IDM Mailing Archive

quoted 6 lines It is pointless --and utterly untenable -- to expect

>> It is pointless --and utterly untenable -- to expect >> musicians to rely only on musical resources by their racial/economic/whatever >> peers. >> >Many successful businesses have been founded by the appropriation of >resources from the disadvantaged, whether racially or economically.

quoted 3 lines Whether it is Led Zeppelin stealing songs from dead blues musicians or

>Whether it is Led Zeppelin stealing songs from dead blues musicians or >swing bands like Glenn Miller presenting Jazz with an acceptable white >face, it makes no difference. T

quoted 5 lines the history of 20th Century music is dominated by the rape of

>the history of 20th Century music is dominated by the rape of >Black music by the white middle classes, but it's no different, in >theory (though, obviously, not in numbers of lives lost) from the >subjegation and despoilation of different cultures by the British >Empire in the 19th Century.

alright. we take it upon ourselves to learn from the mistakes of the past and no longer wish to perpetuate them. we understand how racism works and how an imbalance of power and economic resources has kept many black artists from enjoying the rewards enjoyed by white artists. but I don't see how your point of view leaves me -- Mr. White Guy over here -- room to work as a musician. black music has been powerfully influential on the larger culture, its influence is everywhere. rightfully, so it seems to me. how can I fail to absorb music by black artists that excites me, and reflect it in my music? does that really make me a rapist in the service of the evil empire? or does that just kick in if I have a hit record and make money off of it? how can you equate Led Zepplin's outright theft of a Willie Dixon song (obviously cynical and illegal) to Glenn Miller merely working in a style originated by black artists? Do they both reflect, in some way, racism? Sure. But what the hell was Glenn Miller supposed to do? Swing was the most exciting thing to come down the pike in the '30's, and he ran with it. Was his crime that his band was (unfortunately) one of the successful few? Should he have restrained himself? We he supposed to be Woody Guthrie instead? --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org