Hi All!
High fives all around!
If yer gonna like somethin you should know what it is you like and why it isn't somthin else
That said, and in support of Alan and at least one other post (at least in part), I offer the
following long, tedious, but edifying and instructive headpound:
Postmodernism is a term usually used to describe a type of intellectual thought that is often
considered a critique of (or reaction to) modernism. The term is extremely controversial in
that many scholars, intellectuals, and historians have failed to agree on what it is, and
whether it exists. Nevertheless, most agree that postmodern ideas have had a major impact
on philosophy, art, critical theory, literature, architecture, interpretation of history, and
culture since the late 20th century. The term defies easy definition, but is generally
comprised of the following core ideals:
? A continual skepticism towards the ideas and ideals of Modernism, especially the
ideas of progress, objectivity, reason, certainty & personal identity, and grand narrative in
general (see Counter-Enlightenment
? The belief that all communication is shaped by cultural bias, myth, metaphor,
and political content. (see Cultural relativism)
? The assertion that meaning and experience can only be created by the individual,
and cannot be made objective by an author or narrator.(see Existentialism)
? Parody, satire, self-reference, and wit.(see no hugging, no learning)
? Acceptance of a mass media dominated society in which there is no originality,
but only copies of what has been done before. (see late capitalism)
? Globalization, a culturally pluralistic and profoundly interconnected global society
lacking any single dominant center of political power, communication, or intellectual
production. Instead, the world is moving towards decentralization in all types of global
processes.
Postmodernism in music
Postmodern music is both a musical style and a musical condition. As a musical style,
postmodern music contains characteristics of postmodern art?that is, art after modernism
(see Modernism in Music); eclecticism in musical form and musical genre, combining
characteristics from different genres, or employing jump-cut sectionalization (such as
blocks). It tends to be self-referential and ironic, and it blurs the boundaries between "high
art" and kitsch. Daniel Albright (2004) summarizes the traits of the postmodern style as
bricolage, polystylism, and randomness.
As a musical condition, postmodern music is simply the state of music in postmodernity,
music after modernity. In this sense, postmodern music does not have any one particular
style or characteristic, and is not necessarily postmodern in style or technique. The music of
modernity, however, was viewed primarily as a means of expression while the music of
postmodernity is valued more as a spectacle, a good for mass consumption, and an
indicator of group identity. For example, one significant role of music in postmodern
society is to act as a badge by which people can signify their identity as a member of a
particular subculture.
Postmodernity is also seen as an outgrowth of minimalism, as stated by composer Don
Davis. Postmodern music was utilized by film in the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix," with
music composed by Davis. With no central themes or motifs, and a very random
arrangement of music, all linked by only similar musical texturing or orchestration, the
music is as different from the norm as the film is.
-- Alan Lockett <Alan.R.Lockett@bristol.ac.uk> wrote:
Half-baked blather :-)
I think a degree of analytical clear-headedness would reveal IDM and
Postmodernism as different-category concepts, each with quite distinct
definitions, albeit 'loose'. They're not just ragbags to throw the
uncategorisable into. 'IDM' is a broad consensually established musical tag
denoting a roughly agreed upon musical product with predominantly
identifiable characteristics, whereas 'Postmodernism' serves to point to a
spirit, a philosophy, or a 'condition' from which an artefact (be it
pictorial, textual, musical, architectural...) arises by dint of defining
aspects such as self-consciousness, referentiality, or intertextuality, a
concern for (or a dissolving of boundaries of) surface/form vs. 'content',
and the progressive removal of the expressive 'Romantic' (or rational
'Modernist') unitary individual Self as Author (I could go on, and, in a
sense, I already have...)
To revisit the original statement of thesis: it would be true (if not
especially novel or interesting) to state that IDM may be characterised in
terms of postmodernism, especially to the extent that it draws
self-consciously on the existence of pre-established genre templates
('minimal house', 'ambient dub') and sonic 'signifiers' (as mediated
through presets, samples, patches...blah blah). Postmodernism, however, may
not be characterised in terms of 'IDM'... when you think about it.
There we go. I believe someone asked for it :-)
alan
--On 24 July 2006 21:54 -0700 Zephyr <bholme1@columbus.rr.com> wrote:
quoted 39 lines IDM and Postmodernism are basically the same thing, if you think about it.
>
> IDM and Postmodernism are basically the same thing, if you think about it.
>
> (Postmodernism like art and books)
>
> They're the two "out" categories. The uncategorical. They're the bins
> that basically are for whatever doesn't fit anywhere else. By definition
> they lack concrete definition. So where does that put us, the loyal
> 'fanbase'? By definition, the undefinable. But in the end, it's just
> another definition. The state of undefinability is really a definition
> within itself, the definition of which being "not capable of being
> precisely or readily described; not easily put into words"
> (Dictionary.com).
>
> I don't really mind if by definition I'm being defined though. Being a
> WMAC (White male assumed christian) in the corridors of suburbia of
> America, more importantly Ohio for that matter- gives me a short of
> exotic edge to my musical selection- while everyone else is content with
> their 50 Cent I have BoC, Venetian Snares or Mr. James to laugh along
> with. What I should start doing- is finding ways to play it over the
> speakers of the school to annoy the fuck out of people. And alienate
> myself more.
>
> Oh, and please do flame me. I've read enough Palahinuk to like being
> punched, enough Vonnegut to satirically accept things, and enough of Fight
> Club to know that I'm not my music- and that my oppinion doesn't matter in
> the very end of it all.
>
> (Please do, I dropped like 3 names like some smug bastard.)
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://www.nabble.com/What-I-think-is-funny.-tf1996393.html#a5479931 Sent
> from the IDM forum at Nabble.com.
>
>
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----------------------
Alan Lockett (Senior Language Co-ordinator - EFL)
Language Centre, University of Bristol,
30-32 Tyndall's Park Road, Bristol, BS8 1PY, UK
tel: +44 (0)117 3310914 e-mail: Alan.R.Lockett@bristol.ac.uk
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