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.
