Saturday, September 02, 2006

Cultural Progression

How do we, as a culture, define our differences with previous cultures. Do we define it by our use of technology? I don't think we can. There are cultures that have advanced technology, yet have similar cultures to their ancestors who didn't have such technology. I think we have to find something that shows motion, not advancement. To that end, I propose we use music. It appears to me, that music is the definition of culture. In other words, by sharing music, you share your culture. By blending music, you blend your culture. Furthermore, music is always changing and adapting. It blends the past into something completely new and unexpected. Music seems to define our progression. Music defines our culture. Explore that concept and let me know what you think.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Jazz and Blues give way into Rock and Roll Rhythms, which then permeate there way into Country/Western and Southern Rock is born. The listeners mellow with age and find there way back to the Classics, where they find some of the inspirations for Ragtime, Dixieland and Jazz is born again, passing into the Blues. (and when at last Rap is buried beneath the tombs of long forgotten kings of old, there will be much rejoicing)

The one thing I don't like about your analogy is that culture lasts; music is thing of trends and fashion. A people will pass through trends and they will live in a culture. As a teen I listened to Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Who, Molly Hatchet and Leonard Skynard. And these stars were ‘happening’ and ‘original’ until I grew up and listened to BB King and Hank Williams and found that the idols of my youth were mere (or at least near) plagiarist of those that came before. No, that is less than fair, for each was inspired by their predecessors. Clapton is a giant, standing on the shoulders of other Giants (BB King, Muddy Waters, Louis Armstrong etc. etc.)