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"A Hodge-Podge of Music And Culture Soup"
Paper works that I have
been slacking off for almost a week are cropping up. There are so many
engagements to do and errands to meet. It is a kind of physical, mental and
emotional pressure. I must have a break! I turn on the music player of my
cellphone and listen to mellow music. Basically, we listen to music for a
variety of reasons, but usually to relate ourselves to the expression of
feelings and emotions elicited in music we prefer to listen to. Music has the
power to change people's feelings. In fact, music therapy has become a popular
method of helping people deal with problems such as stress, anxiety and pain.
It can be an antidote for negative feelings, inducing the hormones of our body
that make us happy. But one thing that has amazed me is the fact that the
choice of music of an individual can bind or mold cultures. Indeed, the
commonality in the choice of music can make the group of people together.
Hence, the question
clouding on your mind in this very moment is: “How does the music or choice of
music form or shape culture?” But before we discuss it, let’s find out the
definition of culture and its characteristics for better comprehension on the
subject matter. Culture, as we all know, is a particular way of life that
expresses a certain meanings and values. Geerd Hofstede defined culture as “the
collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group
to another.” Meaning, every culture, there are set of values, standards and
norms that must be followed to be “in” or have a sense of belongingness to that
group. It unites the group of people together and sets apart it from the other.
Every culture is unique, in other words, one of a kind and distinctive from the
other. It has the following characteristics: it is essential on the human
existence; it is dynamic; it can be learned; and it can be shared.
The postmodern cultures
mushrooming in our modern times are the evidences that culture changes over
time. It is in the state of a constant flux. We cannot predict what would be the
next culture or subcultures on the limelight. The members of a particular
culture can share their own values and beliefs and if the other individual
relates to their belief, there’s a tendency that he might be belong or included
to that culture. It is an indication that the individual has learned and
resembled the culture imposed or shared with him. He acts and talks like
“them.”
To create or depict the
picture of the scenario, I’m going to give you an example. Let’s say, for
example, an individual who is quite sensitive and emotional in nature prefers
to listen to the songs that are intense and full of emotions. It seems that the
genre of music he listens to affect his lifestyles because he’s into the songs,
relating each words and feelings inflicted on them. When he meets a group of
people that used to listen to that genre of music, they would be sharing their
values, learning from one another. It cannot be gainsaid that the time would
come that he’d be a part of that group, sharing a commonality and meaning on
their values and experiences. Even they do not know one another; they can be
identified and perceived as one group, indeed, culture.
Everyone has a freedom
of choice. Whatever culture an individual is devoting to is a right. We cannot
alter the fact that we want the world to see us and to be recognized based on
our unique characteristics. But, remember, every people in the world is
unique.
POSTED BY: Eve Glenn Clarisse Morado
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000105301970
@ August 13, 2011