Elvis Costello attributed a quote about this practice to Martin Mull, while Garson O'Toole traced an analogous quote about an even more “illogical” practice back to 1918. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this practice, which is compared to “writing about music” in an oft-quoted aphorism regarding the futility of music criticism.
ANSWER: dancing about architecture [accept singing about economics, which is the older version; prompt on partial answers]
[10e] Laurie Anderson attributed the “dancing about architecture” quote to this banjo-playing comedian, who made an award-winning recording of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” after starring in the Father of the Bride films.
ANSWER: Steve Martin [or Stephen Glenn Martin]
[10m] This creator of the Pazz & Jop poll argued that dancing, by its very nature, is often in some way “about architecture.” Since 1971, he has published an annual “Dean’s List” of his favorite albums of the year.
ANSWER: Robert (Thomas) Christgau (KRIST-gow)
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