So, by the same token the short history of European-American music would be from Aaron Copland to Kid Rock ("Pot smokin' beer drinkin' m***** f***** that's me").
I think what bothers about the image (and I do not at all believe you posted it with this intention) is that it's vaguely racist.
There was comparably stupid and intelligent music from different races in 59 as in 08. Similarly, one could find just as clownish pictures of white Americans as black Americans in 08.
I can see what "Anonymous" is getting at... And I also don't think you posted this with any malicious intent.
Think about this, though, wouldn't this image be as effective without the photos and a title of "A short history of popular music"?
Without regard for race or images, the fact that the older music is very complex compared to a single note/monotone in the current music is quite valid.
The image does seem to be motivated by racism. Comparing a *jazz* genius like Coltrane to modern/club party music is ridiculous on so many levels. Coltrane wasn't exactly mainstream music in his time for one thing, while Lil Wayne clearly is. It insinuates that Lil Wayne is the pinnacle of modern black musical culture. Consider how insulting that is to blacks involved *all* different disciplines and genre's of today's music.
Anyway, love the blog, but whoever created that image has issues.
Lil Wayne is a rapper. The heading of the graphic is, "A Short History of Modern African American Music, Expressed in Western Standard Notation." In other words, the illustration for Lil Wayne is the only way you could "score" rap in Western standard notation, since it's spoken rather than sung. I'd be astonished if it had ever occurred to Lil Wayne to write it down this way.
The Lil Wayne "lyric" was chosen for its mindlessness and misogyny. I'm not familiar with his oeuvre, but I suspect this piece of it isn't all that representative.
Seems to me the illustration as a whole is intended as a complaint about the popularity of rap. Whether it's "racist" would depend, I should think, on whether the person who created it was black or white--assuming one is permitted to criticize the accomplishments of one's own race without being considered racist.
I doubt whoever created it, black or white, thought anyone would see it as anything but a bitterly ironic take on rap, as opposed to assuming the creator thought it represented a valid commentary on the whole range of modern African American music. I don't think it makes sense to read any deeper meaning into it than a nasty putdown of rap per se.
I just want to say that I was responsible for Aaron Copland's death. We had a poster in our High School Choir room with his picture on it. It had a birth date, but no death date. That year for All-State Choir Competition we were forced to learn this horrendous piece of Copland's that was nothing more than a mish mash of garbage that someone called "art". In a fit of pique, I wrote that very year on the poster. In three days, Copland was dead.
i think it's wrong to say that the person who did this is racist because he or she obviously respects john coltrane's music (or maybe they're just partly racist, or have started being racist in the sixties...).
i see it as just stating that it's a shame that african american music (which was jazz in that period and is hip hop now) instead of developing further came down to this.
Of course there are a lot of african american artists nowadays who make great music but we don't hear a lot about them. You hear about lil wayne and, if he weren't black, seeing what he does, i would consider him really really racist.
If most everybody likes something...it is usually not that good. That is why John Coltrane was never mainstream and guys like lil wayne are. Most people can't distinguish, especially in this generation, what is considered amazing music. Really great music always stands the test of time, like John Coltrane. is there anyone naive enough to think anyone is going to remember or ever play lil wayne recordings ten or even five years from now.
So, by the same token the short history of European-American music would be from Aaron Copland to Kid Rock ("Pot smokin' beer drinkin' m***** f***** that's me").
ReplyDeleteYou're right. That is sad.
I (fortunately) don't know that music. Is it also monotonic like the one shown? Or just comparable re lyrics?
ReplyDeleteBoth, actually.
ReplyDeleteI think what bothers about the image (and I do not at all believe you posted it with this intention) is that it's vaguely racist.
There was comparably stupid and intelligent music from different races in 59 as in 08. Similarly, one could find just as clownish pictures of white Americans as black Americans in 08.
I don't think it's racist. Musically snobbish, maybe, but not racist.
DeleteBTW, enjoy your site.
ReplyDeleteFirst comment shouldn't seem like a complaint, and I hope you know I didn't mean it that way.
I can see what "Anonymous" is getting at... And I also don't think you posted this with any malicious intent.
ReplyDeleteThink about this, though, wouldn't this image be as effective without the photos and a title of "A short history of popular music"?
Without regard for race or images, the fact that the older music is very complex compared to a single note/monotone in the current music is quite valid.
The image does seem to be motivated by racism. Comparing a *jazz* genius like Coltrane to modern/club party music is ridiculous on so many levels. Coltrane wasn't exactly mainstream music in his time for one thing, while Lil Wayne clearly is. It insinuates that Lil Wayne is the pinnacle of modern black musical culture. Consider how insulting that is to blacks involved *all* different disciplines and genre's of today's music.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, love the blog, but whoever created that image has issues.
Lil Wayne is a rapper. The heading of the graphic is, "A Short History of Modern African American Music, Expressed in Western Standard Notation." In other words, the illustration for Lil Wayne is the only way you could "score" rap in Western standard notation, since it's spoken rather than sung. I'd be astonished if it had ever occurred to Lil Wayne to write it down this way.
ReplyDeleteThe Lil Wayne "lyric" was chosen for its mindlessness and misogyny. I'm not familiar with his oeuvre, but I suspect this piece of it isn't all that representative.
Seems to me the illustration as a whole is intended as a complaint about the popularity of rap. Whether it's "racist" would depend, I should think, on whether the person who created it was black or white--assuming one is permitted to criticize the accomplishments of one's own race without being considered racist.
I doubt whoever created it, black or white, thought anyone would see it as anything but a bitterly ironic take on rap, as opposed to assuming the creator thought it represented a valid commentary on the whole range of modern African American music. I don't think it makes sense to read any deeper meaning into it than a nasty putdown of rap per se.
I just want to say that I was responsible for Aaron Copland's death. We had a poster in our High School Choir room with his picture on it. It had a birth date, but no death date. That year for All-State Choir Competition we were forced to learn this horrendous piece of Copland's that was nothing more than a mish mash of garbage that someone called "art". In a fit of pique, I wrote that very year on the poster. In three days, Copland was dead.
ReplyDeletei think it's wrong to say that the person who did this is racist because he or she obviously respects john coltrane's music (or maybe they're just partly racist, or have started being racist in the sixties...).
ReplyDeletei see it as just stating that it's a shame that african american music (which was jazz in that period and is hip hop now) instead of developing further came down to this.
Of course there are a lot of african american artists nowadays who make great music but we don't hear a lot about them.
You hear about lil wayne and, if he weren't black, seeing what he does, i would consider him really really racist.
If most everybody likes something...it is usually not that good. That is why John Coltrane was never mainstream and guys like lil wayne are. Most people can't distinguish, especially in this generation, what is considered amazing music. Really great music always stands the test of time, like John Coltrane. is there anyone naive enough to think anyone is going to remember or ever play lil wayne recordings ten or even five years from now.
ReplyDelete