Global Citizenship

            Globalization is an undeniable part of the world that has had both negative and positive effects around the world. Globalization plays a part in the life of everyone around the world; rather it is good or bad.  Globalization has connected the different countries around the world to each other. Consequently, it has also connected the cultures of other counties around the world to other places.

This connection between the countries and cultures around the world has formed the people around the world into global citizens. A global citizen has a unique connection to people around the world that they may never meet. As a global citizen everything you that you do, say and what you value affects not only you but other people around the world. Everyone is considered to be a global citizen; therefore the actions of every person can affect the lives of others. A productive and engaged global citizen is someone who is aware of their effect on the lives of other people around the world. As a productive and engaged global citizen, you know that everything about you, from the clothes you wear to the values you hold, has a ripple effect that touches the lives of people around the world. The most important part of being a productive and engaged global citizen is to keep in mind your effect on other people’s lives when you make decisions. In order to be a truly engaged and productive global citizen, you cannot just be aware that what your actions affect people around the world. You must act on this knowledge and make conscious decisions in regards to the way those decisions will affect the lives of others around the world.   

Music is an excellent tool in seeing the connections people and cultures have all around the world. Music is a very powerful communicator in societies around the world. The dominate field of music in a society tells us a lot about what that society values. The dominate field of music in America is high-fidelity, the values of which are placed on making a product to sell. High-fidelity values align perfectly with the values of the capitalist society that is America. The political message that the dominate music in a country portrays also tells you a lot about that country. Countries that are dominated by participatory music often have socialist values that line up well with the values of participatory music. Music can also reflect the political, religious and economic struggles people from other countries go through. In Brazil and Indonesia, punk music is used as a form of protest against religious intolerance and as a coping mechanism for dealing with economic struggles and injustices. People are able to communicate across distances and language barriers using music. 

Global citizenship can be manifested locally in many different ways. People make decisions every day in regards to how it will affect their community. One of great example of global citizenship here in Bloomington is the farmers’ market. People who shop at the farmers’ market make a conscious decision to buy their produce there, rather than from a mainstream provider such as Kroger, because of the effect it will have on their community. Because they are shopping at the farmers’ market and paying a higher price to buy from local farmers they are supporting their community. Their decision to shop at the farmers’ market also has a greater effect on the world. The decision to buy produce from a local farm instead of from a larger company decreases the amount of produce those larger companies sell. The produce bought at the farmers’ market is grown locally, therefore it does not have to be shipped across the world to your local Kroger and the carbon footprint of your produce is decreased significantly.

There are certain responsibilities that come with being an engaged and productive global citizen. As a global citizen it is your responsibility to understand your relationship with the world. You must know who you are in relation to the different aspects around the world. You have to take into account how much you can affect specific things in the world. It is your job as a global citizen to make a difference in the world. The world is plagued with all kinds of tragedies.  Globalization enables us to be aware of all the different struggles people around the world face. Many of the struggles people around the world deal with can be helped through the actions of global citizens; so why are they still a problem? Many people witness the different struggles and tragedies around the world and naturally they want to help, so a lack of compassion is not the problem. The problem is that being faced with all the world’s problems and seeing the terrible struggles others go through can be overwhelming. No one person can solve all the world’s problems no matter how strong their desire. This sad reality leaves many people not knowing exactly how to help; therefore it becomes easier to feign ignorance and do nothing. As a global citizen it is your job to realize that, while no one person can change the world alone, doing one thing to help in a small way is better than doing nothing. Global citizens most know where their influence lies and how they can make a difference and to what degree. Some global citizens have more of an impact than others do in specific situations around the world. Americans hold a little bit more responsibility as global citizens in many situations. Western culture is reflected in many of the cultures of other countries around the world.  America is a high-fidelity society and we are more able to choose our cultural values than many other counties. As global citizens we must think carefully about the cultural values we choose because the cultural values that we choose can change the world.   

            Globalization has forever connected the people around the world. Many people complain that globalization is ruining the diversity in cultures around the world and would like to stop the progression of globalization, however this is likely impossible. It is far more likely that the people around the world will remained connected through globalization permanently and that globalization will continue to grow. I believe that as global citizens we should use this as an opportunity to learn from each other. Most importantly, global citizens should continue to work together and increase their ability to help those suffering by further utilizing their individual effect on the world to improve the conditions of those less fortunate, no matter how insignificant the result may seem. To quote Mother Teresa “the good you do today will often be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.”

Contra Dance

What is contra dance? After attending the contra dance tonight, my answer to this question would have to be, quite simply; EPIC! That may not be the legal definition, but in my opinion it describes contra dance perfectly. The contra dance at Bloomington’s boys and girls club was one of the best social and musical experiences that I have ever had the privilege to take part in. The contra dance was more than a fun experience; it was also a learning experience.  After attending the contra dance and observing the environment, I would say that contra dance is more than just a dance. I would argue that contra dance is better described not as a simple form of entertainment but as a means to social bonding.           

The thought of going out and dancing in front of a large number of people had originally terrified me. My only thought was that I have no rhythm and would surely be laughed out of the building. Despite everything I have learned in class these past two weeks, I still held on to the idea that in order for me to go out and enjoy dancing I would have to have at least some talent for it, which I do not.  I was sure that going to the contra dance would end up as one of my more embarrassing nights. I most definitely did not think I would have any fun, despite the reassurance of my professor.  I assumed I would suffer through a dance or two and then take my rightful place on the side lines with the rest of the dance impaired participants to wait until we were allowed to leave. I can happily say that none of my expectations for this experience were met.  The contra dance turned out to be the most fun I had had since arriving in Bloomington.

            When I first arrived at the contra dance I was nervous, as were most of my classmates. We were told to pick a partner for the first dance, so I safely selected one of my classmates and joined one of the two lines. We were paired into groups of four and the caller walked us through the moves of the first dance, none of which I understood. I thought for sure that our lack of knowledge would offend the seasoned dancers with which my partner and I were paired, however I was wrong. The couple we were paired with for the first part of the dance were extremely welcoming and helpful. I was more shocked to discover that the other seasoned dancers we were paired with were equally as welcoming and helpful. No one seemed to care that we had no clue what we were doing; in fact most people seamed thrilled to have newcomers that they could teach. As the song progressed, I was able to get most of the steps down, with the help of several more experienced dancers.  By the time the third dance started, I was filled with confidence. The exciting energy of the environment, coupled with the welcoming people left me with an amazing feeling of pure joy.  I had only just experienced contra dance for the first time, but in that short amount of time I developed a strong sense of belonging and really felt connected to the people there.  

            When it comes to more mainstream forums for public dance, the environment, goals, and values are completely different than that of contra dance.  Mainstream public dance is typically found in places like bars and clubs. These bars and clubs act as host for public dance with the purpose of making money. The purpose of hosting contra dance is to bring people together and have a good time. The type of dancing performed at bars and clubs is highly different than contra dance. Dances performed at bars and a club typically consists of people shaking their bodies in front of each other, and involves very little actual movement. Participants of club dancing have very little interest in forming a connection with their dance partner and are more focused on pleasing themselves.   Club dancing does often involve two people being very close to one another but is actually far less personal than contra dancing. The participants of contra dance have practically no choice in the matter of forming a connection with their dance partners.  At a contra dance, every one dances with each member of the group at some point and the moves they perform are often very intimate.

            Participatory music making and social actions are very unique experiences, which have several benefits. One of the biggest benefits of participatory music making and social actions is that everyone and anyone can take part. There are no barriers keeping people from joining in. The aspects of participatory music making and social actions are very simple and allow everyone to take part despite their skill set. Participatory music making and social actions also allow for variation so that more advanced participants do not become bored. Participatory music making and social activities enable participants to form a connection. These connections can have a greater impact on people and their lives. People are able to gain an understanding of the people with which they form these connections. This new found understanding of people different than one’s self can help open up the mind to the world around them.  Taking part in a local participatory social action, such as a farmers’ market, can help to improve one’s community.  The benefits of participatory music making and social actions are vast and it is important to keep them in mind when approached with the opportunity to take part in a participatory action.

I left the contra dance with a new outlook on dance. I had an incredibly good time and I would definitely want to go again. The regular participants of the contra dance were very friendly and welcoming, it’s true, but there was more to their kindness than just wanting to be a good person. The people there genuinely wanted the newcomers to experience the joy and excitement that contra dance brings them.  I have only taken part in the contra dance this one time; however, after just one time I too have the same feeling of wanting to share the amazing experience I had with others.  The experience was so amazing that I have no doubt I will return to the contra dance again. I would be thrilled to attend this event again for my own enjoyment, but more importantly I want to be able to go back with my friends and family. I want other people to have the chance to take part in the same unique experience that I was lucky enough to take part in. I want them to feel the same unique connection with the participants that can only be found in the kind of participatory environment that comes with contra dance.

           

The Punks are Alright

What is punk music? Many people describe punk music as angry and aggressive, but does that make it a bad thing? The documentary The Punks are Alright follows three groups of punk musicians in Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia. The documentary shows what punk music represents to the people in these different countries. The Punks are Alright tells the stories of these punk musicians and how punk music has changed their lives. It shows how each one of the artist are connected to each other despite being thousands of miles apart. They all go through similar struggles with religion, politics, economics, tolerance and other barriers in their lives.

            In America today, punk music is often frowned upon. Many see punk music as a genre of music that consists primarily of angry shouting accompanied by aggressive drumming and repetitive guitar chords. Punk music in America has evolved into something far less aggressive and more structured to please modern, western society. The youth in America use punk music as a way lash out and protest the thing around them. In Brazil and Indonesia, punk music is used in the same way. The difference between the two is what they are lashing out against. Brazil and Indonesia are both third world countries that are polluted with corruption and poverty. The problems faced by the youth in these cultures are far more extreme than the problems with which American youth typically deal.

 The documentary follows a young punk artist from Brazil named Henrike. Henrike lives in one of the most dangerous places in the world. The daily life there is centered on drugs and violence. The county is overcome with poverty. The citizens of Brazil are extremely poor and have next to nothing. Drugs run rampant through Brazil and cause extreme violence throughout the country. People die every night as a result of this extreme violence. The people of Brazil have no money, no jobs, and no way to stop the violence that surrounds them. As a result they spend their whole lives feeling powerless. These conditions greatly influence the outcome of Brazil’s youth. The youth of Brazil all want something more. They want money and most of all that want a sense of power over their life. Many of the young people in Brazil insert themselves into the on-going drug war in search of money and power over their lives. Henrike grew up in the same conditions as most of the young people in Brazil that join the drug war; however, he was able to find a different source of power in his life. Henrike used punk music as his way to find power. Henrike, in true punk fashion, rebelled against society by performing music that encouraged sobriety and spoke out against violence. .  He became a punk artist and started protesting against capitalism and globalization. Finding empowerment through punk music helped him with many of his problems in life but it also created new ones. Henrike was raised Catholic and lived in a very religious place. Punk music created conflict between him and his religion. He was also faced with intolerance from the religious community because he was a punk artist. Despite the troubles that came with being a punk artist in Brazil, Henrike maintains that punk music is the best thing that could have happened to him. It is what brought him his wife, his kids, and his happiness.    

The documentary also follows the young punk artist Dolly, from Indonesia. Indonesia is another third world country that suffers greatly from poverty. There is also a great amount of violence that surrounds the people of Indonesia, though it is not through drug wars. Indonesia is often the victim of religious fundamentalist attacks. Dolly grew up in a poverty stricken family like most of the people in Indonesia. The economic conditions in Indonesia have greatly affected Dolly’s life. He continues to live with his parents because he cannot make enough money to go out and live on his own. Dolly must make a two hour commute to his job where he is treated terribly and makes very little money just to support his family. Despite working in an abusive environment and making next to no money, Dolly still considers himself lucky. Having a job of any kind is considered a blessing, and he works very hard to keep it. Dolly uses punk music as a way to escape from the hardship around him. Dolly also uses punk music as a way of empowering himself. Dolly uses punk music to fight against the fundamentalist religion that attacks his country.

The stories of Dolly and Henrike have definitely changed my perception of youth in Brazil and Indonesia. I would not have thought that the youth in such poor countries would have much of their own identity or influence at all. The stories of Dolly and Henrike are evidence that this idea is wrong. I was shocked at how optimistic both Dolly and Henrike were despite the conditions they live in. The youth in both these countries have had to overcome incredible and scary barriers in their lives in order to express themselves and make a difference. After watching this documentary, I see them as brave and incredible groups of young people. Witnessing the struggles and the hardship that the youth in Indonesia and Brazil go through makes it hard for youth in America to relate to them. Despite differences in their society and culture, the youth in Indonesia and Brazil are actually quite similar. The youth in America and in Indonesia and Brazil all share a similar need to express ourselves. One of the best ways we do that is through music. We use punk music as a way to rebel against society. We also share a similar desire to change the world around us. Youth culture, around the world and throughout history, acts as the driving force in political, cultural, and societal movements. 

Globalization plays a large part in the lives of both Dolly and Henrike. Globalization has both positive and negative effects. Through globalization, western culture has begun to dominate the world. This results in the cultural “gray outs” of other countries such as Indonesia and Brazil. On the positive side, globalization can also cause cultural empowerment. Punk music began in white labor factories and through globalization reached other countries such as Indonesia and Brazil. Punk music is a symptom of cultural gray out as well as cultural empowerment. Globalization is part of what connects my life and the things I do back to Brazil and Indonesia. The choices we make in western society have the power to change cultural values in other countries. The factories for western products that are run through third world counties like Indonesia are a large part of what ties us together economically. We are able to buy goods such as shoes at a lower price in the U.S. because the cost of making them in countries like Indonesia is so small. These factories cause part of the economic problems in Indonesia because they pay such low wages but they are also part of what helps the economy by providing jobs. Politically we affect these other countries through our global policies, which are determined by the people we elect into office.    

Many people describe punk music as angry and aggressive screaming which requires no talent. These people would be right. Punk music is aggressive and often angry, and you don’t need talent to do it, but that does not make it a bad thing. Punk music is not about talent or even sounding good. Punk music is more or less about protest. It is first and foremost a means of expressing how you feel and making a statement. Punk music may not be the nicest or have the best sound but it is powerful. Punk music has been a tool of empowerment since it was created. The best thing about punk music is not the way it sounds but the way it influences, and changes people.

I love Hip Hop in Morocco

            The movie “I Love Hip-Hop in Morocco” tells the story of a group of hip-hop artists in Morocco who want to create a huge concert and perform for their community. The hip-hop groups struggles with organizing this concert due to the social and political setbacks in Morocco.  The movie documents the difficulty of being a hip-hop artist in a country that is founded on the strict beliefs of the Islamic faith. The group is faced with strong resistance from the Moroccan community. They also have very few of the resources needed to put on the concert they all dream of performing. The documentary shows how the groups manage to overcome these difficulties and put on the concert. It also explains to viewers where the groups get their passion for hip-hop and why they work so hard to put on their concert.

            Every group that took part in creating the concert shared a passion for hip-hop music. They all face difficulty in their community because of what they do.  However, they continue to make their music because they feel it is important. H-Kayne is the most popular hip-hop group in Morocco and they believe that hip-hop is more than just music. They use hip-hop to express themselves and make themselves heard.  In the documentary, they say that two things are sacred in Morocco: Islam, and the king. The king in Morocco has complete power and to speak out against him would be breaking the rules. This leaves the Moroccan people with extremely little, if any, freedom of speech. H-Kayne uses hip-hop as a way to obtain some freedom of speech. They create songs with lyrics that have double meanings. They hide what they are really saying in a way that only the right people would be able to understand. H-Kayne also uses hip-hop as a means of escape from the world they live in. In Morocco no one has money and everyone is poor.  H-Kayne is able to separate themselves from the surrounding poverty through their music. When they are performing they go to a place where everything is good. They don’t have to think about being poor or their struggles with money. The music sets them free and just lets them be happy. The benefits like these that H-Kayne experiences through hip-hop are what make them so passionate about sharing hip-hop. They want to become pioneers of other hip-hop artists in Morocco. They want to help other people find their voice through hip-hop and create a movement. 

            The hip-hop group Mot de Passe also sees hip-hop as more than just music. They too use hip-hop as a way to express themselves and promote a message to the Moroccan people. The hip-hop group Mot de Passe is duo group one of whom, Fati, is a girl. Being a female hip-hop artist presents even more of a challenge.  In Morocco, women are meant to get an education and work at home. To be a hip-hop artist and dress in western clothes is considered shameful.  The hip-hop group Mot de Passe uses hip-hop as a way to try and break the barrier between the sexes in Morocco. As a female hip-hop artist, Fati is often discriminated against. The Moroccan people believe that a woman dressing in western clothes is shameful because it does not follow the beliefs of the Islamic faith. Many people tell her that she is not showing respect for herself when she dresses in western clothes, but Fati disagrees. Mot de Passe believes that hip-hop expresses truth and what they believe. Therefore, Fati believes that when she dresses in western clothes she is showing respect for herself because she is showing who she really is. She is also discriminated against by the fans of hip-hop as well. Many of the hip-hop fans in Morocco believe that a woman has no place in hip-hop. When she steps out on stage to perform, she is booed by the fans. After her performance, however, the fans begin to cheer for her. She is able to use her talent of hip-hop to break the barriers between the sexes by showing people that women can succeed at things they believe to be meant only for men.

            The biggest dilemma that hip-hop artists in Morocco are faced with is religion. The people in Morocco are raised in a very strict Islamic culture.  As members of the Islamic faith, they are not supposed to take part in music. In the documentary, DJ Keys talks about his struggle between his love for hip-hop and his love for the Islamic faith. He often wonders how he is supposed to follow his love for hip-hop when it goes against everything he believes. This is a question that he failed to find an answer to throughout the documentary, and I imagine he still struggles with it. The values of the Islamic faith, which the artists were raised with, often carry over into their music. In America, cursing is often a large part of hip-hop music. In Morocco cursing in front of other people, especially your elders, is shameful. Many artists cannot curse in their music because it is against their beliefs. Many people in Morocco believe that incorporating hip-hop into their society increases the westernization of their society. The westernization of Morocco corrupts their Islamic roots and culture.

            One of the biggest problems that they had in creating the concert was finding funding. Morocco is a very poor country and it is very hard to find an organization with enough money to sponsor events like concerts.  Finding a sponsor was made even more difficult due to the wide disapproval of hip-hop in Morocco. One of the places they went to in search of sponsors was the American embassy.  The American embassy did agree to help fund the concert and with their help, and the help of a few others, they were able to fund and put on the hip-hop concert.  The American embassy providing funding to a hip-hop concert in Morocco can be interpreted as both bad and good. Some may say that America is trying to manipulate Morocco by encouraging the westernization of its culture and destroying its Islamic roots. Helping to fund “I Love Hip-Hop in Morocco” changes how America is seen in the eyes of the hip-hop fans in Morocco. They see America funding a hip-hop concert as them supporting freedom of speech.  The fans at the concert now see America as on their side. They equate America with freedom of speech and political change in their country.

            The documentary really captured the effect music can have on culture.  Hip-hop in Morocco became so much more than entertainment.  Hip-hop became part of a movement. The people used music to inspire change among their community. It gave people the voice that they were being deprived of from their government and changed an entire group of people. The thing to take away from this is the power that music holds and how it can be used as a tool to shape the world we live in. 

           

Farmers Market

Taking part in Bloomington’s farmers market was both fun and interesting. The things I really focused on in the farmer’s market were the people, especially families, the food, along with the people selling the food, and the music. The very first thing I noticed was the food. The majority of the food sold at the farmers market was organic vegetables and fruits. The second thing I noticed was the type of people that took part in the farmer's market. The people selling the food were all everyday people.  The customers at the food market consisted mostly of families and older people. The music I observed at the food market reflected on the type of people there. All the music I heard was what one might call family friendly. None of the music was particularly aggressive and had no bad language. In participatory music everyone takes part in the music making in some way. Everyone is an equal contributor to music making. The farmer’s market is the same in that everyone there takes an equal part in the success of the farmer’s market. The vendors are no more important than the buyers. The music is also just as important. The music is part of what created the environment.   Everyone plays an equal role in creating the farmers market. Overall I thought the Bloomington farmer’s market was both fun and educational.

Real bad Arabs

The film “Real Bad Arab” is a documentary that discusses the grossly inaccurate and offensive portrayal of Arabs and the Middle East in Hollywood.  The film presents research of hundreds of movies across generations and how they portray the Arab people. The research shows that throughout the beginning of film making Arabs have been cast in a horrible and inaccurate light. In nearly every movie throughout movie making history Arab people have been cast in the same role. They play the part of the villain. They are often depicted as unintelligent, primitive, and downright evil.  Having seen the Arab and Middle Eastern people portrayed throughout their whole lives as these horrible types of people, the American people begin to associate that image with Middle Eastern and Arab people in the real world. This has a terrible effect on our culture and the way we treat the Arab people.

            In the film Dr. Jack Shaheen takes us in to Hollywood’s Arab land. In the documentary we find that Arab land is filled always with the same type of people and situation. There is always an old sheik that kidnaps the blonde white western woman to make her his concubine. The Arab men in these movies are portrayed as heartless and with only one goal in mind, to take over the world. The Arabs are depicted as the evil vile people who will stop at nothing to get power and money. These villains are always shown as greedy rich men. Those Arabs that are not portrayed as evil, rich master minds are more often than not shown as primitive fools.  

            The women in these movies are portrayed no better than the men. The women are dressed always in one of two things. They are either shown in thin see through belly dancing outfits or there bodies are completely covered in black dress and veil. The Arab women are never put into a position of power. In fact they are rarely even put into a position of respect. They are shown as servants and as belly dancers. They are placed in a position where there only purpose is to please the man. Men are shown as having power over these women. The documentary shows a scene from the very popular movie, “Father of the Bride”, in which an Arab women attempts to speak while her husband is making a deal to buy a house and she is yelled at in gibberish by her husband. After being yelled at the woman then becomes very submissive keeping her eyes on the ground and sealing her lips. The documentary brings up a couple of films where the Arab woman is in a position of power. However these depictions are no better than the rest. When the Arab women are not shown as man’s property, she is depicted as a terrorist.

            I was shocked to see that I recognized many of these movies. Some of these more racist and offensive movies were amongst my list of favorite movies, such as “Aladdin”, “Father of the Bride”, and “Indiana Jones”.  “Aladdin” in particular had left a very lasting impression on me. I always thought that the villains in this movie were the scariest. As I grew up I also loved watching the Indiana Jones movies. In the documentary they show a clip from “Indiana Jones” of a very primitive looking Arab man making a show of attacking Indiana with a huge, long sword.   Before the man can take two steps toward him, Indian shoots the man and walks away shaking his head. When I was young and first watched this movie, I remember thinking that Indiana was so cool in that scene. Looking back now, I’m able to recognize the injustice to the Arab people that scene shows. The movie depicts the man as very arrogant and stupid.  The Arab people in this movie were primitive and Indiana Jones, an American, was made out to be much smarter and better than these people.

            “The Father of the Bride” was another movie I was shocked to realize had such racist and stereotypical depictions of Middle Eastern people. This film portrays more than one stereotype placed upon the Arab people. The Arab woman is depicted as submissive to the man, and her husband is shown as both incredibly rich and greedy.  He is not only depicted as rich and greedy but he is also heartless. The man shows no sympathy for the protagonist of the movie and he even mocks him for his emotional connection to his home. 

            Why is it that Hollywood can be so caviler with vilifying an entire group of people when doing so to any other race would be considered unthinkable?  Many people would say that America’s involvement and conflict in the Middle East is part of what allows Hollywood to vilify the Arab people. I would agree that America’s conflict does contribute to the overall acceptance of vilifying the Arab people. However Hollywood has been vilifying the Arab people since the beginning of movie making. I believe that the acceptance of vilifying the Arab people is a result of ignorance. While America is a very diverse county, they lack an overly strong and recognized community of the Arab people. Throughout history the Middle East has been painted as a type of scary place full of imminent death. America has failed to let go of this image. The culture in the Middle East has never been something that has been widely discussed in American society.  Our lack of knowledge on the culture in the Middle East makes it easy for the American people to accept Arabs as villains because we are not connected to them in any emotional way.   

            The result of this mass stereotyping of the Arab people as these heartless, violent people in American cinema is dangerous. It dehumanizes the Arab people in the eyes of many Americans. When these people are dehumanized, we cannot form any kind of sympathy for them. We see them all as the same horrible, cruel picture Hollywood has painted them as and we feel no remorse in their death. Americans are very quick to stereotype all Middle Eastern people into this one group of bad guys.  Having seen the Arab people as the villain throughout our lives has made it easier for us to take on the war in Iraq because we already saw the Arab people as bad guys. It is important that we break these stereotypes in America so the Arab people can have the same chance to establish their true culture in the eyes of Americans the same way all other minorities in the States have. In order for this to begin, Hollywood most stop “villianizing” the Arab people and start painting them in a more realistic light. 

Shut up and sing!

On September 11, 2001 tragedy struck on American soil and shook the country to its core. The 9/11 attacks made a permanent impact on America and left her people terrified and angry. The nation as whole was changed within a matter of hours as the entirety of the American people united in the defense of their county. The United States quickly went into retaliation mode with the full support of the American people, and a sense of near blinding patriotism spread throughout the nation.  Patriotism began to play a huge roll in American culture, including music.  Historically American popular culture had always criticized the government in matters such as war. However, it was now considered unacceptable to be anything but patriotic. Anyone or anything that was not fully supportive of the United States was met with fear, and hostility, and classified as un-American. The country music group the Dixie Chicks experienced the full force of this hostility when Natalie Maines made the comment that the Dixie Chicks did not agree with the president and they were ashamed that he was from Texas during a live concert in London. When the news of the comment leaked the American people became outraged and the band was labeled un-American by many. Country music and Country music fans turned their backs on the Dixie Chicks as the media crucified them for their un-American behavior. 

In the past, the music in the United States that was released during war time was often protest music, which expressed the people’s disagreement with the government. However, post 9/11 music, along with the rest of American culture, took on a very patriotic and supportive stance. No other genre of music reflected the feeling of patriotism among the American people more than country music. That is why America was so shocked and upset to hear that the Dixie Chicks, country music’s most popular group at the time, could be so un-American. The band had gone from number one to the most hated music group in America almost overnight. They had given a statement saying that the comment made was not meant to be any kind of political statement but was meant to entertain the crowed. The girls had explained what had happened and exclaimed their love for America but no one seemed to care. The nation’s hatred for the group remained. What should have been the small problem of a rude comment had snowballed into a full on national boycott of the group. Several radio stations banned their music and many members of the public media began to badmouth the group. The things said about the Dixie Chicks were cruel and hurtful.

The American people’s right to freedom of speech permits Natalie Maines to speak her mind about the president, and public media to speak their mind about the Dixie Chicks. However it would seem that the Dixie Chicks are being punished while the media continues to bash the girls. The backlash the Dixie Chicks experienced after speaking their minds set an example of what would have happened to people who spoke out against President Bush or the war at this time. It seemed that while you still have your right to freedom of speech, using it would come with a cost. The girls were not alone in their feelings against the war. However after witnessing what had happened to the Dixie Chicks, other artists were afraid to use their freedom of speech to speak out against it. No one wanted what happened to the Dixie Chicks to happen to them. This was evident in the actions that many artists took in preventing their music from seeming un-patriotic. Many artists stopped performing certain songs. Artist removed songs from albums that they thought might be deemed un- patriotic. In this way what happened to the Dixie Chicks and the politics at the time had a great effect on music. What we learn from this is how the media is able to manipulate people to prevent them from speaking out on certain subjects while still retaining their freedom of speech.

Social life in America rotates a lot around fads. When something all of a sudden becomes popular it’s common to see large chunk of people “jump on the band wagon” so to speak. That is to say when something all of the sudden becomes really popular everyone starts joining in and taking part in it. This happens all the time with music. When a no name band lets out a song that becomes a huge hit they gain diehard fans overnight. Everyone starts following that group not because they have always liked them but because it is now popular among society to like that group. The same thing happened to the Dixie Chicks when all of a sudden their names were plastered all over TV. It suddenly became extremely popular to hate the Dixie Chicks. The popularity in being involved in the Dixie Chick debacle only increased when Tobey Keith was introduced into the equation. Toby Keith began to aggressively target the Dixie Chicks for being un-patriotic. He was very out spoken about his hatred for them and this gained a lot of attention. A battle broke out between the two musical groups and every one took notice. There is nothing America likes more than a good old fashion battle between two opposing sides. The battle between the two musicians quickly brought even more people to jump on the band wagon. Now it was about sides. You were either on team Toby Keith or Team Dixie Chicks.  

            After 9/11, patriotism became a huge part of the American culture. The war was highly supported by the people in the time immediately following 9/11. The music that was released at this time reinforced these feelings. People have always been able to form a strong connection with music and it often can inspire strong feelings and emotions. Music has been used in politics now for years as a way to connect with specific groups of people and inspire a sense of trust in the government. Today the feelings on the war and the president are very different and so is music. There are many songs out there today which express antiwar beliefs.  The Black Eyed Peas song “Where is the Love” is very antiwar and was released not long after what happened to the Dixie Chicks. “Where is the Love” is also a very popular song for my generation. My generation is also much more against the Iraq war. Music is an important part of politics in America and when used correctly and at the right time can greatly effect politics and the American people. 

Presentational Music

In presentational music one group of people is providing music for another group of people.  There is a separation between the artist and the audience’s only interaction with the music is listening.  Concerts are an excellent example of this. The entire point of concerts is for groups and artist to perform live for their fans.  The following clip is of a Glee live concert. The stadium is packed with hundreds of cheering fans as the cast performs an exciting rendition of the song “Valerie” up on stage. The cast and the audience are clearly separated by the stage and while they may cheer and clap for the cast, the audience takes no other part in the performance. The performance that the cast puts on has no other purpose than for the audience to listen and enjoy it.  The cast provides the audience with entertainment by enthusiastically singing the song. They sustain the interest of the audience by adding dancers, lights, and other special effects to keep them watching.

Presentational music, while often very entertaining, is not without its drawbacks. Presentational music is for the most part always live music. When music is done live, the artist has little room for mistake. Presentational music also varies greatly. This means that a song can never be performed in the same way twice and more often than not sounds different then a recorded version. This fact can make it hard for the artist to please their audience at a live performance when the live version of the song varies too much from what they are used to hearing. However, it is not all bad.  Presentational music also has much potential.  The greatest potential in presentational music is the performance. The performers of presentational music have a large amount of artistic freedom. Since the artists are not responsible for the participation of the audience in the music making, they are able to strictly rehearse their performance.  These rehearsals and the artist’s freedom to perform the song the way they intended it to be heard often results in a fantastic performance.  

High-Fidelity Performance

High-fidelity performance is musical sounds heard on recordings that index live performance. These recordings represent what a performer actually does in a live performance. Every mp3 download, iTunes song, cd, eight track, and so on are a high-fidelity performance.  Most music we listen to today is a high fidelity performance. There are no real visual aspects to high-fidelity performances. The recording you are listening to is only a representation of the live performer or group. The music must be able to preserve a since of “liveness”. The sound of the recording makes up for the lack of visuals with variation.  The clip below of Queen’s hit song Bohemian Rhapsody is an excellent example. There is a large amount of variation in this song that makes up for the lack of visuals. It starts out with a soft melody with only the band members’ voices. Then as the song continues, the complexity increases with the addition of more instruments and changes in vocals. What was once a soft melody evolves into a true rock anthem with the assistance of a guitar solo in the middle.  It regresses from rock anthem back down to a soft melody by the end of the song.  

High-Fidelity music also has some limits. The most obvious limit would be the lack of visuals. While the sound makes up for the lack of visuals with variation, it is never the same as the real thing. In high- fidelity performance, studio engineers have the most control in the music making process. This greatly limits the artist’s creative freedom. However, high-fidelity performance also has some pros. The studio engineer is able to manipulate and layer the different parts of the song in a way that would not be possible in a live performance. The value of high-fidelity performance is placed solely on making a product to sell.

Studio-Audio Art Music

 Studio audio art music is recorded music with no expectation that it should or even could be performed live. Studio audio art music is made up of a combination of sounds that are generated by a computer.  The sounds in these songs can typically not be reproduced using any kind of instrument. With studio audio art music there is no need for any other human interaction other than the person on the computer composing the music. A great example of this is techno music. This song is an example of studio audio art music because all of the sounds heard in the song were generated from a computer. 

It is not possible to recreate a live version of this song using any instrument.  

Studio audio art music also has limits. This music can never be played live like music that is made using natural instruments.  It also has several possibilities. Studio audio art music is free from the idea of authority and offers maximum control to the creator of the music.  The values of studio audio art music are also very different. The finished piece is abstract and it is associated with electro acoustic music. There is also very little human interaction in the making of this music.

Participatory Music

In participatory music there is no distinction between artist and audience. People are not only welcomed to join in they are expected to. Every one performs and takes part in some way. Musical ability does not matter. The music is judged not on the quality but on participation and the collective feeling of participation. It does not matter if the music sounds good at all. The only thing that matters is that everyone partakes and has a feeling of social bonding. There are two types of participatory music. Simultaneous participatory music is when everyone participates together at the same time. Sequential participatory music is when everyone takes turns performing.  The movie clip below is an example of sequential participation. The clip shows a group of friends at a karaoke bar. When you go to a karaoke bar it is expected that everyone takes a turn singing. Whether you are musically inclined or not does not matter. The point in singing is not to make good music but to be part of a group and bond.  The entire group of people participates in the performance at some point or another. 

Participatory music also has limits. There is no structured rehearsal of participatory music and it cannot be planned out. There is no control over the level of participation; therefore, there is no control over how successful the performance will be.  Participatory music also has some good possibilities. There is always the possibility of forming a great social bond within a group of people. There is the possibility of creating an amazing and unique performance with a group.  The values of participatory music are different too. It is the least competitive type of music making and musical talent is not necessary. The participation of every one is essential regardless of musical talent. The performance does not have to flow well or have a good rhythm to be considered good. The only criterion the performance is judged by is participation. As long as everyone partakes it does not matter what the performance sounds like.