It seems miles gone. I can’t explain how tedious this class was; especially the first weeks were just like puzzle to me. Not the subject matter though, the tone of work and the instructions given. To find a page we I have to cross many outlets to reach to the spot. Who can forget the due dates for those assignments? I can be able to remember all of them, every week I have something to knock me down on the last minutes. Thank God I have finalized this course. I am proud of myself, with two kids who need my full attention it was hectic. Even though we have given this much of our effort, I love it for the most part.  It forced me to read and read, it forced me to write on topics I had never experienced nor having knowledge on it. Most importantly it thought me to be punctual, use my potential, to have patience and work diligently. I mostly agree on the idea how this class helped me to improve my writing skills, to learn from my classmates and my instructor. I never had blogging experience, which I love most from this class. For sure I will use this experience for my personal projects…wish me luck please. The coaching experience from Jennifer has tremendous value. She was always right there to help, understanding my situation and most of all for her encouragements for the whole class… especially remember those encouraging words on the announcement page. On one hand I am not that much satisfied on her grading though, I am crossing my fingers she will acknowledge those hard times we had passed in reaching this point. I had also experience in-class instruction, but none of them are comparable to this class demand and effort. The other activity I like most from this class was our peer draft review. It was a marvelous experience reading and sharing my classmates’ paper, their input and the genuine cooperation we had. For that I salute every one of my group members. Our group works were funny though, every one of us was having fun and freedom to say whatever we want. It was our little sanctuary where we support each other. The thesis central place is one of the likable places from this class. We do have easy access to our instructor, meanwhile learning from our classmates. I have mostly challenged by our reading discussion forums, since it was very difficult to me to promote the discussion with a question that will help for further discussion. Probably some of the pages in this class might not be that much important or they may create some kind of confusion especially during the first weeks.  Overall the course was really fantastic in empowering and enriching my writing and reading skills.                     

English 101

Even though online class was not new to me, when I first started this class it was really frustrating. I have read and read the syllabus more often but nothing seems to knock off my head. When I saw something I did not remember where I read it. It took me a while to get used to the material. Of course I made so many mistakes till the past two weeks. The tone of work in each week was another headache for me. I have never had this much assignments in my previous online classes. I guess I have to understand this is college level; I have to fit in that environment. The good thing is I did it, I have placed every bit of my time for this class and I understand I succeeded. I don’t want to skip to other points before I say thank you to Professor Gross. Especially those encouraging words she provided us, makes me to holdfast till the end. At one time I even wrote her an e-mail while I was in an emotion. Later when I read it, it clearly shows how I was frustrated. But she knows how to calm us and how to guide us. For all the support you provided me, words can’t explain but I say thanks in million. Even if the course has a lot of hectic work, it is for good. I never had blogging experience before, blogging I thought is something for someone who is perfect in writing…don’t forget the world wide audience. This course was an eye opening in dealing this thinking. I was able to convene my ideas, to share others thoughts, to learn from others, to argue, to agree and disagree in many phenomenon of writing. I love reading as many blogs as possible; this is how I understand mostly what I should write before I run my fingers on the keyboard. I really like giving responses to my classmates, especially on those who raised controversial ideas. Most of all I love love reading responses forwarded to me; I guess I love feedback from anyone. I have created a new e-mail that was serving for this class only, whenever my email pops-up with any of responses that are provided to me I was totally eager to read. This course really helps me to read and read. It definitely improves my writing ability. I was not good enough to write on subjects I am not familiar with, it is a good thing because of the tension I am now able to write on any topic. It thought me to find additional information from literatures, then I added up my ideas blended with what I read …there goes harmony. For the most part of the group work I love our PDR, it really gave me a short cut to see what my classmates are unto. I love reading their papers and their feedback for me. I mostly have improved my writing skill on the essays; I know most of the topics were very difficult to express them in words. This is the good part of challenge, from it new things grew. The other aspect of this course where I have challenged mostly was the reading discussion forum, imagine for someone who is not accustomed with this nations musicians and music environment, and the prompts ends with questions on musicians which I don’t know. Oh it was a hard time to convene those ideas with mine and prompt a question. But I did it. All in all I have definitely changed for the better, the better writing style, understanding, reading, adding up my vocabularies, and good understanding of the music world.        

Censorship

Censorship

Art is the freedom of expression, the freedom to express ones feeling, the freedom to educate, to inform, and the freedom to connect with. From where is art originated? It is from the reality. The reality it experienced, the reality it lived not from the outer space where mind never explores. Creativity of art solely is the result of ones experience. Music the art of reality touching us with its melodies is the subset of this reality. The reality where society lived upon, the reality society accepts, the reality society ruled and abide. As Plato said “the right sort of music would help to set the soul in harmony rather than discord”. We relate to a music that connects with our sole, with our feeling and our reality. We decline that tells us unreal, since we are not accustomed or we are not comfortable with it. When saying this it doesn’t mean art denies creativity. It highly appreciates it but believes it is no way out from the actual reality. Plato talked about this with essence of the beauty “The beauty of a flower, or a sunset, a piece of music or a love affair, is an imperfect copy of Beauty Itself. In this world of changing appearances, while you might catch a glimpse of that ravishing perfection, it will always fade. It’s just a pointer to the perfect beauty of the eternal.”  For Plato beauty is the Form of “ideal”. He called beauty as "the Really Real". As he said the world of this Form is rational and unchanging and only has reality to the extent that it succeeds in imitating the Forms. This statements asserts we are cultivated with these realities, if an art is discordant of these realities we decline it… this is where censorship comes. This doesn’t mean minorities can shape or influence the general, rather the wholesome of society rule. Specific religious views, customs, ideologies or else can’t or must not direct creativity and destroy their owners. Society always follows the influx of creativity, advancement or change. And not always is stubborn for the beliefs entrenched within. It progressed with an idea for creativity, growth, advancement, respect and mutual benefit. An art in the name of creativity, personal money making, disrespecting and damaging will never have a place in our society. Even for a music that depicts sex, drug and violence society gives a place to listen.. this explains its relatedness to our daily being. But music that transcends the fine lines imprinted by our society will not have acceptance, for that censorship works well. As Mr. Lombardi mentioned …liberty to do what he considers right…. This right signifies the right to respect what is acceptable…that is the ultimate right. All in all art that tells our reality harmonize with our interest; the reverse is true for an art that is unreal. Art cannot be restricted by special interest groups and minorities, majorities must rule. Majority never denies the progression of ideas rather wanting to hear ideas that are related to our practice and familiarity.               

The Dreaded Research Paper

My thesis statement is designed to answer whether the US copy right law in protecting illegal music downloading and sharing over the internet is making effective actions or does it lacks bold actions to solve the problem, which is now becoming extensive. While analyzing the problem of internet piracy, I am working in measuring its effect from all perspectives- that is the hierarchical loss incurred. Such as how much is exactly the recording companies are losing in the past year, how is it affecting the promoters, the writers and the musicians in terms of cost, time, and the production of quality work. For all these parameters I am working on the bench mark to see its effect. I am also working how the extent of the problem is affecting the nation’s economy by depriving the revenues fetched to the GDP. These points are very important since they determine the importance of the copyright in mitigating such a problem. Further I am looking into the acts and the reforms in the perspective of how far they hinder the problem at hand. In supporting this idea I have looked some of the measurements taken to circumvent antipiracy mechanisms. While working on this I have found that there is an argument on the importance of copyright law. One side of the argument lie upon, since record companies are the profit makers who uses the traditional way of disseminating music they are the ones protected by the law, not musicians. Therefore it is better to use digital technology and internet selling, in order to benefit musicians; music recording companies are no more value than bureaucracy and monopoly of profit making brought by others effort. Moreover the law doesn’t always progress with the advancement of technology and the terminologies used in the law either lacks wholeness or lead to misinterpretation on a relative form.  On the other side of the argument music recording companies are the ones that are investing every bit of cost for the quality of the production, wide dissemination (internationally), promotion and having the capacity of paying all the costs for the projects, therefore they should be protected. Further copyright law has also a big protection for digitally shared materials over the internet. Of course it is a hectic work in bringing up a common ground of these ideas. However I am looking extensively to see which one out weights the other. Since the topic is mostly dealing on copyright law, the literatures I am finding are not easily understandable for someone who doesn’t have legal background like me. The good thing on the process I am learning a lot, which is why I appreciate working on this topic. I hope the rationale of the paper is coming at the end which definitely will answer my proposed thesis. The paper will also hold some recommendations which will be drawn from the review of the literatures and the gaps I have seen in those literatures.         

Internet Piracy

Internet piracy is a theft of intellectual property such us music, film and software…. to mention few. The act performed by copying or sharing of intellectual property without the consent of the property owner/producer which was given a copyright ownership. Copyright is a legal right that protects intellectual works from being reproduced, shared, or disseminated without the permission of the copyright owner. Mostly the act is performed by consumers who do not or having minimal knowledge that the act is considered as illegal. If someone has bought music CD and burn the CD into many copies he/she thinks, as long as I bought the CD it is mine. But the CD is our property not the songs recorded these are intellectual property of somebody else’s. Especially nowadays music and film piracy over the internet is becoming rampant. The music recording companies and film producers are losing record profit from their work and investment. Music piracy was started at first by Nepster. Nepster had unlimited music collections that were shared on a network of computers. Because of the unlimited effort by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other organizations/foundations representing the music industry Nepster was banned and shut down.  The experience has dispersed to Southern Pacific Islands where the US law can’t be implemented. The network sharing of music and other intellectual property is especially uncontrollable in these areas since it is not allowable to reserve or shutting down the ISPs.

As we know the music industry specially is responsible in producing, reproducing and dissemination of the records; therefore most of the cost incurred is paid by these industries. This implies the illegal copying and sharing of the CDs costs a lot to these companies than anyone involved in the project. A recent figure shows that the entertainment industries such as the music and the film have alone lost more than four billion in the past years from such kind of piracy over the internet.  Before the advancement of technology for someone to reproduce a CD it takes a lot of effort, but today’s digital world makes this effort to be effortless and the produced materials have the same quality with the originals which is even difficult to identify which ones are illegal and which ones are not. In an effort to stop piracy the music industry with its affiliates is implementing many tiresome efforts, such as suing the companies who are directly involved in the acts and those who provide host for those companies. For the companies who were directly involved in the sharing of these files many courts have ordered for their shut offs, however for those who provide hosting, they are considered unaccountable and are not intiteled to identify their clients.

Furthermore the music industry and its affiliate’s starts suing individuals who are involved in the act, however the effort is tiresome to reach and penalize every individual in the ocean of the network world. On the other hand there are music stores that are legally selling digital music like ITunes and the rebirth of Nepster; the success of these companies indicates that many people are interested the convenience the digital system provides rather than the traditional model the music industries are following most. The convenience created in terms of cost ($0.99 for a song), preference for a song than everyone of the songs in a single CD, time, comfort ..many more are accountable for such preference. Therefore understanding of consumer choices, tracking of any illegal dissemination over the internet, controlling any illegal theft  can be achievable but it takes the gut from everyone of us who aspire the continuity, the best quality, ultimately the growth of music and its economy which ultimately affects our GDP.           

Licensing Songs

Licensing Songs

The arguments rests upon music is for personal truth or purpose not for commercial. As the other end of the wing argues we relate to the music with our true sols and memories, we don’t want our music being used to sell products. Musicians need to keep their pride and integrity ahead of desperation for money. On the other hand others say if music is entrepreneurial work it should serve the business. As musicians are business persons they can use their creativity to expand their wealth. In the controversy between the two extremes I found myself to lean towards the idea musicians can use their talent to sell any product. Why? In today’s free market economy we see so many products on the market on the same type of an item. If we want to buy the item we can check the price, the quality, reviews anything else that could help to convince. In the free market we see honesty and it’s opposite too. Who do we trust to assure the stated quality? No one except our own intuition and investigation. Thus from all these hassle who will save us, a person we trust who is credible in his/her works, therefore we trust their endorsements. When Oprah Winfrey acknowledges a book..Then it controls the market, when Marta Stewart talks about a pan it is believed a special. Sometimes this helps, not always it may not work well, even though we see their tags on the products, it may be the worst of all.  

On the other aspect we can’t separate music from commercials. As if they have the same derivation they both express our sexuality. As music expresses love, sexuality, attraction so do commercials. The commercials what we see or hear use our sexual being to sell their product. Whatever you see on TV starting from toothpaste, deodorant, or Carl’s Junior’s burger all themed our sexuality where we tend to be attracted to this. So there is a common ground for music and commercials which we can’t separate. Having supported a commercial with a back tone of music.. that is all done, it controls our interest.  Therefore whether we accept it or not music and commercials goes hand in hand.

The Historical Roots of Jazz

The Historical Roots of Jazz

It was written that Jazz music had begun in Congo Park in New Orleans currently known as Louis Armstrong Park in ninetieth century. A group of African- Americans collectively started drumming, and playing string instruments mixture that reflected original substance from African heritage, which was like a pervasive ritual ceremonies of Africa. However, the music by these groups lasted little long. As Gioia wrote “The Congo Square dances were hardly so long-lived. Traditional accounts indicate that they continued, except for an interruption during the Civil War, until around 1885. Such a chronology implies that their disappearance almost coincided with the emergence of the first jazz bands in New Orleans.” During the first era Jazz music it was a collective memory and oral history of the city's black community. Buddy Bolden was the first to be acknowledged as a Jazz musician. He had revitalized the traditional music mostly alike with African origin to modernity of Jazz. As Gioia noted “the Americanization of African music had already begun, and with it came the Africanization of American music”.

During that time many Jazz musicians were emerged and produced the music through blending the cultural elements that previously existed in the genre with the modern style. Even if the African-European music were mixed prior to the era of the Congo park musicians, the true birth of modern Jazz was recognized with the blend of African, European and Latin American culture. However there is still a controversial point on the single origination of Jazz music as the heritage from the African music “The popularly accepted theory that Jazz stemmed from a simple combination of African rhythms and European harmony is in need of a little revision. Both African and European rhythms were employed. African music supplied the strong underlying beat (absent in most European music), the use of polyrhythms, and the idea of playing the melody separate from or above the beat. European music provided formal dance rhythms” ( Weinstock). The integration of multi-culture in Jazz music had produce a blend of diversity, as  Gioia stated “which evolved out of European dance forms like the French quadrille, the waltz, the mazurka and the polka. Including the Spanish rhythms in early Jazz, an effect he calls the "Spanish Tinge". As Weinstock argues “The multiplicity of ethnic, cultural and musical conditions needed to spawn Jazz was thus unique to the United States and specifically to New Orleans”. Since from New Orleans Jazz went on to be recognized as  America's Classical Music growing in its performance and acceptance. As Weinstock wrote “jazz gracefully making the long trip from Funky Butt Hall to Carnegie”. The music gained recognition to be presented in the Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, Congress, most Universities and music conservatories, for surly to world wide acceptance (Weinstock)

Works Cited

Gioia , Ted. "The History of Jazz ." Prehistory of Jazz (1997): n. pag. Web. 20 Apr 2011.

     <http://www.washingtonpost.com/

      wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/historyofjazz.htm#TOP>.

Weinstock , Len. "The Origins of Jazz ." Jazz is Timeless Records n. pag. Web. 20 Apr 2011.

      <http://www.redhotjazz.com/originsarticle.html>.

Lyrics Talk Reality?

Eminem lyrics talk about hate, anger, distress, love, killing and so much more, but that does really shows our reality? I hardly accept this. Of course lyrics can transcend boundaries, barriers, ideologies, social statuesque and many more. It can convince rivals to unite, it can disturb homogeneity, it conveys an intention, and it can depict anger, frustration, unjust. It is always difficult to say lyrics we hear represent our reality. In a single music we can find stack of lyrics with lots of contradictions, the artist’s opinion or belief, his/her own experience which may be exceptional. A musician who portrays his ex-wife as a rival for death, by no means accepted in any social standard. We must not forget that some artistes intentions for capitalizing financial ceiling by being exceptional with odd styles and lyric connotations. To be accepted with the set apart groups, age categories, ideologies they transmit messages that knock down the group mind setups. Of course this may not be their reality. On the flip side of coin lyrics can easily bypass wronging for better. It can unite uncompromised views and ideologies. We have seen music can bring social change for better, for creating awareness, for mobilizing society. The art has both ears and eyes. The imagination, the memory it creates can be dear to our heart. Sometimes a single line is vocal in telling our reality. It creates imagination for reaching every beat of heart. In between the two extremis, music lyrics can be fun, that doesn’t have any value than relaxation, in some music we can find pile of lyrics that doesn’t have sensual meaning than just bunch of words scrambled in a crowd. But we just enjoy the beat, the wording as nothing but entertainment. In short lyrics can do good or bad, can manipulate or sell an opinion, can be cliché nothing worth than fun.  

Music Across the Border

Music transcends social, cultural and political boundaries. I have seen this in my country. Bahir Dar is a small town, located 400 kilometers from Addis Ababa (the capital city of Ethiopia). Bahir Dar is a town surrounded by Lake Tana and rich with astonishing history of civilization and the flourishing of Christianity in 330 AD. The town is also rich with archeological remaining and uniqueness of its culture. Many tourists are in love of the richness this place provides. The central part of the town during the night bestows a safe haven for those who are hungry of its music. Cluster of little houses across the streets pour their melodies from their doors and windows. Who can resist running-off from this? These houses are shelters for anyone who is in love of their music, anyone. For nationals, for foreigners they grant their astonishing melodies. The dancers wear the traditional cloths that are white and colorful at their tip. The drums and the vocals are food for soul. Of course the dancing style is energetic and needs basic training. Who cares, anyone in the room can try and have fun.

On one occasion I was in one of those houses with my friends; a foreigner who even doesn’t understand the language, the words, and the difficult dancing style was in the middle having a great time with the musicians. It was then I realized that music doesn’t have boundaries. Nowadays it is really common to find at least two or three foreigners in those houses; I guess the music has a feeling of belongingness. The foreigners also accustomed of eating the traditional foods and drinks that are not easily adaptable for anyone who is an outsider.  

While I am within the milieu of Ethiopia, on April 1993 part of an Ethiopian province Eritrea had a referendum held for independence. Later in 1998 a border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea aroused. It was during this time that there was massive displacement of people from both countries. Those Eritreans who lived for a long time in Ethiopia were transported and moved to Eritrea, and the same was done on Ethiopians who had lived in Eritrea. The people in the two countries however, were tide-up with culture, blood, and marriage. Those who were displaced, their soul start searching for their belongingness. Only music has the guts to transcend those hostile situations between the two countries. Music that is released in those countries surges and reaches those souls. Musicians are the only ones who have the courage and valor to sing about the love that bonded the two nations. I heard that no one is allowed to hear any Amharic music (Ethiopian Language) in Eritrea, but for the people who endures the love of Ethiopia and her music, this is a tale of the full. It reminds them the wonderful memories they had with their brothers. It shows their resiliency and emotional attachment for the country they are attached with. I hope as music crossed those hostile boundaries, we all one day will cross the delineations sketched by our dictators. One day this will be history and we will unite as one nation as we were.

Moral Responsibility

Moral Responsibility

Musicians are the product of their society that surrounds them. The idea of responsibility therefore is raised, because they are the messengers to the general public they have to be accountable in maintaining social norms and standards that are placed. They have to give due respect to that. This is the idea that puts them to be accountable. As stated in Music And Culture “Musicians, like all artists, do not work in a vacuum, isolated from time and society.” (Tomasino 86). On the other hand Baudelaire and Oscar Wilde agree with “neither art nor artist has a moral responsibility to liberal social causes” (Tomasino 89). On the other hand on the inclination of the idea that musicians are responsible for change Camille Paglia agrees that musicians are responsible in bringing up change in an acceptable or in an undesirable way by the society. As Paglia asserts Madonna has brought a big impact in the realization of feminine phenomena that is the assertion of self control which directs woman to be of themselves while showing their life style in whatever they choice. This is the idea of independency. As these writers noted the idea of liberal social causes rests upon the freedom of an individual in expressing his/her own feeling in whatever way they choice to express it. This idea claims that musicians must not be accountable for any bad outcome in a society; they reflect their view, their freedom of expression. However it is my understanding that any belonging in a community has to be harmonious with its group. A jungle gorilla must abide with its community in order to be part of its group. Let alone human being nature has set to every creature to be harmonious in their belonging. As we know music can strengthen or break its society. Music can hurt or heal its audience. Why? Because it has the power to convince. Those words can speak to the minds of the people. Of course man is free, the right to express his feeling. But this doesn’t mean to cross the fine line delineated in our minds. Whatever that comes out of our mouth, we have to be accountable. It is me who said about it not anyone. So who is going to be blamed… it is solely me. As the Guardian wrote “…  artists have a responsibility. They have a responsibility to themselves, but also to the people who listen to their music; a responsibility to be honest.” I do believe that we as a members of a harmonious society, we have to respect the norms that build our being, had it not been a rule we follow we may not be in a situation we are now, if not in a distraction of ourselves and the people that surrounds us. As having a wide audience musicians have to respect this rule and avoid promoting immorality.

Works Sited

Tomasino, Anna. Music And Culture. New York: A Longman Topics Reader, 2005. Print.

Bizzle , Lethal . "Cameron may still be a doughnut, but he's learning." Music Blog 5 Jul 2007: Web. 25 Mar 2011.   <http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2007/jul/05/cameronhasrealisedthatpeop

Parental Advisory Label

Although I believe that record companies should be responsible in providing notices on their products including on the Parental Advisory Label (PAL), for most part however, parents have a decisive role in selecting a material that is appropriate for their life style. As we know parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. Of course all music is not always appropriate for all ages. In general record companies’ label a material with three distinct features in which they assume the material may depict. These are the use of strong language, violence, sex or substance abuse. As we see the matrix covers general aspect, where detail and specific issues may be escaped or ignored. Elements that are most of the time unsuitable for little kids such as bad attitude, frightening and tense music that have ominous nature, heavily dramatic and action-oriented music, profanity content and the like may be over looked while labeling the material. When I say this however, I am not ignoring the steps that the music industry is taking in helping parents to determine what is and is not appropriate for their children.

On the other hand, it is known that different families do have diverse family life styles which are ruled by their own norms.  For instance, cultural morals and standards in a family, and religion can have a significant impact in their preferences. For instance families who are against of witches, monsters, and heroes may not allow such illustrations in their music or music videos even though the material is allowable for all ages. This shows that let alone families, it is even impossible to define each individual situation in which a record label should determine that a sound recording contains unwanted content.

In another note, even if the materials that are allowable for all ages may be interpreted differently from person to person. For instance music lyrics are often subjected to varying interpretations. In addition music that has loud and raspy can be perceived as dreadful, even if the lyrics are proper. Sometimes we even forget to understand the lyrics of music that is accompanied by soft and soothing instruments even though it has poison in it.

In another instance I expect that kids who are forbidden to see and hear materials that contained PAL contents, may be curious to know what is in the material. Remember the time when we were kids we tend to sneak on the materials we were forbidden to touch. Let me remind you the news I heard, a little boy was given a CD from his grandparents as a Christmas gift which they taught it is appropriate for his age by looking on the PG label up front, however the CD turned up to be Black Eyed Peas CD which by mistake recorded in kids CD layout.  His grandparents only seen the label upfront; they didn’t know what is inside. This shows that parents/guardians should take careful attention in providing materials even though materials rated appropriate for their children may have something which is inappropriate. As Parents we have the primary responsibility for instilling our children proper morals and values.

rock and roll is immoral or evil in its nature

I like music especially spiritual songs, I am not that much focused on the genre of the music. I can hear rock and roll, jazz, hip-hope..But I understand there are music that fall in the controversy on the message they convey either in their lyrics or by the styles of their transmitters. But we must be wise enough before generalizing everything is wrong or conveys wrong message. I would like to bring up here the idea raised as “rock and roll is immoral or evil in its nature”. It is my understanding that there are a lot of evil messages passed -on in different style of art. We see artistic works hanged on different museums that convey porn, poets that serve to talk about adultery, naked truth of sexuality, anything you name social evils. There are also many music that transmit messages that are deviant from the common ground established in our society. We see bands starting from their name they talk about bad, do bad, and influence their fans with their bad style. Last week I read about a musician who was found dead in his house due to cocktail of drugs he took. As I read all through the story, I found out the musician was a produced, a writer, and instrument player in one of well known rock and roll band. Despite one of their members was also dead due to drug over dose. It is unfortunate that those who are in rock and roll music practice something that hurts the industry. They talk about suicide, they talk about hate, and they talk about discordant views. They show their ruined style of living with cigar, heroin, alcohol, showing naked body, insulting, anything which is bad. I agree in some instance what Paul Cobley said, he has some truth in it. Imagine their audience who are in their younger age, where there mind is in the process of maturation, where their life experience is limited, where they prefer to hear their peers than their parents (here I am not condemning them why they listen to their peers it is natural- we all once had passed through that point and were rebelled to our parents rules and ideas and prefer to be ruled by our autonomous power. Imagine this time when you are in emotional turmoil, listened to a music which can liberate you from depression, anger, hate by performing suicide, thinking of freedom after death. Of course why not I am brain washed, I can perform it. We see so many behaviours and fashions are direct consequences of these models. If youngsters are shown their idol is wearing badly and tastelessly they can take it as a hip. Their idols are loud. It is obvious that hearing music that is loud and noisy catches ones attention and controls intention, if not it is now considered as boring and sluggish. Of course how can we be in accordance with the past generation who love to hear soft and calm music?

When we see some rock and roll musicians on TV or in their music videos they show us horror, blood, darkness, skeleton, murder, contorted faces; this makes us to be intense, tensioned and controls our mind and body. Why don’t they show us happy, relaxing, calming figures I think the art is produced to relax us, not to terrify us and be our nightmares. It is even difficult to realize some of the wording, the rhythm, or to see every detail of the beauty of the music. When they are interviewed or talk about they use bad languages- is this the way we have to communicate by insulting and disrespecting each other? It is now a hip to add in every bit of our conversation a seasoning “F”. In any public place-church, schools, meetings, social gatherings…I really hate hate this phenomena. I am from this generation, does that mean I am out dated, old fashioned or primitive? No I am not I respect everyone, let alone human being animals respect each other, if one group passes its limit it is not by no means acceptable. I guess we are better of animals if not….

Is Rock and Roll to be Blamed?

In everyday of our lives overall generalization leads to misunderstanding and misjudgment. When we look to Mr. Bloom’s idea mostly he was looking to one side of the story that is “rock and roll music is bad’’.  He mentioned that rock and roll doesn’t transmit good behaviors rather it instigate violence, drug use, sexual arousal, and the practice of misbehavior. He didn’t see any value what the music has brought to one’s success, inspiration or knowledge. He concurrently denies and excludes rock and roll music as part of art or its contribution it brings similar to any other technical subjects. There is also weak correlation of rock and roll music in initiating violence, Satanism, drug or any unwanted sexual behavior. He was mostly admiring the old generation and their tradition; he did not recognize how his parents or his grandparents were discontented with his generation. It depends on the personality of somebody, for anything we think of healthy can be unhealthy if we use it in a bad orientation. For instance salt is the specie of life, let’s use it excessively doesn’t it has unhealthy effect? Life needs balance, if we take something to the extreme and destroy the other balance, we definitely are in trouble.

Mr.  Bloom may be spiritual, but he did not realize there are even a lot of rock and roll spiritual songs that reaches the hearts of many. I am also questioning his objectivity. He was subjectively judging everybody’s potential without even have any objectivity to proof. Of course in some instances he is right. There may be violence, hate, and insult on any music or TV programs. We should be selective. In the early days of his time music was in its primal stage but there was nothing that hinders his generation to practice unsafe sex and having caught many STDs, or else engaging in drug use. Then who is going to be blamed. Of course sometimes generation gets into some kind of madness that doesn’t mean everyone is mad. For instance, look how we are dealing with texting; some of us are killing our productive life. Everywhere you go you see a doctor next to his patent, teacher in his class room, office staff in working hours, students in class room, train driver, pilot ……are obsessed with texting. This is killing the worth of life. But when I say this I am not generalizing with everyone. For instance I don’t want to text and I never did it. Why? It is my choice, I choose to be wise in every minute I have.

 Mr. Bloom even did not understand how the new generation has advanced intellectually, economically, technically. These are the products of the generation he is blaming. Therefore everybody is different and may have passion for one or may be for many, which can easily fit in their life style. For instance, being a devoted mom and advancing my career are my passions, but listening to music can’t be a barrier to do my passions.  

Music Analysis

            Music Analysis

A single music can have lots of meaning for each one of us. It may not produce common understanding or meaning for all of us. If someone analyzes music and tells to audience this means that, it may not give sense for all of them. As Copland mentions “nothing really tells him what he should be hearing, no treatise or chart or guide can ever sufficiently pull together the various strands of a complex piece of music-only the inrushing floodlight of one’s own imagination can do that” (Anna Tomasino. ‘’Music and Culture’’ 2005: p.6). If someone surveys what the meaning of a single music among audiences he will come up with different ideas and concepts. I am not arguing here that music doesn’t have to undergo analysis but the analysis has to be done by each listener. Of course for the best product of music, it has to pass many evaluations by professionals. When I am questioning myself, why do I like that music? I say “because there I have some place in it, those words in some way speak to me”. Those words are telling me my memory, my experience, what is in me.  When we listen to different music we are taken away to the situation where we heard of it, what happened, all in all it reminded us the surrounding state.

I don’t have any knowledge on music scale, its tone, symmetry or pitch; so I will not be confused what is best and what is worst in it but I am enjoying it. It travels me miles away to where I was. It gives me exclusive meaning. When Copland tells his profession as musician he said “I have vigorously hissed, at other times as vigorously applauded; in both circumstances I remain comparatively unmoved.  Why should that be?..... but once out of my hands the work takes no personal credit”( Anna Tomasino. ‘’Music and Culture’’ 2005: p.7). This is like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Each individual mind contemplates its own meaning and worth.  

Most of the time I hear music but; sometimes I listen to it. When I am listening, the value it worth amplifies. Each lyric speaks and it really helps me to know it well. The beauty of music is it has everyday meaning for one who is attended to it.  When I am indulged in music it relaxes me, it exceeds my contentment, and it talks me with every emotion I am just feeling. When Etheridge shares her experience hearing the Beatles she said “I thought that I had heard the voice of God. It was the most incredible thing I’d ever heard, and it moved me in a way I had never before experienced” (Anna Tomasino. ‘’Music and Culture’’ 2005: p.11).

Therefore I am not interested if someone is analyzing my music and telling me its connotations. The wording, the tone, the instrument even the mess-up has its own meaning for me. I analyze my music by not hearing, I do listening. When I listen to it, it has a special worth to me. It touches my sprite, my soul. It exceedingly feels me with peace. It attends to my memory.  

Bibliography

Anna Tomasino. ‘’Music and Culture’’ 2005. Pearson Education Inc.

genres of writing

While I was reading Mr. Copland’s lecture I felt his influence about his ideas, it seems he is imposing them on his audience. It is almost framed and authoritarian. The message is clearly channeled only from him; he did not participate his audience or entertains their feeling/ideas. Of course for him it has an advantage; he can easily convince his audience especially if he is orator -power is on his pulpit. He used lecture method to convey his ideas. The lecture process hinders ones creativity by blocking the other side’s point of view, since it is mostly not an open type of discussion it leads to “here it is because I say so”.  For instance I don’t agree by what Mr. Copland said on professional and layman understanding of music. I can say my little boy doesn’t need to imagine and activate his back mind to have fun, dance and or to be happy. Had it been I have discussion with Mr. Copland I will tell him “music is understandable for fetus”.

When a lecturer presents his/her lecture interruption is minimal. Since the method is one way it is easy to convene and manage the audience. As the channel is one way participation is therefore minimal. As we know many of our colleges prefer lecture methods. This may be a challenge for some students who have difficulty of note taking especially in keeping up their pace with the instructor’s presentation. After taking lecture notes we have to read them as soon as the lecture ends, otherwise what we have wrote in those wonderful moments will be puzzle to understand or lost their appeal after sometime. Let me tell you my experience I am a little bit shy in asking questions in my classes, even though I didn’t understand what was said I tend to refrain myself from asking questions. Sometimes I get also lost in the middle of those talks.

While lecture is performed audience has to sit and sit until the session ended; imagine most of our afternoon summer classes.  The other drawback of lecturing is it is difficult for the instructor to know how much has been understood.  But for sure for some of us who prefer learning through hearing it is an ideal way.

 Let’s see another type of writing style. I had started my journal when I have my first boy as a way of keeping his memories and mine too. It is a wonderful thing to put all the challenges, the amazement, the unexpected happenings - you know you can write what ever happened in each day. When you read it after some time it makes you laugh, it creates flashbacks, and it gives you credit and lesson. But be careful not to sink on those bad memories. Especially if the journal is accompanied by pictures it speaks more than thousand words. The good thing about it is, there is no right or wrong idea it is just me. I know sometimes it takes your time but it is worthy, but remember to keep it secret it may back fire on you.

Imagine you are alone feeling bad or hurt, who can rescue you other than writing and writing your feeling, I think it is stress reliever. When I read Cobain journal I can understand his anger and pain, of course he used wrong wordings. But it puts you in his feeling so that you can understand what he has been through. In such kind of writing style no one can tell you to maintain formality….it is a little sanctuary of your freedom.

I really loved the way Quindlen tells her story in her personal essay it takes you to her life journey interestingly. I love the flow it creates imaginative movie. When you see journals of Cobain the ideas are jumping from experience to experience and the flow was not maintained. Quindlen’s essay whereas makes you eager to know the end of the story. When we see Touré article on Nas it looks like reporting, which I prefer to see it through TV than reading it.     

Music and my life

All day long my radio is attending me worship music. I love LORD and I do want every minute of it to remind me the wonderful things GOD has done for me and he is going to do.  The music I listen helps me to fortress faith on my GOD. When I feel down it uplifts my sprite, and most of all it gives me hope. When I feel lonely I increase the volume of the music so that I feel I am not lonely. Music has helped me to understand the meaning of love and to love others. When I feel cold, bad, grouchy it brings my good strength to overcome those feelings. Music saves me from violence- in my life and in my family life as well. When I feel angry it calms me down. Music has also swept away my bad memories. When I hear certain music it reminds me the wonderful places me and my husband had visited especially those first years of our relationship and the wonderful memories we have.  When I miss my family back home I listen to my mom’s favorite song which raises my feeling, that mom is near to me. Those songs take me to a journey across the miles. When I hear my cultural songs, furious flame leaps in my heart, I remember those freedom songs that trembled dictatorship power. Those songs helped me to love my country and to know its history.

I love listening to my iPod, when I am running and doing my aerobic exercise, it gives me the energy to finish those hardy minutes.  

I always make my little boy to listen to classical music when he lays on his bed; I know it will feel his disturbed day with peace. He is three now, he always asks me to turn on the music after his bed time story. I guess my understanding on music has also works well on him. Since he was infant I love to sing him nursery rhymes, this really creates a strong bondage between us. It wonderfully thought him how to say I love you mom, isn’t that amazing. Barney’s song “I love you, you love me we are happy family” is our favorite lyric since then.  

These days our kids are stolen by technology; such as cell phones, video games, television and the like. Though they are PG rated, at least 10 minutes violence is observed. As parents we have therefore needs to be extremely careful on those Medias. I will not let my children watch or hear violent music that trigger disturbance, violence, hate and that reflects inferiority. As a parent I will show and coach them the best side of music, to realize its meaning and to live accordingly.  When we see some of hard rock and rap music they have bad influence on their audience. They lead their audience to be violent, criminal, to practice unsafe sex, to use alcohol and drugs, to be disrespectful and to practice behaviors that are out of the social norm.

For sure as always music will keep me nearer to GOD, be my shelter in feeling my mind with peace. It will keep me on my right truck, and will help me to show my love to others in the future.