Contra Dance

I found myself walking up a flight of stairs into a gymnasium that was rather empty excluding a few people. We got there early so we could learn some of the basic steps and I knew I had no clue what I was doing. As the night progressed and I danced with several more experienced dancers it became more clear. I felt dizzy from the dancing and silly from the missteps which all led to some strange unexplainable laughter I had. Before I knew it I was enjoying myself  and actually getting some of the steps. In a mainstream setting dancing would be competitive and very presentational but at the contra dance it was participational, everyone of all ages and skill sets were welcome. There was  not a spot light on any one person, it was a democratic environment. Participatory music isn't about who is better but more so how many people join in. these environments are full of diversity and acceptance of all different kinds of people.  By that I mean race, age, gender and class. It seems that being able to pay isn't the important thing more important is the fact that people come and enjoy themselves and keep the tradition alive.They can also be a learning experience with out being intimidating to others less skilled.
Though I had a great time and really enjoyed myself I think I will be spending my Wednesday night differently. It was nice but I don't see myself returning in the future, it was just a different kind of environment than what I am used to. It was a nice change of pace and I will always remember my experience there.

They're Just Punks

My class watched The Punks Are Alright, a film about punk music around the world, I not only learned about Punk music but the reality of a third world country. The role of punk music in general is to be contradictory to the social norms but in third world countries like Brazil and Indonesia the punk idealism is stressed more in the United States. There the problems they face are more dire and in terms of religious intolerance, poverty, crime and government corruption, punk music is their way to draw attention to it. Many of Indonesia's problems can be traced back to capitalism and the encroachment of the Western world. There is a huge gap between the very rich and the extremely poor in Indonesia due to large American companies being in third world countries to extort money from the workers as the workers' government reap the benefits. I thought that I had no impact on the life of someone in a country so far away. Yet as we discussed further the impact that the Western world's capitalism has on the world I realized that even where I buy my groceries effects people thousands of miles away from me. I wasn't thinking of myself as a global citizen or even as an American citizen just as a person who wanted food.

 These people exist in a system where DIY is almost a necessity, there is no one who is there solving the problems of their community for them, the punk movement is a very small grass root movement that uses confrontation to point attention to problems. Then the DYI movement comes into play when they collaborate outside the system to fix those problems. Even though it is small and grass roots it is powerful enough to travel the world from Canada to Brazil to Indonesia.

I personally related to their struggles with religious tolerance. In Brazil the lead singer of  the Blind Pigs talked about the image associated with Catholicism and how he really did not fit into that image. I can relate to that just because I don't look the part during church and often can't relate to what the preacher is saying which I am often judged for. Also the U.S. can be religiously intolerant against non-Christians even to the point that  it is un-American to be anything but Christian or not hold certain Christian ideals. In Bali there were terrorist attacks because of religious extremism. The problem in both cases is not the actual religion but the extremism that the religions hold.

The Farmer's Market

This is my social map of the local farmer's market. the concentric circles are used to show the concentration of people in certain areas and how that amount of people decreases. the music notes show where the music is in relation to the stands. the color of the stands show what kind of people were there: yellow is for everyone, green is for children and red is for women.

 

 

unlike your average store the Farmer's market seemed alive there was more than just food there was interaction. the people went there yes to get food but more so to interact with the vendors and listen to music. The farmer's market is a great example of DIY (Do It Yourself). The farmer who grows the produce is the person who sells it. this system realizes on social interaction making the farmer's market very important to their lively hood. Also there were basket weaver and jewelry makers there to do the same.
there was live music every where at the end of the rows and around most of the food. for the most part it was folk music but near the entrance there was west African drumming and dancing. the dancer invited people to dance and even to play drums this was very popular among children. Both pictures are images of presentational music because there was a clear audience and clear artists even if they did encourage participation. Also the expectation is for the audience to watch and for the artist to preform it is not expected for anyone else to grab an instrument and join in.

 

 

Next to City Hall was the Arts and Crafts section for the most part there was mostly women and children there but there was probably a lot of children there because they were playing in the fountain. also I noticed that parents were more relaxed at the farmers market with their children they seemed to trust the people there more than a random stranger at the average super store. I went into City Hall to see what was going on in there and all I basically found was people going to the bathroom and ATM . which was interesting because that's where the people of the city meet but instead they chose to socialize outside.

 

 

In the very back of the farmer's market the was a man running for sheriff and meeting people. I found this placement interesting because it seemed as though the political campaign was thought of as the least important thing at the farmer's market. The placement suggest that people do not go to the farmer's market to deal with politics but to have a good time. also there was information about the community in that general area I actually talked to Brent Gault, chair of music education at Indiana University, it was a surprise because he was wearing a t-shirt and jeans talking about the IU children's choir. I approached the table because I was in the Indianapolis Childen's Choir briefly and was interested in if it was similar to that program and if he was familiar with it. he was and he actually told me a lot of  information about the IU Children's Choir and the Jacobs School of Music.

The people at the farmer's market were very diverse in different ways. I saw several different races, religions, sects and portrayals of ideas through the way people were dressed. The farmers market was very interesting and I plan to go back several times. It is a center for  music, socializing with the community and invited diversity of all kinds.

 

Photo credit: Aliya Lewis



Bilie Jean is a Wayfaring Stranger at Tyrone's Jam Session

In North America  music is commonly thought to be one thing but in actuality it can be broken down into four fields. The four fields consist of different fields of activity with each it's own purpose. Each field has its own type of activity, artistic goals, values and social relationships.These fields are Participatory music, Presentational music, high fidelity performance, and studio art performance.

 

Participatory Music

 

This form of music is focused more on social interaction than actual skill. There is no differentiation between artist and audience. This form typically induces a deeper flow state in the individuals it includes. Everyone is to contribute in this type of setting regardless of their skill level. If everyone participates then the music making is a success. Because participatory music is not judged on skill. Also it is the least competitive  and most democratic of the four fields. This is an example of participatory music because there isn't any distinction between the audience and actors and everyone participates. Even though there is one vocalist everyone contributes equally. In the beginning of the video the rapper is actually encouraged to join in which is what participatory music is about, everyone joining in.

 

Presentational Music

This field of music has a clearly defined difference between artist and audience and the artist is there to provide the audience with entertainment. the music is for listening and typically performances are rehearsed. even though the audience may be asked to interact with the artist they is still a distinction between the two. The artist must sustain interest  through  any means. This is a form of  presentational music due to the clothes he is wearing, the choreography and "gesturing" all as a means to entertain the audience.

 

High Fidelity Preformance

 

High fidelity performance are sounds heard on recordings that index live music. This form of music is  made in a studio and the sound quality is to make up for the lack of a visual presence. High fidelity is also the  most controlled way of making music. The music produced is meant to be sold. this is also very competitive and hierarchal. I chose this song because it can be preformed live and the music quality does make up for the lack of visual presence. Also this is a recording of an actual performance and high fidelity music is made for "liveness".

 

Studio Audio Art

Studio Art is recorded music with no expectation that it should or could be preformed live. In this instance the one person singing several different parts at once which is impossible





 without the help of technology. The artist has complete control over the every aspect because its acapella and only his voice. There is no human interaction at all except for Ed Sheeran himself.



When the Star Go Bluuuue

 

 

"When the Stars Go Blue"  by Ryan Adams is one of the songs I listen to when I am stressed out or upset, it calms me down and helps me concentrate. I heard a cover of this song at a Parachute concert  and I never listened to Ryan Adams before but it became an instant favorite. Later that year it was finals week and I was completely stressed out and could not relax so I listened to this song and afterwards I felt so much better.

                                                               sign: easy going rhythm

object: steadinessinterpretant: serenity

the easy going rhythm and vocals are the sign, the object is the steadiness that the rhythm stands for and the interpretant is me calming down. The sign  to object relation is iconic because the slow and constant rhythm resembles steadiness. This song is great to experience flow or "get in the zone".

Photo credit: arrows-free.com

Who Am I ?

  Ke$ha - Animal

 

 

I am the type of person who values being yourself  no matter what people might think. Though it may not be the most popular idea, to be myself it is what works best for me. the song is basically stating to enjoy being whoever you are and embrace those parts of you that make you strange or different. This song actually has a reoccurring kick drum that actually makes my heart speed up. The kick drum in the song is an iconic for me because it sounds like a racing heartbeat causing a physical reaction in me, the interpretant.

Panic! At the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon

 

 

For some frame to this song, Nine in the Afternoon is about the band, Panic! at the Disco, getting back into the swing of writing their new album and touring. They convey their fears and excitement through out the song. Though I'm not making an album I still share a sense of communitas with the artists because I share their feeling that occur with any new start. Specifically the start of another Freshman year I find the same feeling of starting freshman year in high school are coming back as I start my freshman year of college. Feeling the excitement of new ideas along with the death of what was once life as you new it. The song is very upbeat but has these moment that sounds like a drunk person trying to walk at the end of the first verse. To me that is like the uncertainties and anxiety that are present when beginning a new experience.

In the Heights - Breathe

 

 

I come from a family that expects me to do well not necessarily  because they have high expectations but because  I have always done "the right thing". They really don't worry about whether I'll do well or not because in their minds they know I'll do well. Also they have high hopes for me and I can not let them down. I hate disappointing people which is why I try to do everything I said I would do.  I'm the kid with a good head on her shoulders but in reality I'm just as uncertain as the person next to me.

 

Jimmy Eat World - The Middle

 

 

I chose this song I feel like I'm at a pivotal point in my life and I pretty much just want go with the flow. I don't really want to plan out my life. I'd much rather see what happens and roll with whatever punches might come my way. Life is full of uncertainty so there's no point in trying to force yourself into knowing exactly what will happen to you in life. This song conveys that it takes time to figure out what a person wants to do and that everything will work out just fine in the end.