Where did this stereotype come from that only “educated” people listen to Jazz and Classical? And what does that even mean? Who exactly qualifies as these educated elite? Does that mean surgeons are as likely to listen to Classical music as literary scholars, and that neither should be listening to Pop if they take themselves at all seriously? And how does that account for people like my step-sister in Alberta, who is “educated,” works in a Dentist’s office, and listens to Nickelback? Or my grandma, who barely finished high school but loves Beethoven? And what about me? Some people may consider me “educated,” and I sometimes listen to Classical, but I never listen to Jazz, and I have Britney Spears and Kanye West on my iPod. The whole thing makes me think of Howard Moon on the TV show The Mighty Boosh — the man who listens to Jazz and fancies himself an intellectual but, really, when you break it right down he’s just a socially awkward, pretentious geek. [It seems like everything in my life these days can be related back to the Boosh... scary.]
I got onto this rant because of a blog post by a friend of mine questioning the musical selection in book stores. I haven’t decided where I’m going to take it yet so I’ll return later with further ranting.
May 14, 2008 at 12:16 am |
I think you misread my post. All I am saying is that the bookstores think that this is the music the educated people listen to, while at the same time they don’t only sell the books that they think the educated people only read…Does this make sense?
Come on…you’ve been a big influence on me…do you really think I’d write something like that? If it comes off wrong in my post, I am sorry. I could edit it, but that is against the rules I have set to myself for this blog.
May 14, 2008 at 6:41 am |
I’d think this distinction (at least in the case of classical music) is an old one. Music evolved away from classical “on the streets,” right? So there was a distinction between music for the elites and music for the masses. Hilariously, this has sort of switched around — in an economic sense — with the commodification of music. It’s now hugely expensive to go see a lot of bands that are music for the people. So then you get a reaction against THAT and you get indie rock and such.
Also, I would argue that there is something to be said for a more refined sense of taste and appreciating something that is “art” versus something that’s a commodity. However, I don’t think this is linked to formal education at all. My sister reads Shakespeare and listens to classical music (amongst other things) and she barely graduated grade 12. So I’d say there IS something to be said for appreciation of music as art and being educated, but it’s not linked to having a lot of university degrees or academic credentials.
But there’s also listening for pure enjoyment/emotion, which is an entirely different thing sometimes. I listen to Bif Naked when I want to be pumped up. My boring ex chastised me for it, saying it was juvenile. But it evokes the emotion I want it to evoke, so I’d say it’s successful.
Early morning nonsensical ranting over.
May 14, 2008 at 9:26 am |
yorgos, i knew exactly what you were saying. i just grabbed on to the marketing stuff you were talking about and took it on my own little tangent. i was ranting on their stereotyping, not yours. know what i mean? don’t edit, you are clear. come on — after all the chat we’ve had about music, could i really mistake you that badly?! and you know i respect the workings of your mind.
erin, agreed, it is an old distinction — which makes it even funnier that classical and jazz is what they choose to line the bookstores with still. mind you, i wonder if that has something to do with the ease with which you can find pop and rock music online now… i don’t know, i don’t spend much time looking for classical or jazz torrents, but maybe it’s not as widely available? i’m going to have to research this a bit.
last night, i took my refined sense of “taste” and applied my little think tank to The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle. i wonder how many of Chapters’ marketing people would recognize the Sex Pistols as art rather than straight up commodity? ah, but this could take me on to a whole other long topic…
i’ve definitely been chastised for listening to cheesy pop too, also by my boring ex. i used to always get that “i thought you were better than this” look/speech. but hey, britney is good sometimes for running. and the cars got me seriously pumped to write my last exam. (that said, i stand by the fact that the cars is good music). i know i’ve come across someone i need to keep in my life when they validate the fact that rihanna just popped up on my rotation and i have a prince cd on in my car.
May 14, 2008 at 9:27 am |
gee, i wonder if my “boring ex” is going to read this.
sorry. kind of.