Music and Philosophy
Although I am still sitting here in front of my computer browsing every site that I am involved in, a small part of my sanity is still holding strong. Moving past my mental clarity, I had a very interesting conversation yesterday at a coffeeshop. Which are the types of conversations I typically have in the type of place that I constantly am. [does that even make sense??] Remembering words...why is it more credible or *gasp* necessary to view the world through a particular lens or viewpoint? My philosophical comrade moves to suggest that a person's views or ideas would be just as credible or interesting regardless of their 'lens' or critical p.o.v. Interesting.... I critique news and events from a feminist point of view because that is the means through which I choose to observe. However, were I to take a personal view on an idea or critique, it would still be 'feminist.' So is it really my critique that is feminist or am I critiquing from a feminist view? Either way, I am not about to spend time on that little mind trip.
In an attempt to change the subject, I am reading Nietzsche's On The Genealogy of Morals at the moment. Or at least I'm attempting to. I find that the internet is far more entertaining and interesting than philosophy at the moment. I think I'm not able to focus simply because there is too much music floating around in this tiny room I inhabit.
And here I go again, here are all the music videos that I am loving to watch and listen to right now!!
Enjoy y'all!
Comments
Maybe this is analogous or not. I am sure you have encountered people who say "i dont like hip-hop" or "country sucks". But what does that label have anything do with the actual content of any particular hip-hop or country music, if it good its good right? who cares about the label. There is shit classical music just like there is shit hip-hop. There are shit feminist theories like there are shit theories of market capitalism. What matters i think is the validity, the truthfulness and utility of the critique. Now i know that opens up a whole can of worms. (what is truth?). I guess i just hate it when people reject a set ideas (like feminism) because of the some bullshit emotional reaction they have to the word. But also i am suspiciousness of the conformity that can happen when a group of people place themselves under an umbrella concept (think of any -ism: marxism, capitalism, feminism, conservatism, douchebagism). But...if conformity is unavoidable under any concept, i am always on the side of any ism which challenges the status quo. In fact i bet there is a pretty good argument for conformity among groups who challenge the conformity of the status quo.
(hey this blogging is pretty fun. i think i might actually try to get into it)
Posted by: Brandon | April 5, 2007 11:11 AM
(I'm glad you are getting into it!!)
Although I understand what you are saying, I move to suggest that there can be -isms that do not support or require conformity. For example, I do not believe that feminism or douchebagism require conformity to a certain type or ideal. What brings people to feminism is a common ideology or general outrage with the white capitalist patriarchal system that is American democracy. If that is the case, those people have banded together to help either overthrow or reform the current system to make it more feminist friendly. This -ism is a reaction to the societal conformism that you see in everyday life. Like yourself, I get quite upset when a person completely rejects feminism because apparently we are all bra-burning man-hating feminazis. Moving past the outrage, however, a more feminist friendly education is part of the goal, which would, hopefully, amend the societal misconception.
Of course, when it comes to music and even feminist theories, yes, there are some types that I think are total bullshit. I agree that the label music or theory comes with doesn't truly matter, although it allows people to remain within their comfort zone and only with the type of music or theory that they like. Although I appreciate a refreshing bit of new music or new ideas, some people find something comfortable and then cannot deviate from it. I believe this is why radical theories are so unacceptable. And what about Gay Marriage? Could you make the connection there as well? For the huge population of 'straight' people, the GLBT community is so different and uncomfortable that they do not support it. Even if they have not truly done the research or cared to understand. Thoughts?
Posted by: Jessica Englund | April 5, 2007 11:52 AM