What is world music? Why do we have such a category?

World music is music from across the globe, made by people of different cultures to our own. It can also be music from an artist who performs ‘local’ music which is then marketed worldwide by a major record company. Cultural Imperialism also has an impact on what we deem world music. Roy Shuker says that the ‘transmission of certain styles from dominant nation’s leads to the creation of particular patterns of demand and consumption which endorse the cultural values and ideas of their dominant origin’. He is saying that Anglo-American popular music becomes the accepted standard global template and I agree with him on that point. The reason we have the category is because there is no where else for it to go, it seems. The world music section has a variety of music genres but the only similarity between them is that they aren’t influenced by the Anglo-American style of music like so many other artists. 

Is popular music a mass produced commodity or a genuine art form?

Theodor Adorno says that popular music is ‘standardized’ and that the popular music industry ‘churns out mass produced, inferior commodities’. There certainly is an area in the music industry that creates music purely for the sales figures, but there is also popular music that was created in the same way people create art. Something that evokes emotions, something people can relate to which something that is a genuine piece of self expression. That type of music I feel can be defined as a genuine art form. This then raises questions as to who is the artist in this scenario. If somebody doesn’t write their own song are they the artist, or is it the songwriter. I think that both can be classified, as the songwriter creates the words and the performer expresses them and if the audience can take a genuine emotion or can connect with the song, both have succeeded in creating a genuine art form.

How useful is a production of culture perspective in understanding the birth of rock ‘n’ roll?

It is quite useful to have an understanding of what was happening in the world, culturally when looking at the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. Richard Peterson says that there are six cultural factors to look at which he believes contributed to the emergence of rock ‘n’ roll. They include law, technology, industry and organisation structures, occupational career and the market. Each factor on its own can’t be credited for the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, but together the list is a useful and concise way of explaining how rock ‘n’ roll could have come about. However there are factors that Peterson doesn’t address, such as the music itself, which is the most important thing. The six factors he names could be attached to any musical genre. His factors look more at the production behind the distribution of the music, rather than the audience who listened to the music, which is equally important.

Is it reasonable to consider that rock music is gendered male?

Looking at Rolling Stone’s top 50 guitarists it isn’t entirely surprising to see that there are no women on the list. On a whole it is reasonable to say that rock music is gendered male. Bayton says ‘women performers have predominantly been vocalists rather than instrumentalists’’. I agree with this statement and it is much easier to name a female vocalist than it is to name a female drummer. It’s hard to pinpoint a definite answer as to why this tends to be the case, but one theory is that if you grow up being a fan of rock music and aspire to play an instrument, the people you are looking up to are most likely men. But for women, there aren’t as many females in that position to look up too. If there were more Joan Jett’s out there to inspire women to play an instrument, maybe the genre would be more level. 

Can popular music ever really be unplugged?

Paul Theberge says ‘without electric technology, popular music in the 21^st century is unthinkable.’ And he is right, when it comes to recording, producing and performing popular music, it’s almost impossible to imagine any of that unaided by technology. When it comes to an acoustic guitar, which appears unplugged, but that can be plugged in to provide a better and louder listening experience. As a whole unless it is being performed in an intimate surrounding, you can’t perform unplugged. It’s difficult to imagine a band playing an arena gig with no electronic sound system. There’s also the aspect of recording music, whether that be on your own laptop or in a studio it wouldn’t be possible if popular music was ‘unplugged’. The way we listen to music would change without technology there would be no CD’s or MP3’s. To reach a wide audience, popular music has to be plugged in.

What is popular music?

Over the years the definition of the word ‘popular’ have evolved, from ‘belonging to the people’ , to the 16^th century when the word developed negative connotations such as ‘low, vulgar of the common people’. In the 18^th century it became positive and was known to be ‘widely favoured’. This has become the definition which I feel sums up popular music, as it has a wide appeal, and spans through a variety of genres and audiences. In recent years with the rise in popularity of music talent shows that year after year produce artists who are controlled and manufactured with their main aim being profit rather than artistic and creative values. At the same time there are artists who fall into what Anahid Kassabian calls ‘folk’ which is home-made, unpolished and the opposite of mass produced, consumer music. Both can be described as popular music as they are ‘widely favoured’.