[FA Worldmusic] categorically labelled

[Steve Hochman]

damn language! if only we could communicate telepathically we  
wouldn't have these problems. it's all evolution's fault.

;-)


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http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
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On Aug 15, 2007, at 2:36 PM, Kutay Kugay wrote:

> I agree that the meaning of the term "world music" is nebulous. Yet  
> it has come to mean something to some people, especially in certain  
> geographic/demographic areas.
>
> I prefer the term "music of the world" essentially meaning (music  
> originating from the peoples of the entire world) not necessarily a  
> genre but a description.
>
> Kutay
>
> On Aug 15, 2007, at 2:06 PM, Steve Hochman wrote:
>
>> and some of the technical terms that are floated here for discussing
>> music really only have meaning in context. and what is that context?
>> it's reference points, be they comparisons to other music ("the band
>> had a Stones-like sound") or a category.
>>
>> The problem is that the term "world music" really means nothing.
>> "Blues"? sure, we can identify some essential characteristics that
>> apply. "Reggae"? ditto. "Jazz" has become more complicated, but still
>> by and large gives some sense of what's being talked about, at least
>> as a starting point. But what are the essential characteristics of
>> "world music"?
>>
>>
>>
>> -----------------------------------
>> Check out my column:
>> http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
>> -----------------------------------
>>
>> On Aug 15, 2007, at 2:00 PM, Paul Harding wrote:
>>
>>>>> So in the end, if we eliminate labels and categories,
>>>>> how do we talk about music?
>>>>
>>>> Easy: talk about _music_. Rhythm, harmony, melody,
>>>> instrumentation,
>>>> arrangement, composition, structure, timbre,
>>>> functionality, etc.  etc.
>>>
>>> Most people don't have the background/knowledge to talk
>>> about music in these terms.  Many music writers don't even
>>> use this sort of academic language well, if at all. (maybe
>>> they don't trust their audience to understand it?)
>>>
>>> I look forward to a year where this topic doesn't come up.
>>>
>>> Labels/categories suck, but it's a huge part of how people
>>> communicate.  Whether it be the dualistic "music is either
>>> good or bad", the geographic category of nation, stylistic
>>> category of genre, or something that doesn't have a
>>> literal meaning but a reasonably understood meaning like
>>> "world music", we categorize to communicate.
>>>
>>> -Paul
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