Contra Dancing and the Participatory Experience

Participatory music has been a significant topic throughout this course, because of its values and influence in a culture. This type of music takes pride in getting people involved, not in making "quality" music. A successful participatory event is judged by how many people participate, with the ultimate goal being to have people feel a state of flow and enjoy themselves. Participatory music is largely popular in non industrial countries, and consists of repetitive music tunes and the ability to easily join in. Contra dancing is one of the few participatory activities one can feel in the United States, and it is an experience unlike any other.

As a class we went contra dancing tonight to experience what a true participatory event is like. I assumed that contra dancing would be like any other dance for me, which usually includes a sense of peer judgement and an overwhelming feeling of awkwardness. Instead though, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with smiles and laughs every time I made a mistake, and to get helpful advice when I was obviously confused in the motions. Usually experts are annoyed to be hindered by such a large group of beginners, but everyone seemed to enjoy having us around never once did I feel out place or embarrassed about my lack of skill. The crowd of casual contra dancers was just glad to have new people involved, sharing in an activity they all seemed passionate about. By the repetitive, up beat music, the cheerful participants, and the casual attire, it would be obvious to anyone that the goal of contra dance is not to impress anyone, or be the center of attention, but to have a good time.

During this escapade, I experienced a feeling unlike any I have ever had before. I was reminded of a time as a child where I could behave how ever I wanted and not be concerned about how I appear to others. This nostalgic moment helped me feel the state a flow I have read so much about, to feel as if there were no boundaries, obstacles, or problems. It's apparent to me now why participatory music is valued among the Shona people, and now I wonder that if everyone could experience a state of flow like I did tonight, would anything even change? Would people seek out this feeling, even if it meant changing the music they have been accustomed to, and going to events unlike the concerts people appreciate today? Participatory music could change the world if it could ever be recognized and sought after like today's popular presentational music. Regardless of what the world does though, I'm still looking forward to my next contra dance session.

For Love or Money

Many societies and cultures today are judged by what makes them unique and significant, compared to a modern day society in industrialized countries. Specifically, the musical practices of a culture is a major determining factor of significance. These musical practices are able to influence society because they are a window to help better display the values and morals of that community. By going to a traditional pop culture based concert, the values of presentational music can be understood and appreciated. If one attends a Shona mbira ceremony in Zimbabwe, then participatory music and its values would be present. The musical practice a society chooses to associate with is similar to one choosing a religious practice. Both decisions are based on the values, purpose, and goals that one can relate to, or wants to be associated with.

In my final days in this class, the concept of "Global Citizenship" has been coming up frequently. We discussed it's meaning, what it is to be a global citizen, and I've come to this understanding. A global citizen is one who recognizes that they are a part of multiple cultures and communities all over the world, not just locally. An example of a global citizen could be a man who has associations with different groups and organizations locally, but also understands that he has an indirect relationship with citizens in other countries. This indirect relationship comes from the globalization of capitalism, and that how this man spends his money very well could dictate if a person in Indonesia keeps their job. This understanding and realization of how local behavior can effect others on a global scale is key to being a global citizen.

If one does come to recognize that they are a global citizen, this person has a new sort of control on what happens in the world. They have a rare perspective to see how their decisions of spending money, can influence different aspects of different societies. Because of capitalism, money is a definite factor to progress. If a town, or company, or country wants to develop they need to somehow raise money. Obtaining revenue and income can happen hundreds of different ways, but one of the primary methods is to utilize money gained from consumers. They will ask for your support, they will try and sell you a product, whatever their method they want your money as a means of survival. Many don't notice that this dependance on money puts consumers at a position of power. As a consumer, where you spend your money potentially determines what develops and what does not. If you wish to see your town grow and become a more pleasant place, then spend your money in local shops or farmer's markets. This keeps the money circulating locally and increases the quality of that town. Local shopping may not seem very influential in the short term, but in the long term, it greatly increases the quality of life in that area. If you spend your money on corporations or big businesses, then you are giving them the ability to spend your money however they wish. This relationship usually results in instant gratification for the consumer, but in the long run does not benefit the consumer at all.

As a global citizen, it is our responsibility to spend our money wisely. To put our money towards organizations or communities that benefit the quality of life for all people, not just investors or corporations. By applying our money to the right causes for the right reasons, it's possible that everyone can go from being individual global citizens, to becoming a global community.

After watching the documentary, The Punks are Alright, I've came to some realizations of how the punk culture affects other nations around the world. Specifically, the movie referenced Brazil and Indonesia as countries that utilize punk music in a beneficial manner. Each country contained problems of their own, such as, drug trafficking, oppression, crime, and poverty. The citizens of these countries live in such hostile environments that just trying to survive is a difficult task. Most citizens choose to keep to themselves for fear of being assaulted or losing their job, assuming that the citizen in question is even employed. This type of environment dictates how people behave, and limits the time and location where anyone can truly be who they are.

As a response to this environment, many of the younger generation have picked up punk music as inspiration. Punk music gives them hope for change, and an outlet to express themselves. It has become more than just music, but a tool to assist the youth in becoming something greater. The documentary mentioned how children are employed by the cartel to traffic drugs and do their bidding, as a means of employment. Families need their children to work and assist with costs, but there are not enough jobs for everyone, so the kids are forced to take any type of work they can to survive. Punk music as become an inspiration for the youth culture to defy what the cartel wants, and as a result, keep kids off the streets.

The artists interviewed in this documentary discussed many topics that I connected with. Their views on how religion is perceived in society and music as a means of escape from the world, are two subjects  that I personally relate to. To start, religion in both Brazil and Indonesia is a topic most citizens avoid. They keep their religious views to themselves for fear of starting trouble. I share in that quality, as I don't like to discuss my religious views either. People tend to be more sensitive when discussing religion, so when the instance of two people discussing opposing religious views occurs, it tends to result in an intense argument. I'm one to avoid such conflict, so I avoid talking about religion all together. Using music as a means of escape is common practice all over the world, and is depicted well in this documentary. Brazilians and Indonesians alike are utilizing punk music as a method in which they break away from their everyday lives as oppressed citizens, and become a part of a community that supports individuality and opposition. Even though I don't suffer from oppression and struggle with survival, I still use music to escape every day stresses. It's not uncommon to find myself mesmerized by music after a long day at school or at work. My problems may not be as severe as others, but music still helps me cope with them.

In class we discussed how one of the artists in the film, Dolly, is a factory worker, and depends on his job to survive. He has a job because some corporation wanted cheap labor, and Indonesia has no labor laws. Indonesia has no labor laws because they are wanting to entice corporations to build factories and provide a new means of revenue for the government. Because there are no labor laws intact, workers get paid very little and as a result the company makes an exponential profit. As consumers, we control what sells, and what does not. If consumers chose not to buy items manufactured from Indonesia, corporations wouldn't have a reason to stay there, and as a result Dolly would be out of a job. In a way, consumers in America control what happens to workers in other countries. This relationship is a direct model of how Capitalism runs different parts of the world. In America, citizens reap the benefits of Capitalism. While in Indonesia, the citizens are suffering the repercussions.

While at the local farmer's market this weekend, I observed the community and found many qualities there that one might find in participatory music. I first found that the goals of the merchants' isn't what I expected. Because of the relationship of buying and selling a product, I figured the merchants would show characteristics that fit high fidelity music. Instead, I found that the merchants appreciated just having people come out to market, even if they weren't investing in their product. Of course the merchants there want to make a profit, but more than that, they also want people to support and be involved in the local businesses, instead of contributing to corporations. 

I also found that musicians congregated around the businesses/groups that can relate to their music. As an example, I saw a folk band centered around the merchants selling corn, vegetables, meat, or other farm produce. Then I saw a duo playing more up beat, new age music near the smoothie and bakery booth. Individual musicians found places that were spread out away from the larger acts, but still next to booths that further encouraged their genre of music. This quality displayed how bands chose to associate with those who appreciated their genre, while at the same time, segregating themselves  from those who would find their music distasteful. In that same respect, merchants were setting themselves near bands they could appreciate. Both, musicians and merchants, made a gain from one another by contributing to the attraction of consumers. By choosing to associate and be located near one another, they attracted consumers who share the same interests, and as a result they increased their opportunity to make a profit (high fidelity) and increased the number of participants at the market (participatory).

In conclusion, I found that our local farmer's market is both a high fidelity and participatory event. The merchants judge their individual success by their profit and sales, but judge their success as a community of farmers by how many people attend the market. Below, is a map of how I saw the market. I mapped out the different concentrations of people, the different booths, and different musicians.

The 4 Fields of Music

Participatory music has been one of our main topics lately and it's a field that is not as popular to the United States compared to the other fields of music. The videos I've embed here show how two different parts of the world use participatory music. My first video displays how Zimbabwean children are creating a rhythm, beat, and dance for others to join in. My second video is about the 2008 Guinness World Record for the biggest wave. The two videos may seem quite unrelated but they each share participatory values in the sense that their success is based from the amount of participants. The Zimbabwe video is the typical example that we've been studying, but the wave displays how American culture has assimilated this ideal into a popular mid-sport activity to keep the crowd entertained and involved. The wave really shows that even Americans can accept participatory values to an extent. If these values could become the new popular it would redefine entertainment in America. People would be paying to be a part of the concert and sing along as one huge group, instead of paying to watch a band perform.

Presentational Music is one of the most popular fields in modern American society. We take value in going to see a group or individual artist perform, because we experience an abstract sense of flow. What I mean is that we take enjoyment out of watching others do things, instead of doing things

ourselves. We allow someone else's actions put us in this state of timelessness, rather than participating in some way and find experiencing communitas. The video above details what we look for in our top artists in America. It's what people want to see when they attend a pop concert, and its generally part of the experience people pay for. These additions to the concert give some people an overwhelming feeling of excitement, which is a way they reach their state of flow. If pop culture such as this became less desired, there would be no pyrotechnics, no confetti cannons, no need for flashy lights and clothes, because there wouldn't be anyone to support the costs. This field of music thrives through Capitalism  so if money was to become scarce, this field could crumble from the huge industry it is today, into the equivalent of a local county fair.

High Fidelity music refers to recorded music, such as mp3's, cd's, ect. High Fidelity music is extremely popular in the modern world because of it's convenience to consumers. Music can be bought online for a cheap price, or downloaded for free through music sharing websites, and then be made accessible by multiple different electronic devices. Most people carry music on their phone, computer, or in their cars,  which means that consumers have music available at any time they'd like. This one of the largest aspects of the entertainment industry and would change modern life drastically if never discovered. If music recordings were never made, people would be more likely to either create their own music, or go find someone who plays. This would result in more people participating in musical activities to get their need of music, instead of relying on someone else's abilities to entertain them. It would be sad to lose the instant access to my favorite bands, but it could lead the world into a rebirth of the music industry, and bring out some new talent that would otherwise go undiscovered.

Studio Audio Art is the final field of music, and it refers to music that can only be created over electronic devices and studio equipment.  This type of music fits the genre of dubstep or techno and is becoming increasing popular in concerts. This music would be a drastic change in the music industry if it ever reached the popularity of today's top artists. This music doesn't require full teams or groups to make the music, it can be solely created by an individual and a computer. If Studio Audio Art became the main outlet of music, solo artists and bands would be out of jobs or be forced to adjust their music accordingly. The producer would gain all the profits from their music instead of dividing the profits to the band and other faculty. This field would be the most profitable method of music creation if it could reach the same level of popularity that pop music has today.

My Music Moment

Attending a concert was one of my huge goals in high school. I had a lot of bands I wanted to go see, and I always heard the best stories from going to concerts, but my schedule never allowed for it or I didn't have the money. It seemed like there was always something in the way. It wasn't until my Junior year that I finally was able to go to concert and see my favorite band at that time, Imagine Dragons. The concert had AWOL NATION headlining, an up and coming rapper named ZEALE opening, and then Imagine Dragons as the act in between.

ZEALE was an awesome intro to the concert. His music was interesting and loud, he got the crowd involved during his songs, he even did a free style that I still swear by as one of the coolest moments of my life! But what I really appreciated about ZEALE was the opportunity to see how a crowd typically acts at a concert. The crowd was iconic, and resembled crowds that I had seen online or in movies. There were people who would push their way to the front, people who would stay close to bar and get obnoxiously intoxicated, and then there were people like me. The ones who stayed in the middle and didn't seem to be noticed at all. Finding a nice place to be comfortable and not bothered by others was how I was nurtured as a kid, and as a result I ended up being closer to the back of the crowd so I wouldn't have to worry about getting in people's way or bothering anyone. The whole concert scene was new to me so I felt out of place, like an outsider, until Imagine Dragons came on stage.

I didn't know what to expect once the music actually started. The lights went dim, the crowd went silent, and the band started up with heavy fog and deep drums. I can't remember everything they played or in what order but I remember that I felt more relaxed to have a familiar band on stage, and feel like a part of the crowd. Looking back, Imagine Dragons had qualities similar to a participatory performance, as they focused on getting the crowd singing, moving, excited, and feeling a sense of "flow". Their total set was about 45 minutes or so and I loved every minute of it. The sense of flow I experienced had me singing along, waving my hands, and pushing my way to get closer. At the time I would never make myself more noticed than a fly, but at that moment I forgot about being the new guy and decided to join everyone else.

After they played their set, we heard they'd be at the merchandise table for autographs, so as complete fanboys we went and purchased their shirts, then got them signed ASAP. That shirt is to this day an index to what I great time I had and how I felt while experiencing my first concert.

Music Identity

Today I learned about how the music I listen to can be directly related to my behavior and describe me as a person. As part of an assignment I've been asked to find music that describes me, and to my surprise it's been accurate. The first song I found is by a group I listen to regularly and is about being your own individual, while also taking part in something much bigger. As a student, it's apparent to me that most of us are our own independent, unique character. I would like to say that I see myself as truly unique person, even if I can't sing or dance. As a whole student body, we are a mass with common purposes and goals. Goals such as achieving a higher education and degree, or trying to better ourselves and other. At least that's how I see it. I feel that whatever the topic or reason there are people I can relate to, and I think finding a group you can proudly be yourself in is the main claim in "This is the House that Doubt Built".

This song is called "Floats my Boat" by Aer. It's a song primarily about enjoying yourself and living care free, which I think a lot of people can relate to. This song applies to me because I usually try to make time for things that I love (like fishing, traveling, and wake boarding) despite what goes on around me, and I'm not one to ever be stressed out. Obviously, there are times I am unable to participate in my favorite activities or I'll find myself stressed but that's just life. One item I specifically relate to in this song is the artist's reference to Arnold Palmer beverages. These drinks remind me of all the times I've hung out with friends while we drank gallons of Arnold Palmer. Although I don't hang on roofs and get twisted, I still relate to the Artist's ideal of having a good time.

This song is called "Homesick" by A Day to Remember, it's about the artist moving on with life outside of his hometown and dealing with change in his life style. Which is perfect in my case because Columbus, Indiana is extremely different from Bloomington. I thought i grew up in a diverse city because of the many immigrants that came to work for Cummins, but Bloomington has so much culture and diversity it's almost hilarious that I ever thought my hometown was at all diverse. In retrospect, Columbus is a moderately sized and integrated community that isn't much different from IU. Besides the fact that IU draws in students from around the world, while columbus is a typical suburbia.

"Weightless" by All Time Low. To me, this song is about taking advantage of opportunities and making the best out of a situation. These characteristics seem regular among many students here at IU, and I hope to join in that crowd. I'm an outgoing guy when it comes to trying new things, and I pretty stoked to test out some of the many activities and opportunities IU has to offer. Also, this music video makes fun of a lot of various cliques, which I think is hilarious because I've always disagreed withe the idea of being in a clique. They just seems like another way to limit yourself and who you associate with.