[microsound] Re: Death of Monoculture

[Sarah Kaldor <s.kaldor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello

I have recently joined and am finding the debates interesting. There  
were two in the one on Sunday which relate to each other.
1st is talking about western classical composers not being known in  
Asia and the 2nd about having 1 good quality radio station that  
everyone listens to, resulting in Andrew growing to like Dub and Reggae.

In order for you to know about something you have to be introduced to  
it in some way, by someone else. So if Russian composers aren't know   
by some in Asia it is because these people have not been introduced  
to the music as it is not part of the culture, just as Westerners may  
not be familiar with established Asian composers. If a teacher comes  
from the West to teach music in Asia then an introduction is made,  
just as Andrew was introduced to Dub. Even though it was kind of  
imposed upon him through lack of other choice. It seems contradictory  
but this lack of choice became positive as it broadened horizons.  
However, there is so much out there of varying quality " i don't have  
the time to sift through the dross to find the good stuff". So that  
is where the DJ or expert comes into play, to  choose  the good stuff  
for the rest of us to listen to.  who would have thought that freedom  
of choice with multiple radio and tv channels would mean even more  
dross and less choice as all stations pump out the same middle of the  
road stuff in order to play safe and make money in the increasing  
competition. It is difficult for a station playing alternative music  
to get heard, or funding in the first place to start. There is  
something nice about knowing that most people are listening to the  
same radio station, a sense of community and a common starting point  
for discussion with anyone you meet.

Just one other point, that Russia is a different culture and the  
classical music is a different style from other European countries so  
could be considered just as different to say Britain as Asia. Though  
of course there is a standard system for notating music. There is  
Monoculture (we all wear jeans or similar) but folk culture is very  
localised and differentiates even within a country. I guess society  
swings back and forth between the two. If the world become too  
similar to each other there can be a sense of loosing ones identity  
so old folk traditions and music can be adhered to to create a sense  
identity which in turn can become restricting.

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