On the other hand, there are now countless different genres of music, as shown in the picture below...
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Genres...
The concept of a genre seems like a simple idea, but in reality it is very complex, as shown by the Miller article that we are reading in class. Most people give no consideration to what a genre is/how they are decided. On a basic level I think that genres are a necessary evil. I understand some of the points that Miller presents about how a genre should present the end goal of something, not just what that something contains. But when it comes to something like music, how would you decide WHAT the goal of that music is? I feel like you do need to classify the music on the specific things that it contains, otherwise how are you going to find what you are looking for? Or either I am just used to music being grouped by country, rock, hip hop, disco, etc.
On the other hand, there are now countless different genres of music, as shown in the picture below...
People make up these genres everyday, so it becomes difficult to sort out what they all mean. And many artists can be categorized into multiple genres, where do they show up in i-Tunes or in Wal Mart? I don't really have the answers to any of these questions, I just find it interesting. So if anyone can enlighten me, please do.
On the other hand, there are now countless different genres of music, as shown in the picture below...
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I blogged on the same thing. Music seems to be an exception to Miller's philosophy on genre. When looking on itunes for certain types of music it sure would be weird if they were grouped into purpose instead of predetermined categories like rock, rap, and country. It would be funny searching for songs and getting results like politician agenda, social commentary, and some with absolutely no clear meaning. Good post. Great minds think alike.
ReplyDeleteI mean Miller's ideas are very encompassing but at the same time, I am just realizing that it would only apply to a select few groups. Literature being the biggest one of course. But sometimes music is construed as having a purpose, so if you really try hard enough, I'm sure there is a connection somewhere between the purpose of a song and the exigence that Miller talks about.
ReplyDeleteI don't see miller's idea as being all that bad for music genres. Her theories would add more songs to certain genres because they would not be excluded from the category due to some content within. This would mean that if you were looking for a song that you didn't quite know the genre to, you could get close and it would probably be in there. Where as today if it is classified as rock, but as a little country in it and you try to find it as country then it will not show up. Miller's theory would make it where if you typed country then the song would come up because it has a little bit of country in it.
ReplyDeleteI think that Miller makes a good point about the big idea of a work is important but i wouldnt classify that as "genre" per se. I would say that is a theme or a main purpose. I wouldnt call the movie Crash a testament to racial issues in america as the genre, however, I would call it a drama. It really just depends on your personal definition of genre as to what to classify certain works.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if likening Miller's definition of genre to searching for music on iTunes by genre. In the same light, if I go into Barnes & Noble, I want my science fiction to be in the science fiction section, not spread all over the store in random sub-sections as Miller defines it. Miller narrows down what everything's purpose is, but I feel like there is still a need for the general genre.
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