Bloomington Contra Dance

When we first arrived at the Boys and Girls Club for the Bloomington Contra Dance, I was pretty nervous about what to expect.  I have very little dancing skill, so I was afraid that my ability to participate and enjoy myself during this event would be hindered.  I did, in all fairness, make many mistakes throughout the dance.  However, the people around me were all really helpful and happy to explain steps I may have missed.  I also found that I was laughing just about the whole time, regardless of which dance we were doing, who my partner was, or whether or not I was actually able to perform the dance.

The contra dance was very different from dances I have been to in the past because it really was a group activity.  At past dances I have been to, there has been much more pressure on how you look while you dance.  In addition, people usually dance with their date or their friends and don’t use dances as opportunities to meet new people.  At the contra dance, everyone had the opportunity to dance with everyone else in the room, and I had the chance to talk to many Bloomington residents who come to the Contra Dance every week and knew much more about it than me.  One aspect of the contra dance that made it the most enjoyable was that, though these people were much more experienced than the members of our class, they didn’t get upset or frustrated with us for messing up.  Instead, they laughed along and encouraged us to keep going.  Also, because everyone was dancing at the same time and focusing on their own movements, people wouldn’t always be able to tell if I’d made a mistake.  This took more pressure off of me while I danced and made me much more comfortable throughout the night.  The fact that the dance was so open to people of all skill levels made it a perfect example of a participatory event.  It also made it possible for participants to achieve a flow state because it required focus at all times, but was not too hard to keep up with.

It was also cool to witness the contra dancing cohort present in Bloomington.  The regulars we met and danced with on Wednesday night might be very different from one another, but they come together weekly because of their mutual love of contra dancing.  I would definitely consider returning to the contra dance during the year.  I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but if I ever have a free night during the year and can find some friends to come with me, I think it would be great to go again.  If we all brought just a few friends and introduced them to contra dancing, the cohort’s size would grow immensely!

The Punks Are Alright

"The Punks Are Alright" describes why punk music is so important to people who listen to it, especially fans of the genre who live in third world countries and use it as a means of expressing discontent.  In such countries, political and social repression is very prevalent and the victims of this oppression often communicate their frustration through punk music.  Punk music is characterized by its chaotic and rebellious nature, as well as its angry and loud sound. 

The movie also shows how punk can connect people all over the world, as the movie first showed the Forgotten Rebels in Canada, then the Blind Pigs in Brazil, and finally Superman is Dead in Indonesia.  Though these bands were based in countries all over the world, they all shared similar punk values.  Especially in Brazil and Indonesia, children and teens often become victims of drug violence and are rarely able to escape the horrible circumstances they are born into.  Before seeing this movie, I really didn't have a clear understanding of what punk music was.  I knew it was loud and angry but didn't understand the message that it aims to send or the reasons for why it sounds so angry.  It is clear to me now that punk serves as an outlet for youths in such areas to express their anger at the government, the failure of capitalism, or at social repressors. 

I was also surprised to learn in class that people who attended these punk concerts and participated in mosh pits are actually less violent than others who do not.  When I first saw the movie, I was confused as to how a band could send a message like "Fuck the System," and then turn around and tell interviewers that if everyone were punk, there would be no war.  I didn't understand how this could be possible considering how confrontational their music was, but I now see how punk music actually is an outlet for their anger and frustration.  Once they have expressed it in the form of music, they are less likely to express it through acts of violence against others.

One of the more interesting parts of the movie, in my opinion, was when one of the singers interviewed a girl in Brazil and she shared her opinions on punk music and on the situation she lived in.  She suggested that people living in the first world start paying more attention to how their actions affect other people and not be so worried about themselves.  It is so easy to forget that many of the items we buy and use every day are produced in countries like those shown in the movie.  Because we demand quality goods at low prices, and because there are no laws protecting laborers in these countries, many jobs are outsourced and given to workers like Dolly in Indonesia, who is paid the equivalent of $2.66 a day.  However, while some may argue that we must move away from outsourcing such jobs in order to stop the spread of unfair labor, the removal of companies (Nike, for example) from such countries would be devastating.  While workers may not work in the best conditions and are not paid nearly enough, the alternative is that they would have no source of income at all, or that they would turn toward drug trafficking as a way of making a living.  This is why the situation in such countries is very delicate and cannot easily be fixed just by removing capitalist influences.

Bloomington Farmer's Market

Despite the rainy weather and overcast skies, many people came to participate in Bloomington's Community Farmer's Market on Saturday morning.  Upon our arrival, my group was immediately struck by how diverse the group of people was.  We saw vendors, customers, musicians, and artists of all ages, and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves.  Everyone we passed was friendly and outgoing, and always prepared to strike up a conversation.

The market was divided into sections based on what products were being sold.  When we first walked in, we saw vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other farm goods such as honey, soap, and cheese.  In many cases, the stands were being operated by a whole family; children would be helping to set up the displays or retrieve products for customers.  Some vendors even brought their pets.  The back portion of the market, just outside of the city hall, was dedicated to artwork and crafts.  Many of the vendors in this area were working on crafts as they sat and waited for customers.  I saw two women putting together necklaces and, as they finished, they would set them out on their displays.  Another section of the market was filled with vendors selling baked goods.  As it was morning, many people were buying coffee and pastries that they would then eat or drink as they walked through the rest of the market.  There was also another section, Info Alley, in which many different community and political organizations set up booths to reach out to Bloomington residents.

A few local musicians also came to the market to perform for the crowds of people.  While some set up closer to the borders of the market to play for people walking by, others chose more central locations and ended up drawing larger crowds of onlookers.  I noticed that families, especially those with young children, were particularly drawn to these performers, as they provided entertainment for the kids who may not have been as interested in the buying and selling of produce.  Some of the children even danced around in front of the performers as their parents stood by and watched appreciatively.

The nature of the farmer's market can be compared to participatory music because everyone present was involved in the market in some way, and I could see connections being made the entire time I was there.  Vendors who either knew each other from past Saturdays or who had met while setting up that morning were joking around with one another and with each of their customers.  Another way in which it was similar to participatory music was that everyone present at the market was expected to participate in some way.  Whether they participated by buying, selling, or simply by talking to new people, everyone played some small role when they were there.

 

Four Fields of Music Making

1. Participatory

Participatory music making is when there is no distinction between the artist and the audience because everyone in the room is taking part in the process.  The emphasis in participatory music making is on social bonding and the action of making music instead of on the quality of sound.  This sort of music making is good for forming relationships between players.  In addition, the format of such music making encourages participation by many people because there is no stress on musical ability, so people will be more willing to participate.  However, some might argue that participatory music making can stifle creativity because each individual must incorporate their music with that of the other group members, and therefore cannot showcase their own virtuosity. One example of participatory music is a drum circle, as represented in the video below.



2. Presentational

Presentational music making is when one person or one group of people perform music for the enjoyment of a group of others (the audience).  In this type of music, there is a distinct separation between the artist and their audience.  The artist is given more freedom in such a performance because they are not responsible for getting all of the audience members to participate in the music.  On the other hand, they are responsible for keeping the audience interested throughout the duration of the performance, which some may consider a limit.  Below is a video of the band Arctic Monkeys performing their song "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.



3. High Fidelity

High fidelity music is music recorded by artists in a studio, but is made with the expectation that it could potentially be performed live in a concert setting.  One positive characteristic of high fidelity music is that it accurately represents something that the listeners might experience if they were to see the artist live.  One downside to this, however, is that the artist no longer has the additional help of visuals to keep fans interested and therefore must make up for this in their music.  One example of this is the Dirty Heads' recent single "Sound of Change," from their new album of the same name.



4. Studio-Audio Art

Studio-Audio art is music that listeners know cannot be performed in a live setting, usually due to the use of technical effects.  The artist and the editors have complete control over the finished product.  One obvious limit to such music is that it could never be performed in a live setting, unless it were recorded and then played at a concert.  The Axwell remix of Ivan Gough's "In My Mind" is one example of studio-audio art that is usually referred to as electronic dance music.

Emotion and Meaning in Music

Coldplay has been my favorite band for about as long as I can remember.  I have stayed up late waiting for the release of their newest albums, have snuck out a phone during school hours to get tickets to their concerts right when they go on sale, and have spent countless hours listening to and memorizing the words to their music.  Needless to say, I was beyond excited to see them two summers ago in Chicago for their Mylo Xyloto tour. 

I had seen them live twice before, so I did not expect the experience to be all that different from their previous concerts.  However, never a band to disappoint, Coldplay created their own way to enhance the audience experience, bringing with them “Xylobands.”  These bands were handed out to every concertgoer upon entry into Chicago’s United Center and, as demonstrated in the video, lit up to the beat of the music throughout the concert. 

One of the first songs to use these Xylobands was “Charlie Brown,” the song performed in this video.  I can't begin to explain how it felt to stand in an arena as large as the United Center, which holds over 20,000 people, singing and dancing to a song with thousands of other fans.  In that moment, I realized that I was standing next to thousands of people that I have never met before: strangers from all different backgrounds. We were all of different races, religions, cultures, social classes, and we may not even speak the same language. But the one thing we have in common is that we all love this song, this band, and could come together to form this amazing spectacle filling the arena.

In this instance, the Xylobands served as the sign.  Their ability to connect thousands of people together (by blinking at the same time) and let each and every individual become a participant in the performance led to a feeling of overall togetherness (object) among the audience members.  For me, the interpretant was the way I felt about music bringing people together, or my new understanding of just how powerful music can be. The icon is the way the wristbands all lit up at the same time.  The index was the fact that I saw the syncing of the lights and the singing as a co-occurrence with close relationships (which is why I ultimately felt a sense of togetherness).  The symbol was represented by the lyrics, which were being sung by just about every member of the audience.

Personal Music Biography

All This Could be Yours - Cold War Kids


I've chosen to incorporate Cold War Kids' "All This Could Be Yours" in my personal music biography because it details the importance of taking advantage of any opportunities you are given. I come from a relatively wealthy area and feel blessed to have grown up with such amazing opportunities. The school system in which I was taught is considered one of the best in the state of Illinois. My parents were able and willing to pay for my participation on sports teams, service groups, and other community clubs and organizations, as well as my travel across both the United States and the world. Because of such travels, I fully understand how lucky I am in comparison to the majority of the world, and therefore greatly value each and every opportunity this life has afforded me. One lyric of the song (at :45) reads "when the door opens up, you go where it leads." While this may seem like such a simple and obvious statement, I have seen many of my peers pass up some opportunities that I know other teenagers would kill for. The message of the song, while seemingly simple, is something I find very powerful, as it relates to one of my more prominent values: that of taking advantage of any chance that could lead to greater knowledge, understanding, or moral fulfillment.




All Starts Here - Magic Man


I believe that Magic Man's "It All Starts Here" serves as an accurate musical definition of how I try to live my life. Though it is obviously important to consider consequences and results of one's actions, I try not to be too careful when making decisions because I am so afraid of missing out on things that could potentially be really rewarding experiences. The lyrics communicate messages like "you don't need to be careful" or "we'll find our way without the city lights," both of which suggest that the listener live their life without hesitation, even if he or she does not exactly know what lies ahead. In the same way, I strive to try new things, even though they could be foreign to me or if I'm worried about what might happen. Though I'm still cautious and can't say that I always take chances and try new things, this is how I attempt to live my life.




Ordinary Human - OneRepublic

I chose this song because, as the lyrics suggest, I really do consider myself to be an "ordinary human." There are obviously aspects of my life that may not be considered "ordinary," but overall I have yet to experience something completely life-altering or something that drastically sets me apart from others. As the lyrics describe, I am just an "ordinary human." While OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder sings "but I don't feel so ordinary today," I interpreted this lyric to mean that there are parts of each individual that make them less "ordinary", or simply unique. I have not yet experienced great loss or a particularly traumatic event, and have not faced insurmountable struggles thus far in my life, which is why I might consider myself to be very similar to the majority of people around me. I do, however, understand that everyone has different traits, skills, and experiences that set them apart, which is why I feel that the lyrics of this song describe who I am as a person.