The Thing: Difference between revisions
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[[File:The thing symbol.jpg|thumb|The "thing" symbol]] | [[File:The thing symbol.jpg|thumb|The "thing" symbol, the Latin letter thorn. (Þ þ)]] | ||
The | [[The Thing]] is a musical element captured in maximally intentional and definitive ideas, and its achievement is constantly strived for by the [[Fizz]] community in their compositions. While the name of the concept seems very broad, it's known to have a specific magic to it, and any piece of music that contains the Thing will sound like the ultimate instantiation of itself. It is also not limited to any style or genre, nor does it matter if the song is widely considered good or bad; it can appear anywhere from a seamless dubstep drop to a perfectly constructed nursery rhyme melody. The Thing is the irreducible representation of human creativity and artistic decision-making. | ||
'''The Counterthing''' is a dark musical element that is the complete opposite of the Thing and what it represents, and can only be achieved through AI generation, which can never achieve the Thing. The Counterthing is filled with all sorts of music ideas but also a lack of direction and a story - however, the most directionless, unnecessarily complex/boring music written by a human has an infinitely better chance of achieving the Thing. | |||
The aggressive pursuit of the Thing is notably mentioned in the principles of [[Dark Fizz]], fighting the rising amount of AI generated slop that's polluting the musical landscape. | |||
=== Origin === | === Origin === | ||
On August 19, 2021, music theory YouTuber Rick Beato hosted an interview on his channel featuring jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. Hr referred to an unmistakable musical essence as "the thing", as opposed to musical ideas that feel like filler, which he calls "the stuff". | |||
"Our lives went in wildly different directions, but to the very end, I was somebody he would call when stuff would get serious, because he knew I wouldn't bullshit him and also that my point of view was not too influenced by you know... the stuff. It was more about the thing | ''"Our lives went in wildly different directions, but to the very end, I was somebody he would call when stuff would get serious, because he knew I wouldn't bullshit him and also that my point of view was not too influenced by you know... the stuff. '''It was more about the thing'''"'' - Metheny on making music with Jaco Pastorious | ||
"I've run across guys who can play all this stuff but it's like... You know... That feel thing isn't there, and the feel is the thing" - | ''"I've run across guys who can play all this stuff but it's like... You know... That feel thing isn't there, and '''the feel is the thing'''."'' - Metheny | ||
=== Thing Anti-Realism === | === Thing Anti-Realism === | ||
Latest revision as of 10:34, 10 July 2026
The Thing is a musical element captured in maximally intentional and definitive ideas, and its achievement is constantly strived for by the Fizz community in their compositions. While the name of the concept seems very broad, it's known to have a specific magic to it, and any piece of music that contains the Thing will sound like the ultimate instantiation of itself. It is also not limited to any style or genre, nor does it matter if the song is widely considered good or bad; it can appear anywhere from a seamless dubstep drop to a perfectly constructed nursery rhyme melody. The Thing is the irreducible representation of human creativity and artistic decision-making.
The Counterthing is a dark musical element that is the complete opposite of the Thing and what it represents, and can only be achieved through AI generation, which can never achieve the Thing. The Counterthing is filled with all sorts of music ideas but also a lack of direction and a story - however, the most directionless, unnecessarily complex/boring music written by a human has an infinitely better chance of achieving the Thing.
The aggressive pursuit of the Thing is notably mentioned in the principles of Dark Fizz, fighting the rising amount of AI generated slop that's polluting the musical landscape.
Origin
On August 19, 2021, music theory YouTuber Rick Beato hosted an interview on his channel featuring jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. Hr referred to an unmistakable musical essence as "the thing", as opposed to musical ideas that feel like filler, which he calls "the stuff".
"Our lives went in wildly different directions, but to the very end, I was somebody he would call when stuff would get serious, because he knew I wouldn't bullshit him and also that my point of view was not too influenced by you know... the stuff. It was more about the thing" - Metheny on making music with Jaco Pastorious
"I've run across guys who can play all this stuff but it's like... You know... That feel thing isn't there, and the feel is the thing." - Metheny
Thing Anti-Realism
The belief that the thing isn't real, and is just something a bunch of people made up.
Thing Non-Cognitivism
The belief that the term "the thing" doesn't describe a mystical phenomenon, but still vaguely refers to a specific musical property that is yet to be properly defined.
Thing Subjectivism
The belief that the thing is the essence of one's personal taste, and that each individual has their own thing.