What is world music?

The standardised ‘popular’ music genre is based around Anglo-American culture, and the English language. However, there is not a single definition of what ‘World Music’ is, as there is such a wide variety of styles, but simply that it does not conform to this standardised form of ‘popular’ music, and instead comprises of indigenous sounds, musical instruments and languages.

The divide may have been made greater by the differences in technology between the Western world and other cultures, which allowed this Anglo-American music to become global, through distribution and audiences, and thus separating it from the rest of the world. Shuker and Laing both suggest that the popularity of this type of music, is partly a rebellion against ‘parental national culture’. 

There are often crossovers within music, with sounds, instruments and languages all being used to create ‘popular’ music, bringing the world music into the global sector.

Is popular music a mass produced commodity or a genuine art form?

Art can be defined as a unique, creative expression, which is self critical, self aware and self reflective. It is difficult to place popular music solely into this category. Are songs a form of self expression or are they a product used to make money? 

Theodor Adorno suggests that popular music is not art but is a mass produced commodity which is standardized through part interchangeability and pseudo individualization, i.e. songs are reused, repackaged and re-marketed, which suggests that all unique creativity is lost. The X-Factor backs up this suggestion as finalists have often covered recent ‘hits’ because they are already well known and likely to sell, and not in an attempt something new to the song.

However many artists will cover a song and bring new feeling and expression to it. There are many artists who have great talent and show creative expression through music. And many people would considered their work an art form.

How useful is a production of culture perspective in understanding the birth of Rock and Roll?

From looking at Socio-cultural circumstances it is clear that Rock and Roll did not emerge from one single event but from a combination of social and economic changes that allowed for this.

In ‘Popular Music’ (1990) Peterson suggests that Rock and Roll emerges in 1955 due to changes in the law, technology, industry and organisation structures, occupational careers and the market itself. Although this shows why Rock and Roll was able to break through at this time, it fails to consider the audience, or the feeling, emotion and drive behind the music itself.

There have been examples of what could be considered Rock and Roll songs throughout the 1940’s and early ’50‘s and music is often reactionary, being influenced by what has gone before. With this in mind, it seems impossible to pinpoint the reasons for the emergence of Rock and Roll without looking at musical factors too.

Is it reasonable to consider that rock music is gendered male?

It very rare to have an all female Rock band (who play their own instruments!) whereas it is very common to see men in this position. In a recent poll of the top 100 guitar players there were no females listed in the top 50, and very few in the poll as a whole. Mavis Bayton suggests that the reason for this clear gender divide within Rock music is ‘entirely social’ rather than due to any physiological reason. 

Rock music is often shown to be a sexual expression and the guitar, which is generally seen as a masculine instrument, is sometimes used to denote the phallic symbol, as famously expressed on stage by Prince. 

There are of course exceptions to the rule with female guitarists and vocalists making Rock music, although it is not as common. And the attitude and feel of the music is more often seen as masculine.