This story got passed along in an email list and was an interesting and painful read, with video illustrations. A plan was hatched to have Joshua Bell play in the Washington DC Metro and observe the effect on a random morning commute. The musician played his normal instrument and a range of his normal concert pieces and most people kept right on going.
Are we really too busy for art? Granted most people who are in the process of commuting have a deadline to get there so perhaps some slack could be cut there. Would the same thing happen at the evening commute? I hope not, but I guess it probably would.
Having done the commute thing in NYC for eight years, I would guess that, aside from the time issue, people are also on automatic pilot or in what you might call a ‘commuting trance’, where they really aren’t aware of what’s going on around them. Anyone who has driven a familiar route but later can’t remember the actual trip will know the feeling. The other issue, which I remember well from my subway commuting days, is peer pressure–or maybe group-think is more accurate. The last thing you want to do in a crowded public place is draw attention to yourself by doing the unexpected, i.e., in this case: stopping to listen attentively to beautiful music. That would be embarrassing. ;)