IDM Mailing Archive

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.