Thoughts on Who Knows What

So here we are, the first day of a new semester. This is going to be my third semester and let’s just say, I can already tell it’s gonna be one a lot harder than the previous two. I guess that’s to be suspected, I’m not a freshman anymore (thank god). I figure I might as well introduce myself, personalize this whole blogging thing a little. My name is Alyssa Vuilleumier, I’m a criminology major minoring in forensic psychology and art and visual technology; and I’ve never done anything like this before (blogging I mean).

Basically I’m both terrified and excited for this class, HIST 390-004 for anyone who may not know what’s going on. My first impression is… I guess anticipation for a bit of a work load. It’s either that or this class is going to be super easy, I don’t know which yet. Initially I thought it was going to be a programing class or something since it counts as an IT credit. Now I realize who wrong I was, and I’m actually relieved. This class seems to be focusing on music and how it’s evolved over time. I’m not gonna lie, it took me a bit to feel confident I wasn’t in the wrong class; it’s just so different from what I anticipated. However, it seems like I’ll enjoy it a lot more than I expected to if I survive the work load. I realize I’m just jumping to conclusions, but isn’t that what the first week is for anyway? Honestly, @GeorgeMasonUniversity, you should push back those drop deadlines.

As for content on the first day, I’m intrigued. One thing Professor O’Malley said stuck with me… partially because it irked me but that’s beside the point. He made an assumption that songs like Firework by Katy Perry and Havana by Camila Cabello are the only ones people my age, of my generation listen to. I wish I could have pointed out how wrong he was. I am a lover of music, I’ve never been talented in it myself, but the songs and artists I listen to are incredibly special to me (probably more so than they should be). It easier to list the music that I don’t enjoy before that which I do, so I guess I’ll do that. The only genres that I don’t listen to are pop, RnB, gospel and rap (country as well, but I can appreciate it more). I do dabble in most other genres though, if only a little (if only you could see my Spotify, it’s a mess) The aforementioned songs are not ones I particularly enjoy. It is probably the case that Professor O’Malley didn’t legitimately believe his comment, however I felt the need to clarify.

I mention this simply because of his main point, that our generation only listens to music that has NO dynamics, emphasis on NO. Such a statement I find myself agreeing with in terms of socially coined “pop” music, and a solid bit of rap music as well. What I don’t agree with is that all modern music is dynamically flat. I would like to clarify that I’ve never taken any form of advanced music class, so there is every chance that I’m wrong in this. Here are some nonetheless that I feel are dynamic; Machines by Crown the Empire, Drunken Lament by Ludo, Crypteque by Danny Baranowsky, Forty Six & 2 by Tool and so many more I can’t even begin to list.

Now if we bypass my prejudices, and answer the question of “why is modern music less, if at all, dynamic than older music?”, I’d guess that it has to do with how technology has changed. Now we have devices and the such that require (or are compatible with) headphones. I would hypothesize that the electronics work a certain way and dynamics are sacrificed for technology. Another hypothesis I might make is that, pop music is trying to adhere to the most extensive audience possible, and to do that they (the producers, musicians, what have you) follow a general formula for a good song. This, I’d assume, is intentionally uninventive so as to not turn people away.

That’s about it, I’m looking forward to getting a solid answer.