Other People Think is a homage by Jaar to John Cage, created in
2012 on the occasion of Cage’s Centennial. Written in 1927, “Other
People Think” is one of Cage’s earliest writings, delivered by him at the
Hollywood Bowl where, then a student at Los Angeles High School,
he won the Southern California Oratorical Contest. Although Cage
was only 15 years old at the time, his essay frames a bold critique
and portentous analysis of North and South American relations and
continues to have incredible resonance and relevance to contemporary
culture and politics. As a Chilean artist living in the United States 85
years later, Jaar still works with the imbalances of this historically
stagnant relationship. Reintroducing this acute text to today’s
audience, Jaar hopes to bring Cage’s teachings back to light.