unit 4 reflection

Reflection 4: music

There were music weeks that I was experienced. Music roles a most important part in pop culture, and I got that music is changed and different.

At the beginning of this unit, I got two texts “Same Old Song” and “Pop Music Same”. These two reading talked about music generation changed, but pop music contained the same. Also, music is a product which consumer to all people, so it becomes similar and formulaic because of the choice of people. On the other hand, Pop music mostly faces to young people with a lot of violence and sex and against parents and political correctness. In addition, music has different genres but same expressions.

According to the texts about the history of blues, I got that blues began with a very hard time with a lot of blood and death. Blues is the foundation of music and is rooted in African culture. As time goes by, the blues reflects social situation. The other history text was about rap. Hip-hop has been mainstream music since 1970s, and its golden age was 1984.

For in class discussions, we talked about the articles, music genres, music difference related to the period and states and the influence in our live. Nowadays, different countries have their music styles and generation values. Also, music in different countries are effected by others. In addition, pop music is mostly about sex and violence, but not everyone considers sex and violence in the music. Also, I had presentations in this unit as well. I did presentations by own and also with my classmates. Throughout organizing the information, presenting in front of the classroom and listening my classmates’ presentations, I took notes and remembered the music genres as bluegrass which was exactly new for me, rock which had a lot of subtypes and Motown which was the strangest for me.

Then, I posted some songs in the Pin-board. These songs were in different languages and had different meanings for me. I had Chinese songs which was my favorite, my parents’ favorite or I could explain their lyrics. I had English which I like, I surprised and I have deep feelings. Also, I had Japanese song which was in different culture and touched me a lot. These music were in different genres, but the same idea was soulful and beautiful. At the same time, I viewed the top 40 websites. This was a new website to me, and it opened me a new world about music. I seldom listened to English music before because I did know where to find. I thought that I could only listen to English music by paying for new albums, but now I can fine new songs through the websites. On the other hand, the music in the websites were not so match with my music genre, so I did not like most of them really.

My Aha moment is that I finally understand the POP music turned similar and formulaic because of human choices. Music is a consumerism product, so it is made to cater the taste of most people. Although the music became simple and easy, it turns complex, too. Music nowadays is growing, not only itself but also its influence. Furthermore, peoples’ preference gets changed, so pop music changes. About the bumper stickers, I pick the consumerism. In my opinion, pop music prefers easy and vacuous. Its lyrics is always simple, repeating and no meaning. It is a choice from most of people but no all.     

I like to listen popular music, but not the kind of music full of sex and violent. Pop music in China does not have a lot of sex and violent because of the government bans it. Music is the important part of culture. It makes culture, and it is the product of culture as well.