Being a Global Citizen

The role and importance of music in our lives is largely determined by perspective. We label different things with higher priority which creates diversity across the globe. The United States contains a predominantly capitalist culture. Our job and possessions largely determine the cultural formation in which we belong. The first question we often ask a stranger is, “what do you?” Americans tend to generalize people with certain professions as being the same. Thus, they can find a mutual interest and form a connection with the other person. Different societies have different values and practices, making up the plethora of cultural cohorts and formations. These groups of people are all considered global citizens and contribute to the overwhelming diversity of the human race.

Being a global citizen can mean many different things. By carrying different values and identifying with specific cultures I am a global citizen. I like to think of the Earth as one humongous form participatory expression. Playing music, being Jewish, performing, speaking English and coming from Indiana are several cultural practices I identify with. My combination of values and practices are unlike anyone else’s who makes me unique and just as valuable to our society as anyone else. When examining my musical values one can infer my other social practices and interactions. The greatest style of music I am exposed to is high fidelity. I am a part of society that measures success on the amount of money being accumulated. America’s high fidelity society differs greatly from many cultures that value participatory music making. In Zimbabwe were the Mbira is used in many different aspects of life, the people are much different. They raise children on the premise that music isn’t a specialized activity but an important part of society. By creating music as a family or a community people from the specific geographic location develop specialized ideas and beliefs. This all relates back to the role each person plays in the global community. Also, that perspective plays a key role in how people view different societies. The cultural differences that develop are also the key causes for conflict or disagreement between societies.

The way a society incorporates music into its culture says a lot about it. For example in the film “I Love Hip Hop in Morocco” the younger generation embraces the Americanized presentational music while the older cohort represses it. Being a part of any society has its responsibilities and consequences. It’s important to realize that it is impossible to agree on everything with everyone, and we should respect that. What makes us different from one group of people allows us to identify and relate to another. We should focus on humanizing other cultures instead of alienating them, and music can play an important role in that process. We easily connect with other people through making music or experiencing it together. The consequence of identifying yourself with a specific cultural formation is getting wrapped into the issues surrounding “your people.” For example many westerners now identify the Islamic faith with terrorism because of the actions carried out by a small group of radicals. The ideas of leaders within certain cultural formations have a huge influence over the relationship between their culture and another. These ideas are the foundation from which violence between groups or productive relationships grow. Identifying yourself with a cultural formation or cohort is a necessary part of the human experience. It bonds us to others and gives us a way to express emotions and values. Ultimately culture is what shapes our identity and helps us grow into an active global citizen.

Over the past two weeks our class has learned about music and its role in society. The different forms of music presentation represent differing values within specific cultures. By breaking down music to an individual level we discovered that music represents an entirely separate aspect of people; their global citizenship. The music we listen to is simply a representation of our cultural values and practices. Being a global citizen requires people to contribute to the diversity and growth of all societies. It isn’t a responsibility we should take lightly because through our ideas and actions we can change the world. 

Contra-Dance = Awesome

Last night my classmates and I attended the Bloomington Contra-Dance. I’m not sure what I expected it to be like, but I will definitely remember this night for a long time. The music was created by a small band in the front of the room. It’s upbeat and simple phrasing reflected the fluidity of the dancing. Each played off of each other and it was easy to learn and feel the beat. At each repetition, the excitement of a new partner was both interesting and awkward at the same time. It was a lot like meeting a new friend for the first time. The host taught everyone the dance while carrying her baby around with her which said a lot about the atmosphere of the room. I learned on a personal level the power of participatory musical experience while making me feel connected to all attendees and the entire community of Bloomington.

                The strangeness of the evening was highlighted by forced interaction with complete strangers. Normally I wouldn’t hold hands or embrace a woman I just met. But the whole situation pushed me out of my comfort zone and was exhilarating. This same aspect of the dance is witness in participatory music making. By introducing my unique personality to the dance, I contributed to the collective energy being produced by the group. It’s also safe to say that this is a style of dance I’m not used to. Yet, I felt accepted into a group of individuals I have never met. By teaching and guiding me through the dances I got to know certain faces. Once I successfully completed the dance with someone, I felt connected with them without knowing their name or background. The Contra-Dance allowed me to meet people I normally wouldn’t be exposed to. For an hour I was able to forget my worries and immerse myself in the culture of this dance. I belonged to a specific cohort, and I felt like I contributed a lot to the energy of the group. In the same fashion as the Farmer’s Market or the Runcible Spoon, I connected with the town of Bloomington and learned something new by stepping outside of my comfort zone.

                I would definitely attend the dance again. It allowed me to let go and be silly while connecting with my classmates. It made the time fly by and I got to learn a new dance. All for free! There’s also no pressure to be an amazing Contra-dancer. The entire evening challenged my view of how I should be dancing in public. In a modern setting dancing is limited to, quote David McDonald, “mobile spooning.” At clubs we usually keep to ourselves or the group we came with and would never hold hands with a stranger. I think this type of dancing represents the values of a specific cultural formation. The partiers in society communicate their lack of desire for anything more than a casual hookup through their dancing. The lack of eye contact, hand touching, or communication doesn’t really allow for a connection greater than the physical level. I think that if more people participated in things like the Contra-Dance our culture would be more open and accepting of diversity.

                Over the course of these two weeks, I’ve learned an incredible amount about participatory music and its effects on people. My evening at the Contra-Dance allowed me to personally experience its powerful effects. Letting myself go and having fun made the dancing easy, it also allowed to connect with the other dancers more. In the moment, it didn’t matter than this was my first time dancing or that I was dancing with women my mothers’ age. It was about losing my inhibitions in new social interactions. I was rewarded for being myself and taking part in the dancing, which wouldn’t be the norm in our society. I hope that the Contra-dance inspires other participatory events in the community. These situations inspire humans to connect on many different levels which is a rare occurrence in our culture.   

Irish Music at the Runcible Spoon

Tonight I had the opportunity to witness participatory music in action at the Runcible Spoon restraint. While entering the building I was greeted by the soft timbre of an Irish singer. I felt at once that this place had a great sense of belonging. The group of men sitting around a table played instruments such as the Irish flute, Irish bouzoubi, fiddle, accordion, and bodrah. Their playing inspired me to be more open and friendly with my classmates. By creating music in a communal setting these musicians inspire the sharing of ideas and values in Bloomington.

                The setup of the Irish “band” was incredibly casual. They sat with instruments in hand around a table in the corner. They had lots of empty glasses and blended in with the rest of the restaurant patrons. Every ten minutes or so they would dive into an Irish tune, illuminating the atmosphere. I would label the performance as successional. One member would start a song off and each would join in as they felt comfortable. My ears weren’t used to this style, but their music had a relaxing quality and encouraged me to open up. Through communicating and sharing ideas the musicians would decide which tunes to play in each of their “sets.” The group had no identified leader and each person would contribute equally to the music being created. I came to a conclusion that this small gathering of men represented something more than having fun on a Tuesday night. Their presence showcased Bloomington’s strong sense of community. By communicating with other people, we can all create and share ideas. Whether through music, art, or dance - freedom of expression is a vital part of the human experience.

                Besides learning that the Runcible Spoon has absolutely delicious food, I was intrigued with experiencing participatory music first hand. It surprised me that the musicians never rehearsed together and there was no pressure to show off or be the best at anything. This activity pinpoints an important characteristic of this community. This is place where individual contribution is valued more than the amount of talent he or she possesses. What these musicians appeared to value more was their time spent with each other. By meeting every week, they form friendships have regular exposure to the community. This way they consistently highlight music’s importance to Bloomington and the world. If live music was played everywhere, I think people would enjoy life a little more. Imagine seeing a musician at the grocery store or the BMV. By introducing people to different forms of live music, society becomes more connected and open minded .This experience leads me to believe that music could be used for other purposes than entertainment.

                Even though I have only lived in Bloomington for a week, I already know so much about how the community functions here. My experiences at the farmer’s market, IFS coffeehouse, and the Runcible Spoon have given me a new perspective on my role in society. I now have a lot of motivation to make a contribution to this community much like the Irish musicians do every week. The open atmosphere here really allows me to be whoever I want and find my niche at this school and in the world.

                

I Love Hip-Hop in Morocco

The rise of hip-hop music’s popularity in modern day Morocco has triggered multiple responses from its citizens. The younger generation embraces rap as a promoter of free speech and expression. Yet, much of the older generation views hip hop as dirty and sinful. The documentary “I Love Hip-Hop in Morocco” focuses on this music as a form of unification amongst Moroccan youth. By participating in a series of three music festivals artists such as Mot de Passe and DJ Key promote freedom of expression to huge audiences. The effect of these concerts embodies the younger generation’s discontent with the intolerant society in which they live.

                The faces of Moroccan hip-hop represent a society deprived of the right to free speech. It is a much different world than the United States. A king presides over all government operation, which is heavily guided by the principles of Islam. Strict Muslims view hip-hop as an invasion of American culture in their country and label its fans as thugs. Mot de Passe is a rap group led by a French-speaking female rapper – Fati. Many people criticize and doubt her capabilities because of her gender. However Fati is just as much a rapper as any of the male recording artist in Morocco. Her lyric-filled notebooks and inspiration taken from Eminem are what the documentary identifies her with. She attends school and only gets to perform if she gets high enough grades according to her parents. She earns respect by taking pride in who she is and demonstrating her skills. Another prominent face of Moroccan hip-hop is DJ Key. He left his job at an architecture firm to pursue a career in music. Now DJ Key organizes, funds, and provides entertainment for parties throughout the city. He does this in order to make a living, but it directly conflicts with his religious beliefs. The film captures the struggle DJ Key faces knowing the music he creates in deemed sinful by so many. His situation is seen in a majority of Moroccan youth. Many are forced to choose between living by the strict standards of Islam or the radical lifestyle of hip-hop.

                 The emergence of hip-hop in Morocco represents how America’s culture has diffused around the world. “I Love Hip-Hop in Morocco” captures aspects of American influence towards young Moroccans. The ways performers dress and interact with the audience directly mirrors this originally American art form. Organizers of the I Love Hip-Hop in Morocco concert were forced to seek sponsors. They initially approached Coca Cola and the American embassy in Morocco. These two main sponsors further show the Moroccan’s reliance on America. The government’s involvement with the music festival amplifies its presence in underdeveloped societies. With the war and U.S.’s military occupation of the Middle East many Arabs view Americans in a bad light. By supporting peaceful music performances America sends a more positive message to the Islamic community.

                With the development of the information super-highway America’s influence has reached nearly all parts of the Earth. Its music, clothing, and industry specifically appeal to younger generations. Most of these ideas directly counter the traditional practices of many countries, thus inspiring negative political views or actions towards the United States. Artists in foreign countries latch onto these fresh ideas and communicate their feelings through a new style of music. America’s role in globalization serves to create communities linked by music and freedom of expression.      

Analyzing Our Perception of Arabic Society: "Reel Bad Arabs"

What we find entertaining says a lot about who we are and what we value. Industries focus on inspiring specific emotions and attracting an audience to earn a profit. But a lot of the time we don’t think about the prolonged effect of certain content. In the documentary Reel Bad Arabs filmmakers examine Hollywood’s depiction of Arabic culture in American cinema. These movies inspire opinions that develop outside of the theater and have formed a negative connation associated with Arabic society. Throughout the documentary I recognized nine films. I also realized that I have watched most of them with my family and enjoyed them. Yet after rethinking the message conveyed from these films I realize they have contributed to my perception of the Arabic culture. Movies such as Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, and Aladdin characterize the Arab race as violent, insensitive and less developed than American society.

            Perhaps something I hadn’t thought of before was Hollywood’s display of Arabic women. In most movies they are visualized a disrespected and suppressed cohort of society, when actually the Arab culture is transforming itself to empower women. Today the majority of college students are women and films do little to display women as businesswomen or loving mothers. In the age of American female empowerment and independence, I would expect to see some translation of that into film. Yet we still see cloaked representations of women in many street scenes of movies. Another interesting idea from the film is how Islam is inaccurately represented as a religion. The main practice of Islam is to love and serve God unconditionally. Yet Muslims have been depicted in American movies as violent, vengeful human beings set out to destroy anyone who believes differently. I think that by characterizing Islam this way we hinder our capability of understanding and learning from alternate processes of thinking. The radical group of Islam extremists that perform acts of terror is what many Americans perceive all Muslims to be like. Since we are constantly exposed to the latest new about terrorist groups on the news, we forget about the rest of the innocent civilians. Because of this we have become desensitized witnessing death on our television screens and this is why violence is so prevalent in today’s entertainment industry. Judging an entire race based on one group of radicals is unfair. Imagine if the rest of the world perceived Americans as members of the KKK.   

            Since the attack on the World Trade Center, America has occupied the Middle East. I have grown up visualizing the region as an area that cannot control itself and requires military presence to assure my safety. By repeating the idea that Arabic society is somehow less developed and extremely radical, we index evil and acts of terror with that culture. Film studios capitalize on the fact that they can perceive Arabs as the enemy while America maintains dominance over them. My reaction to these films over time has been incredibly positive, I love action movies were the hero triumphs over his foe. It entertains me, so does that mean I’m subliminally forming an idea of what all of Arabic society must be like? In a way, yes, because that’s the only exposure I ever get to that world. How else am I supposed to perceive life on the other side of the Earth without witnessing it myself? I think filmmakers and news sources have a huge responsibility for accurately depicting events all around the world, and they usually only focus on what will the get most viewers or what can be produced with a certain budget. Unfortunately that almost always means violence.

            This documentary really opened my eyes to America’s depiction of Arabic culture. In some of my favorite movies its society is depicted as one that encourages violence, suppresses women, and is less developed than America. In reality the culture of Muslims is one of peace and connection with God, and one that encourages the education of women and their rights to work. My limited exposure to the culture of Islam has caused me to form negative connotations with its society. Along with millions of other Americans, I have learned most of what I know about the outside world through films and textbooks.              

Consequences for depicting the Middle East in this fashion include long lasting psychological impact. The purpose of America’s occupation is to eventually restore society to a balanced, democratic form of government. Yet the struggle with the War on Terror has only frustrated Americans more. Negative connotations pertaining to Arabs have altered our perception of them forever. Even if the countries of the Middle East establish solid governments and work to create peace, our society will always hold onto the dramatized depictions on the silver screen.

                

Shut Up and Sing!

Immediately following the attack on the World Trade Center, America developed a mindset of intense patriotism. This collective nationalism made people incredibly sensitive and frustrated towards anything opposing the United States or its leader. Songs Such as Toby Kieth’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” idealize the country’s revengeful state of mind. Massive support for George W. Bush and the country’s redemption was reflected in the media, internet, and music. These influences quickly led to the American citizen’s support for a war in the Middle East: a war that would later be criticized for its lack of progress.

In class we discussed country music’s role in American culture. That it embodies the “real” American way of life and values. Diehard country fans have a certain social stigma attached to them. They are from the south and have conservative ideologies. Many politicians use country music at their campaign rallies to increase their appeal and attract voters, while musicians use their music to communicate the American way of life. After September eleventh, many people in this cohort responded with anger and a desire for revenge. Thus, they supported George W. Bush’s efforts to declare a war on terror. Many of the country stars at the time produced songs that glorified the American way of life and demonized anyone who challenged it. This music sent the message that whoever was responsible for the terrorist attacks must pay for their actions. The tidal wave of support for the war is what caused president Bush’s approval rating to skyrocket. The documentary “Shut Up and Sing!” follows one the most successful groups in country music history - The Dixie Chicks - as they defend their right to free speech and role in the music industry.

At a 2003 concert in London, lead singer Natalie Maines made the comment, “were ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” By simply stating her point of view in public, she indirectly changed the course of the Dixie Chick’s musical career. While many recording artists such as Toby Kieth and Daryl Worley promoted the war, the Dixie Chicks stood against it, immediately alienating them from their pro-Bush fan base. Fans quickly turned on the Chicks, banning their music and labeling them as anti-American. These actions lead to a bigger question in society. Is the idea of free speech respected or even valued? Why shouldn’t an artist be allowed to express their own opinion during a performance? People have always differed with their opinions of everything, especially the president. Yet the timing of the Dixie Chick’s statement with America’s newfound nationalism and awareness led to the widespread backlash throughout the country.

The tumultuous controversy surrounding the Dixie Chicks is an indication of music’s prominence in American society. Popular artists receive heavy exposure through all forms of media and are looked to as idols by millions around the world. Therefore, their actions and ideas influence a broad spectrum of people. This explains why musicians have played key roles in many American political movements such as the civil-rights movement and the ongoing gay-rights initiative. Specific artists often perform and speak at rallies and marches. By doing so, these musicians represent a specific group of humans and the idea that unifies them. For example, many artists have been involved in promoting the political action of the gay-rights movement. Marriage for same – sex couples is only recognized in eight states and is illegal in the rest. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, and Elton John use their spheres of influence to promote the idea of equality for all. By raising awareness of this issue in American politics, these musicians have helped to change our society. The song “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga has sold over eight million copies worldwide. In it she promotes acceptance of all different people and cultures. By communicating this idea through her music she has single handedly exposed a prejudice often overlooked in our society. Throughout history, musicians are identified with an idea that they stand for. Any American political movement can be identified with a certain style of music, which indicates how profound an affect it can have in changing the way people think.

Through the course of the United States’ 236 year history countless political movements, wars, and technological advancements have shaped our perception of society. Today the speed at which information travels is directly linked to the role music plays in our lives. We look to our favorite musicians for ideas and emotions that drive our way of thinking. In contemporary politics music has gathered support for war by inspiring vengeance. Yet it has also promoted acceptance and freedom of expression for diverse cultures everywhere. These effects demonstrate the presence and importance of music in our lives, and how it shapes the future.  

The Bloomington Farmer's Market

I had an incredible experience at the Bloomington farmers market today! This was the first time I had been to something like it and I learned a lot about this community and how it functions. Everywhere I looked families shopped for food, casually chatted with each other, and attempted to control their crazy children. I also noticed how a lot of the stands were run by entire families. Both elderly and young women worked at a peach stand I purchased from and one man ate the walnuts he was selling at every meal in his house. Each family represented themselves by the product they were selling and they took pride in the fact that they were known for a specific product. A similar concept can be seen throughout different cultures and their music. Different styles and sounds of music are identified with different regions of the world, just like food. Whatever these farmers bring to the market contributes to the vibrant diversity created in this small area. Even though all of the vendors sold different things, they were all friendly people. They didn't let their differing products become an excuse for unhealthy competition or jealousy. The farmers market represents a way for this community to gather and celebrate its diversity; much like participatory music would in another part of the world.

As I ventured around the market I noticed various sources of music. There was an “official” looking gazebo were microphones and speakers were set up yet unfortunately no one was performing in it. Overall I saw 4 performances; one jazz group, a banjo player, a double bass/guitar duo, and a man playing ukulele with a dancing parrot named Charlie. All of these performers practiced the presentational form of music making as audiences stood by and watched. I could interact with the performers, but I did not give any contribution to the musicians. Having the instrumentation in the atmosphere gave me more energy and made me stay in the area longer. By purchasing things at the farmers market I gave my contribution to this participatory event. This gathering symbolizes the importance of including everyone and celebrating Bloomington’s diverse community.  

Here is a map I drew of the Bloomington Farmer's Market: