Conductor's ParagraphSome people are very skilled at appearing much more skilled at what they do than they are actually qualified. From athletes to singers, some people can even make a living by appearing talented even if they have no talent. The famous composer Igor Stravinsky describes this phenomenon in detail by criticizing conductors, who in his eyes lack real musical ability. Through the use of detail and diction Stravinsky illustrates his annoyance with conductors and their outward appearance of false competence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Stravinsky's use of details shows his disdain for conductors. For example, he begins his rant by saying that “conduct, like politics, rarely attracts original minds.” Stravinsky compares conducting to being involved in politics, which he uses as an example since both conducting and politics are both roles where more effort is spent on looking good rather than being innovative or do something meaningful. Inevitably, Stravinsky argues, no innovation in conduct is achieved, just as great change in politics is never achieved. Furthermore, Stravinsky states that “'great' conductors, like 'great' actors, are incapable of playing anything other than themselves.” Like an actor playing a musician, composers have no real musical talent despite acting like them. Not being competent in music, conductors can only act as if they are more important to the orchestra than they actually are. Finally, Stravinsky states that, “unable to adapt to their own work, they adapt the work, to their 'style', to their mannerisms”. Due to a lack of musical talent, composers essentially act as they wish and claim it is their conducting “style”. The details in the passage show Stravinsky's contempt for conductors. Stravinsky criticizes the conductors in this passage with his use of diction. Stravinsky first states that “The successful conductor may be an incomplete musician but he must be a complete fisherman”. This parallel to the sport of fishing suggests that conductors are much better at “hooking” their audiences than actually playing the music. This shows that conductors compensate, not by getting better at music, but by making the audience believe they are better at music. Stravinsky describes the conductor's work as an “ego disease”. The profession of conductor, a "disease", infects all those who are exposed to it, from the conductor who believes he is much more important than he actually is, to the public who is led to believe the same. The infectious nature of the “ego disease” leads to the perpetuation of the idea that conductors are important as the idea infects more and more people. Stravinsky finally describes the position of the conductor as “a purely selfish, false and arbitrary authority”. The strong language confirms Stravinsky's conclusion that conductors are guided not by musical talent but by their ego. Describing them as selfish, disingenuous, and arbitrary, Stravinsky concludes that conductors serve no purpose other than to come between the orchestra and the audience and appear as the most important person in the room. Stravinsky's use of diction expresses his utter dislike of conductors. Keep in mind: this is”.