Re: [Marxism] When Facebook Isn't Fun, or...

[sabocat59@xxxxxxx]

Rohan G wrote:

(Music culture means buying CD's to listen to on your expensive hi-fi or paying 
to watch a band, not getting together with friends to play instuments, unless 
you are unusually talented**.  With the commodification of culture it becomes 
increasing about passive consumption rather than active participation.  
But paradoxically, the internet - itself a commodity - facilitates, at least in 
part, a reversal of the trend.  Blogs and other internet facilities allow for 
increased participation by non specialists - even if this does represent unpaid 
labour as you say. )

In terms of music culture I think.    we've gone beyond the "listening to cd's 
on expensive stereos" stage. Fact is people don't even really listen to music 
anymore.  That is to say people may hear music but they're not really 
listening. Music has become background noise for people who are engaged in 
other tasks.  

And if they do listen its more of the "dancing alone with my ipod in a 
solipsistic state variety" than anything else. Music has become just another 
distraction and a way to keep people isolated.     

My audiophile cohorts who spend more time spinning vinyl than salivating over 
the newest hi fi gadget are always complaining about this.  People think it 
strange when we suggest to sit down and listen to music, like active listening 
is not really an alternative, they say. Of course the whole purpose of having a 
really good hi fi system is to recreate the auditory experience of live 
performance like the band is in the room. That's why musicians tend to have the 
best stereo systems. A good stereo system is emotionally engaging for that 
reason. 

Jerry Garcia was partial to McIntosh components, for example. 

But humans are more visually oriented anyway. We follow our eyes not our ears. 

Which is why people are more interested in multi channel as opposed to two 
channel systems. They want to feel the movie spectacle vibrate through their 
bodies. It makes watching movies more emotionally engaging I suppose.  
 
At least people still go to hear live music if they can afford it.     

Karaoke is really just an american idol fantasy. The person singing doesn't 
play any instruments or write any lyrics. Its not a very authentic form of self 
expression.  

Greg McDonald
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: 
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40archives.econ.utah.edu