Current Time.
Before technology, the only way to preserve a memory was through oral storytelling or written records. People passed down stories, songs, and traditions across generations, but there was no way to capture an artist’s actual voice or performance. Today, everything is documented, and thanks to platforms like YouTube, we can still watch video clips, movies, and other recordings that keep an artist’s presence alive long after they are gone.
I miss many artists who are no longer with us. I feel grateful to live in an era where music and video recordings allow artists, especially musicians, to leave behind memories that last forever. Before the invention of the phonograph in 1877 and motion pictures in the 1890s, people could only remember the greatest artists of their time through live performances, written descriptions, or personal recollections.
Thanks to recorded music and videos, artists remain with us long after they are gone. For the first time in history, we have easy access to music and performances from over a century ago. More importantly, we can now compare cultural expressions from different time periods, including those before and after World War II, allowing for deeper historical analysis.
For much of history, written records were shaped by historians, often influenced by those in power, so history was largely a collection of facts as documented by the victors. But culture is different. Archaeologists and historians have studied rituals, political structures, and economic developments, but the daily cultural experiences of ordinary people, such as the music they listened to or the entertainment they enjoyed, were often undocumented or lost over time.
What songs did they sing? What did they do in their free time? Did they have theater performances, music festivals, or other cultural traditions similar to ours today? The truth is, we do not know. Finding a single song or one description of a performance is not and will never be enough to understand the full cultural identity of a nation at any point in history.
Now, for the first time in history, we can analyze artists from past decades through their actual recordings and compare them to today’s political climate and differences or see their exact reflections.
This is the first time in history that we have documentation for all three axes. Culture is the missing piece that we did not have before, so we could only assume why nations took specific courses of action when it did not make sense. Environment is stronger than willpower, so now we can better understand the influence of culture on history.
When I listen to a song or watch a movie or TV show with artists who are no longer with us, I imagine what they would have said about the world today if they had seen it and lived with us. What song would they write? What would they want to listen to in this chaos? What roles in movies would they take? What would they have done to express their protests or dissatisfaction? Would they speak up or stay under the radar and let the outrage pass quietly?
As a proud Gen Xer, I think artists in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s were brave and courageous. They knew how to fight for justice and stand up for what was right. Today, artists are scared. They do not want to rock the boat or damage their revenue stream, so they stay silent and let the bad guys destroy this world completely.
When I imagine a world where all my idols are alive, I believe Ofra Haza would have done what is right and spoken up. Or at least, I hope she would.
To read the series of stories about Ofra Haza they talk about, click the links:
Learning to Fly with a Little Help from My Friends on Substack
Singing Through History: Ofra Haza’s Timeless Legacy in Israeli Music
Ofra Haza Bridging Cultures Through Music and Breaking Global Barriers
The Evolution of Ofra Haza From Israeli Star to Global Music Icon
Breaking Barriers but Bound by Shame in the Untold Story of Ofra Haza
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Liat
In this journey, I weave together episodes from my life with the rich tapestry of Israeli culture through music, food, arts, entrepreneurship, and more. I write over the weekends and evenings and publish these episodes as they unfold, almost like a live performance.
Each episode is part of a set focused on a specific topic, though sometimes I release standalone episodes. A set is released over several days to make it easier for you to read during your busy workday. If one episode catches your attention, make sure to read the entire set to get the whole picture. Although these episodes are released in sets, you can read the entire newsletter from the beginning, as it flows smoothly, like music to your ears - or, in this case, your eyes.
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