--part1_bb.216562d0.2a394731_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear John, Dear List, << I do not believe that one can rule a piece of work invalid or of lesser=20 intrinsic value because it is not published in a respected peer-reviewed=20 journal. Believe me, I have read some complete rubbish in journals and theses and the academy in its=20 greatest sense is far from infallible - especially in such an area as=20 literary studies which can so easily lack any rigour whatsoever. >> I can only assume that some of the more controversial posts on this matter=20 failed to reach me safely, as all of this apparent aggression came as=20 something of a surprise. Anyway, I concur entirely with your comments as=20 reproduced above. Only the most narrow-minded or facile would argue that on= e=20 requires academic qualifications in order to create something of merit, or,=20 in this case, to "understand" or even enjoy J=FCnger. Moreover, such an=20 attitude seems ill at ease with the views held by the man himself. He was,=20 after all, hardly overburdened with "formal" credentials. He placed far mor= e=20 emphasis on ability and talent than pieces of paper - in my opinion=20 correctly. Incidentally, this view comes from someone who already has severa= l=20 letters after his name, and who is currently studying to gain a few more. =20 For what it's worth, I admire Gerhard's output immensely. He is evidently=20 deeply motivated and moved in everything he does, and I believe that his=20 artistic integrity is beyond question. Furthermore, to my mind it would be=20 incorrect to regard his recent "Abenteuerliches Herz" CD as a musical=20 interpretation of J=FCnger's book. For me, it is more a collection of songs= =20 which are unified by a certain adventurous spirit - perhaps by Gerhard's=20 spirit. EJ is but one part of the inspiration thereof. As ever, the above merely represents my own opinions. Or, at least, how the= y=20 stand after a long day at 2-00 am in the morning! In Amicitia,=20 Nick. --part1_bb.216562d0.2a394731_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3D2>Dear John, Dear List, <BR> <BR><< I do not believe that one can rule a piece of work invalid or o= f lesser intrinsic value because it is not published in a respected peer-rev= iewed journal. Believe me, I have <BR>read some complete rubbish in journals and theses and the academy in its= greatest sense is far from infallible - especially in such an area as liter= ary studies which can so easily lack any rigour whatsoever. >> <BR> <BR>I can only assume that some of the more controversial posts on this matt= er failed to reach me safely, as all of this apparent aggression came as som= ething of a surprise. Anyway, I concur entirely with your comments as reprod= uced above. Only the most narrow-minded or facile would argue that one= requires academic qualifications in order to create something of merit, or,= in this case, to "understand" or even enjoy J=FCnger. Moreover, such=20= an attitude seems ill at ease with the views held by the man himself. = He was, after all, hardly overburdened with "formal" credentials. He p= laced far more emphasis on ability and talent than pieces of paper - in my o= pinion correctly. Incidentally, this view comes from someone who already has= several letters after his name, and who is currently studying to gain a few= more. <BR> <BR>For what it's worth, I admire Gerhard's output immensely. He is ev= idently deeply motivated and moved in everything he does, and I believe that= his artistic integrity is beyond question. Furthermore, to my mind it= would be incorrect to regard his recent "Abenteuerliches Herz" CD as a musi= cal interpretation of J=FCnger's book. For me, it is more a collection= of songs which are unified by a certain adventurous spirit - perhaps by Ger= hard's spirit. EJ is but one part of the inspiration thereof. <BR> <BR>As ever, the above merely represents my own opinions. Or, at least= , how they stand after a long day at 2-00 am in the morning! <BR> <BR>In Amicitia,=20 <BR> <BR>Nick.</FONT></HTML> --part1_bb.216562d0.2a394731_boundary--
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