On Tue, 24 Jan 1995, Kent Williams wrote:
quoted 5 lines I think it's racist to attach too much importance to the race of a>
> I think it's racist to attach too much importance to the race of a
> musician. While Detroit techno has its roots in a unique black
> subculture, the talents of the people making it have nothing to do
> with their dermal melanin count.
This strikes me as a naive comment (ie. about the role race plays
in American life). It would be ridiculous for anyone to argue that
skin color per se influences musical content. At the same time arguing
that everyone should be "race blind" when evaluating music ignores
the entire context in which the production, distribution and
consumption of music occurs. Sure, you could argue that there
may be ways in which the "aesthetic" value of a particular piece
could be evaluated in and of itself. However, your desire to review
works, genres etc. while ignoring race reveals more about yourself
as a reviewer than it does about the work that is being reviewed.
As an example, you might be able to evaluate the songs of
Billie Holiday by discussing the compositions and her voice etc.;
however many would argue that by NOT discussing the social circumstances
under which the songs were produced (her history, race relations
in the US, etc.), you end up missing the boat.
The entire DISCO SUCKS movement (promoted by album oriented
rock stations) of the late 70's illustrates how it is impossible
to separate aesthetics from social context. Much of the force
which propelled white teenage boys and their girlfriends into large
stadiums to watch bulldozers roll over disco albums was homophobia and
racism. However, the argument for why disco sucked was always
cast as an aesthetic one (it's too repetitive, it's lyrics are too
simplistic, where are the guitars?,etc.). And yet today (in the US
at least) we are barraged with tv ads for 70's disco
compilations that depict white heterosexual couples browsing the
track listing while saying, "you've got to buy this collection,
it has all the disco hits you've always loved!" Yeah, right.
Not too long ago Yoko Ono appeared on a (US) talk show
and basically argued that Americans' reaction to her
in her relationship with John and the mean-spiritidness
with which they disparaged her music was motivated by
racism pure and simple.
Why, despite its origins, is today's "techno" consumed by
a largely white and middle class audience? is a relevant
question. So is: Why do so many techno/ambient artists
like to sample black female vocals or "world" music
(because this is aesthetically pleasing to the
aforementioned?)?
quoted 6 lines The fact of the matter is, no one is becoming fabulously wealthy> The fact of the matter is, no one is becoming fabulously wealthy
> making dance music. Hell, I don't think Instinct, Astralwerks and TVT
> are making that much money. They're in the pinball business -- if they
> sell enough of the current catalog, they get to bring new disks out.
> Their combined total sales are dwarfed by one Michael Bolton disk.
>
Not true, Madonna and Sire Records are certainly making
a killing.
quoted 4 lines One of thing I really like about dance culture (at least the microcosm> One of thing I really like about dance culture (at least the microcosm
> of dance culture available to me in Iowa) is that it is a place where
> these things don't matter -- black, white, asian, straight, gay, mutant,
> even old crusties like me mix and party with no problem.
So in other words you've never been asked for three forms of ID
to get into a club because of your skin color.