Mini Essay #1
Electronic music has gained tremendous popularity in recent years, especially among young adults. One subgenre of electronic music, electronic dance music (EDM), has been examined by major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and USAToday, from the point of view of both fans and professional columnists. Although these groups represent diverse backgrounds and attitudes, both emphasize that the draw of EDM is the inclusive culture and community that it fosters. In her article for USAToday, Collegiate Correspondent Chloe Kent explains the pull that EDM has for college students in particular. She points out that EDM is “highly user-interactive” and provides avenues for listeners to engage at multiple levels with the music, whether through leaving feedback for the artist via social media sites or connecting with the artist during live performances. In a similar manner, Wall Street Journalist columnist Holly Finn comments on the connectedness that EDM promotes, noting that “now the tools for creating and performing, producing and distributing [EDM] are even more efficient, widespread and cheaper.”
The ideas expressed by both Kent and Finn reflect the principles of participatory culture, according to Henry Jenkins. Specifically, three characteristics of participatory culture are manifested in EDM: a sense of social connection among members, a belief that members’ contributions matter, and low barriers to participation. Jenkins goes on to state that “the community itself…provides strong incentives for creative expression and active participation.” An article from Billboard by Kerri Mason also affirms the important role that technology and media have played in the rise of EDM. Mason points out “the equalizing quality of the Internet and the social-media generation's intense drive to share everything” as a key driving force behind EDM’s popularity with young adults.
The ideas expressed by both Kent and Finn reflect the principles of participatory culture, according to Henry Jenkins. Specifically, three characteristics of participatory culture are manifested in EDM: a sense of social connection among members, a belief that members’ contributions matter, and low barriers to participation. Jenkins goes on to state that “the community itself…provides strong incentives for creative expression and active participation.” An article from Billboard by Kerri Mason also affirms the important role that technology and media have played in the rise of EDM. Mason points out “the equalizing quality of the Internet and the social-media generation's intense drive to share everything” as a key driving force behind EDM’s popularity with young adults.
Mini Essay #2
The face of R&B is changing. In the last few years, there has been increasing critique about the shifting demographic of R&B artists. A genre of music that is historically black now boasts white artists as some of its most successful. In 2013, for the first time since 1958, no black artists recorded a No. 1 Billboard single. In an article on Pan American World, Dalton Higgins draws a parallel between R&B and other traditionally black genres of music, such as rock’n’roll, that are ingrained in the public mind as being dominated by white artists. It seems that black artists, despite their mainstream popularity, are not reaping the benefits of success as much as their white counterparts. Higgins also points out that these white artists who sit atop the charts, such as Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, and Macklemore, “ape and appropriate these genuine black music forms.” Michael Arcenaux also touches on this topic in his article “Is R&B Having an Identity Crisis.” He talks about the anxiety felt by black artists with regards to their role in R&B music, cited by some as the result of the problem of “in-vogue club pop sounds [having] infiltrated the genre.”
In an era where the lines between genres of music is becoming increasingly faded, and there is seemingly more artist collaborations than ever, how can we distinguish between misappropriation of original forms of music, and innovative musical fusion?
In an era where the lines between genres of music is becoming increasingly faded, and there is seemingly more artist collaborations than ever, how can we distinguish between misappropriation of original forms of music, and innovative musical fusion?