ?Future?)

child -> adolescent -> adult

animal -> man-as-is -> man-as-should-be

http://charltonteaching.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/what-is-romanticism-how-should.html

Romanticism is based on the texture of life itself, and the discernment of the heart. It is the antithesis of the bureaucratic, office life and of the shallow, atomised, emotional manipulations of modern mass media and leisure; it also rejects the ideals of obedience, submission and group-conformity that traditionalism put at the centre of its moral systems.

Romanticism takes its measure from the texture of life and finds what it seeks in the best moments of actual life, and in a more sustained fashion in the romantic arts.

https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/20728885_10155608897829920_3083443270963755695_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=0f60f285e1d07362e4999a117fafe75b&oe=59F04322

From Charlottesville

direct inversion

homogeneity is strength

I like the wheelchair

"The Emperor's New Clothes" - this myth shows us all we have to do. just point and laugh and pop the bubble. "mock him" right? don't argue don't debate just laugh.

most people aren't so bad that they will say 2+2=5. they're just repeating stuff and don't have better influences. you can't get them onto more complicated topics but you can reach them at the basic level of pointing out the big lies.