Distinguishing factual history from fabricated history continues to be a struggle. In this essay, Otto English discusses three historical inaccuracies that he believes have had a significant influence on contemporary life. The Chatty Mammoth’s favourite is the myth that ancient people believed our planet was flat. These fabrications gained traction when American author Washington Irving released a book claiming Columbus found America while seeking to demonstrate the earth’s roundness. However, in reality, in the fifth century BC, Aristotle was already attempting to determine the earth’s circumference. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here
Merv
March 29, 2023
