Microsoft Word - Document7
Homework 1
1. Of the photographs below, which one best represents your idea of “American Music?” Why?
2. How would you define “American”? Is it about place of birth? Heritage? Citizenship?
1.
2.
3.
What Constitutes “American Music”
& “American Culture?
3.
1.
4.
2.
Answer these questions:
• Which photo best represents what you would call “American music” and
why (how are you defining American music?)
• What type/style of music does each represent (what kind of music do
you imagine each of the musicians would perform?)
Takaki and Multiculturalism
• American history includes many people of
non-European origin
• Multiculturalism – representation of
society made up of multiple racial or
cultural group
• Awareness and promotion of diversity to
ectify racial disparity
• Understanding how histories of multiple
groups are interconnected.
• History is subjective and political
XXXXXXXXXX
Identity
• who I am / who we are” (group)
• Links you to some while simultaneously distinguishing you from
others
• all identities are constructs
• subjectively defined, never neutral
• relational to dominant culture
• Requires markers/emblems
Ethnicity
• is the result of a group formation process based on culture and descent.
• is about group identity.
• Ethnic identity is relational
• How a group differentiates itself FROM others
• How a group is differentiated BY others
Historical Factors Informing Identity
1. Conditions of departure: forced/voluntary
2. Conditions of a
ival: expectations of culture, climate, work, etc.
3. Experiences after a
ival: existing legislation, work opportunities, housing,
peer groups, etc.
REPRESENTATION
• Is a practice that produces culture
• Culture is about shared meanings
• Meanings are shared through our common access to language
• Language is the privileged medium in which we ”make sense” of
things
LANGUAGE
• Not just words
• Signs and symbols too!
• Constructs meaning
• Signifying practice
• Representational system when
we share common conceptual
maps
•
MEANING
• Is produced not found
• circulates through different processes and practices
• Representation is part of the process by which meaning is
produced
• Produced within culture
Discourse
• A group of statements which provide a language for talking about a
particular topic
• Production of knowledge through language
• Influences how ideas are put into practice
Classical Popula
Complex Simple
Difficult Accessible
Demanding Easy
Intellectual Body
Transcendent Functional
Cult of Genius and Fleeing
Masterpieces For the masses
“Choro is a type of music that requires talent and competence from
instrumentalists”…
…“electric guitarists accustomed to the poverty of rock and similar
music shouldn’t try to play it lest they risk cramps in their fingers.
Another suggestion is for instrumentalists that are looking to develop
themselves using resources offered by American music: play choro, for it
is richer than you can imagine” (Ca
al, 1973)
“Young people are completely wrapped up in the process of massification
from foreign pop music, to the detriment of the legitimate art of the
country” (Department of Culture, Rio, 1979).
Choro (post 1970s)