Listening to Music Differently
In Communication: A Critical/Cultural Introduction, the author John Warren and Deannna Fasset state that, “We use different modes of listening or engaging for different kinds of communication” (2014). As I thought about this concept, I remembered going over this in class as we focused on this topic through the lens of music. We were shown different genres of music and asked how we felt about them. While our feelings towards the music were apparent, it wasn’t obvious why each of us had come to these conclusions. Although it may not be obvious to the individual, their feelings about a particular type of music are rooted in culture. Individuals are influenced by the culture surrounding each genre when they listen to music.
Patriotic music is a prime example of a genre of music that inspires individuals to view music in diverse ways. In America, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is often revered by many, and it inspires patriotism among citizens. Patriotism can be seen as Lady Gaga sings the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the super bowl (2016). The people in the audience put their hands over their hearts out of respect for their country. In fact, there is even a person using sign language so that people in the audience can listen to the anthem even if they can’t hear it. Throughout this example, it is apparent that patriotic music inspires the feeling of togetherness among individuals who share the same country.
While the song continues to bring Americans together at events such as football, people from different countries may view the song in a different light. Malcolm Gladwell explains that the American national anthem discusses “rockets and bombs” (Marshall, 2014). There are many reasons why Gladwell could view the anthem in a negative light. The reason Gladwell sees the song in a negative light is the lyrics. Since Gladwell is Canadian, his perspective on the anthem is different than an American’s might be. Instead of seeing the strength of a country, Gladwell identifies the anthem as a violent theme song for America.
A second music genre immersed in culture is opera. According to the San Francisco Opera Association, opera originated during the Renaissance. Two types of opera were formed, opera seria and opera buffa. Opera seria was a more formal version of opera performed in front of royalty while opera buffa was more comedic. Opera continued to be used throughout the Classical and Romantic periods. In fact, Mozart was a classical composer of opera. Although opera has an extensive history, it is hated by many in today’s era. The National Public Radio explains that opera has a stereotype as music created for “rich, white, elderly snobs.” Given the history of opera, it isn’t surprising that the music would be given that stereotype. While many people may dislike this music, and see it as snobby, there are others who appreciate it as an art form. In a video created by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, artists explain why they love opera and how it makes them feel (2014). From the perspective of the artists, they understand what is going on in a different way than the audience might. Unlike the artists, the audience only hears the music. They might not understand it or feel the music reverberating through their body. They also don’t get to dress up in costumes. In contrast to the audience, the performers experience the music on a whole different level.
Every individual comes from different backgrounds and experiences culture differently. When we shared our different opinions about the music in class, it was evident that some of us liked some genres of music better than others. Many of these views can be linked to culture and which culture an individual feels most connected to. As Americans, individuals may appreciate “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a way that people from other countries can’t. As artists who perform opera, individuals may enjoy opera more than a person who can’t understand it. Everyone listens to music in a way that is unique to them.
References
Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. (2014, January 12). Master of Music (Opera Performance) [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIJfeVcwJvc
Marshall, Alex (2014, August 11). “Why The Star-Spangled Banner is the Perfect Insight into America's Soul” The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/aug/11/malcolm-gladwell-star-spangled-banner-america-200th-anniversary
Lady Gaga [LadyGagaVevo]. (2016, February 12). Lady Gaga – Star-Spangled Banner (Live at Super Bowl 50) [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbXSZBnBOQ4
San Francisco Opera Association (n.d.). “A Brief History of Opera” San Francisco Opera. Retrieved from https://sfopera.com/discover-opera/intro-to-opera/a-brief-history-of-opera/
Warren, John T. and Fasset, Deanna L. (2014). Communication: A Critical/Cultural Introduction, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Blog #1
ReplyDeleteJayde Christopher
I chose “Compassionate Critical Listening” with Chris McRae.
in the beginning of the reading, they talk about Max and Stephanie, not only hearing each other but actually listening and giving each other feedback on what and how they feel.
Anyway, they begin talking about hearing a saxophone but the ambulance sirens take over. Stephanie couldn’t hear the saxophone at first because the sirens were over-riding the music.
Once the sirens moved further away, she could finally hear better and Max was so interested in the sound of the music that he wanted to stay. They talked back and forth about staying and leaving. The best thing about their conversation was they listened to each other, asked questions and talked things out like how it should be.
I think we live such a different life now. Back then, people didn’t have the things that we do now. People would rather text instead of call these days. People would rather talk than actually take in what is being said to them and thoroughly listen. Instead, we react. We react without grasping the understanding of what the next person is actually talking about. I find that frustrating because things could run so much smoother when communicating with others. If we just tried compassionate critical thinking, communicating wouldn’t be so hard in today’s world.
I have tried so hard to start listening to what people have to say instead of reacting so quickly. I think that is the problem with people now. They listen but not thoroughly. That means you aren’t compassionately listening, right? That can be the downfall of communication. If you listen to react, there is a problem. If you listen compassionately, you can get things out of the communication. What comes with that is questioning, feedback, etc. that is so important!
“Do your best to practice compassionate listening. Do not listen for the sole purpose of judging, criticizing or analyzing. Listen only to help the other person express himself and find some relief from suffering.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
This quote I found on Huffingtonpost, opened my eyes because I try to listen without criticizing. That goes back to jumping the gun and reacting instead of making an effort to listen carefully to what the person has to say.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-hyder-zahed/compassionate-listening_b_10921036.html