Genius of Money Chapter 7 Part 2 : Culture - For the price of Admission

Chapter 7 Part 2: Culture - for the Price of Admission

In Culture - For the Price of Admission, John Bloom insists on the issue of purchasing tickets for cultural events as opposed to buying some goods or services. He claims that when one buys a ticket for a cultural event, he rather gets a right to be in some place and at some time than a warranty to receive pleasant emotions (Bloom).

Bloom emphasizes that unlike buying some item, while purchasing a ticket for a venue, the person does not receive anything material. He remarks that it is solely up to each individual to evaluate the quality of the performance and to decide whether their needs have been satisfied (Bloom).

Thus, as Bloom argues, from an economic point of view, when a person buys a ticket, he makes a contribution to the orchestra's (or other performance company's) development. As for the person's own benefit, it is not guaranteed that he will receive his money's worth. However, Bloom says that by buying tickets for cultural performances people support culture, which is extremely important (Bloom).

I think the author makes a good point in his approach to considering spending money on cultural events. I agree with him that it is necessary to support culture. I also support his idea that every person individually makes a choice as to whether the money spent was worth it or not. Even though purchasing a ticket may not guaranty any rights, but only a possibility to attend some kind of performance, it is still worth spending money on culture. In most cases, the emotions people receive are valuable. 



(Justin)

When buying a ticket to a specific performance or cultural event, we think about our purchase as a spectacle for us, not the ones who are playing or performing; however, this works as a reciprocal relationship. We, as fellow “show goers”, have to comprehend the simple give and take relationship of going to a cultural event or performance. Even though we go to events and concerts to see artists and performance that appeal to our interests, we are also go to provide an audience for the performer/artist. Without our physical representation or tickets, these talented and hard-working artists and performers would have no life at all. These fearless people who want to perform to show their passion to feelings need us to be there in order to make them feel that their hard word didn’t go to waste.