Help With Women?

["Klaus Oldanburg [tm]" <diskono@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hola

I  seek assistance in satisfying the demands of my academic masters.  I am
looking for some thoughts on the participatory (or non) role of women in
experimental electronic music (performers and spectators). Before you all
GROAN, I know this is a subject is on eternal <loop> on many music lists, so
please answer off list.

Also I know this is rather (to say the least) reductive field as I am not
concerned with pop, rock, classical music etc...so don't point that out;-)

Specific points to address...

1. The ratio of men to women in experimental electronic music is
disproportionately high compared to other experimental artforms, such as
visual arts, photography, dance. Can it simply be true that women are just
not interested in experimental music or does this really signify something
of major importance?

2. A large percentage of musicians making experimental electronic music are
autodidacts, does this place a gender barrier at the basic level of
education? (e.g. artforms such as visual arts, dance etc that are 50/50
between men and women are to a great extent academically "taught" whilst
most musicians are self-taught or learn from peers, this 'knowledge'
residing in an overtly male culture). To educate oneself means to adopt a
whole "cultural language". Is the cultural language of experimental music so
overtly patriarchal that it is impenetrable to women?. Maybe you could say
that this has an historical basis due to the fact that women were excluded
from intellectual and scientific life until very recent in history?

3. Psychologists may say that whilst men are interested in the basic
<function> of things, women are more interested in the <tactility> of
things. Does this explain the lack of women at experimental music concerts?,
most which seem to be a mind battlefield between male combatants.

4.To how much of an extent do women have to transcend their gender to
"become" electronic musicians?

5. How can this disequilibrium be addressed? Should it be addressed? How muc
h should we as men be
addressing this? Is the correct strategy for women making experimental
electronic music to collectivise (such as Ladyfest in Scotland) and advance
the issue through a combination of argument and force, or is it better to
adopt a more radical strategy? For example someone like Baudrillard would
argue that the real issue that is at stake is 'symbolic' power, "something
women have never lacked", and the best strategy is to get away from female
alienation, rise above the battle of the sexes and dissolve the symbolic
order.

6. Will the 3rd World War be between men and women?

Best

Dr Essay Head. (Male)
_____________________________

"No Scarves! No Kids! No Runners!"

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