grtwhtgrvty

Ugh you guys it does have artistic commentary on many levels. I think he was partially trying to show the power and remind us of the validity of silence and space in music. It's about showing us the extreme of that. It's also about the nuance that classical composers and musicians often talk about, except it's not about the nuance in their instruments, but in the world around them. Everyone gets annoyed when they hear outside noises interrupting the music but what if every little annoyance is what you were meant to focus on, and what if you can allow that to interfere with the music in a way that you welcome?

Music is defined as sound in time. Obviously it doesn't take any compositional or musical talent to come up with 4'33, but even if it isn't being audibly displayed, there is rhythm, and the sound is supposed to be every little nuance around you. It's more of a tongue in cheek reminder that silence and space are important aspects of music in a society that jams its music full of every possible and that the nuance around you can bolster your musical experience instead of detracting from it.