Dare I....

[Richard Barrett]

I don't object to "curated".

It's not the word that's the problem IMO but the idea behind it, namely that what used to be called "programming", in the sense of putting together a concert or whatever, is thereby elevated into being an artform in itself, maybe so that arts bureaucrats can somehow justify the fact that they have better paid and more secure jobs than most of the artists whose work is the actual focus of what they do.

[french frank]

It's not the word that's the problem IMO but the idea behind it, namely that what used to be called "programming", in the sense of putting together a concert or whatever, is thereby elevated into being an artform in itself, maybe so that arts bureaucrats can somehow justify the fact that they have better paid and more secure jobs than most of the artists whose work is the actual focus of what they do.

Yes, it's the idea that a brand new word somehow suggests a brand new activity. And a faintly prestigious one.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It's not the word that's the problem IMO but the idea behind it, namely that what used to be called "programming", in the sense of putting together a concert or whatever, is thereby elevated into being an artform in itself, maybe so that arts bureaucrats can somehow justify the fact that they have better paid and more secure jobs than most of the artists whose work is the actual focus of what they do.

Absolutely my point - you’ve just expressed it better. The museum curator who puts together an exhibition taking art treasures from around the world and is responsible for their safe passage is exercising ‘care’ . Choosing 6 bits of music already loaded on a digital drive for a thirty minute programme is just not the same. I suppose in the old days you could have left the CD’s on the tube but now not even that.

[Serial_Apologist]

I see that the strapline on the BBC Schedule page reads:

Switch up your listening with classical music

What on earth does that mean?

On the few occasions I listened in the past, I couldn't bear the abrupt and jarring changes of key between pieces.
That offended me much more than any change of style/genre.
I wonder if whoever is curating the programme now puts together a more pleasing sequence of keys.

That could have been cured (note, not curated) by including more atonal music!

[gurnemanz]

It's not the word that's the problem IMO but the idea behind it, namely that what used to be called "programming", in the sense of putting together a concert or whatever, is thereby elevated into being an artform in itself, maybe so that arts bureaucrats can somehow justify the fact that they have better paid and more secure jobs than most of the artists whose work is the actual focus of what they do.

Point taken. Curating in respect of music schedules is borrowed from the art world and the analogy doesn't completely work. However, I can see why it might be used. "Programming" is a rather bland, generalised word which doesn't convey any idea of taking responsibility (curare=to care) for arranging items in a coherent and vivid way which might offer new insights and inspire enthusiasm. In many cases, the artist, if still alive, will be involved. Some curators may be out to elevate themselves above the artists they are presenting but I hope not too many.

[Serial_Apologist]

[/I]Why do people here get so upset about it? Why should it not be used in this way?
Peer into the root of the word, you'll find it has a greater element of care implied in the selection and/or presentation process than "choice" "sequence" or "selection" itself....

In other words criteria opposite to many of the choices made for this programme.

[french frank]

I suppose in the old days you could have left the CD’s on the tube

I wonder if the hourly rate for curating is the same as for programming.

[french frank]

Largely given up posting here, fed up with being attacked or ignored, but to quote myself from 15/03/21......

Among current definitions/usage this one from Cambridge Dictionaries....

"to select things such as documents, music, products, or internet content to be included as part of a list or collection, or on a website"....

All that is doing is describing (as dictionaries should) how it is currently being used - about which there is no argument.

[Richard Barrett]

That could have been cured (note, not curated) by including more atonal music!

I was thinking that too. Then the "curator" could even overlap and crossfade the pieces with one another. (I think I've previously mentioned an epiphany I once had as a result of accidentally playing music by Morton Feldman and Heinz Holliger simultaneously and thinking these were some of the most wonderful sound-textures I'd ever heard!)

[jayne lee wilson]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/can-you-curate-anything

....love the last paragraph....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/word...urate-anything

....love the last paragraph....

I note the misuse of the word “songs”.

[french frank]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/word...urate-anything

....love the last paragraph....

Interesting that all these examples are American as are all (?) those given in the OED's draft article from 2011. For the linguist, the interesting point is the 'why?'. Why do all these Americanisms get taken up by British English? What is in play here?

I take it the 'Only do it to annoy because [they know] it teases' aspect appeals to you? What I think is being questioned - as I think RB and others have pointed out - is a 'misuse' in applying a perfectly acceptable new use to an activity which doesn't even fit the new definition - as in when 'celebs' with no particular qualifications 'curate' classical concerts. The problem is that the criteria for such curations are seldom explained, possibly because there are none. However, it's only a question of plus ça change. Linguistic evolution has always been driven by the less well educated (misconceptions, misunderstandings, mishearings, imperfect articulation &c), and so, no doubt, it will continue to be.

[Pulcinella]

I would take issue with the word 'meaning' in that article too.

We all know what curate means; what we (well, lots of us) don't like is a new (and unnecessary) use of it to give a false sense of importance to a fairly mundane task.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I would take issue with the word 'meaning' in that article too.

We all know what curate means; what we (well, lots of us) don't like is a new (and unnecessary) use of it to give a false sense of importance to a fairly mundane task.

Yes it’s very useful as an indicator of overall pretentiousness and that the user has an inflated idea of the importance of the task. Why use a Latin word when the Anglo-Saxon word “choose” will do just as well. But in the end I’m nothing like as annoyed about it as Chartered Engineers get when every spanner wielder describes themselves as an engineer.

[Bryn]

Yes it’s very useful as an indicator of overall pretentiousness and that the user has an inflated idea of the importance of the task. Why use a Latin word when the Anglo-Saxon word “choose” will do just as well. But in the end I’m nothing like as annoyed about as Chartered Engineers get when every spanner wielder describes themselves as an engineer.

Indeed, those who posingly use "curate" end up with egg on their faces.