the Order Taker

“What’s your order,

 lifestyle or music?”

Have you noticed our cultures today? Aside from the holistic view in our churches, dramaturgical scenes during elections, and the non-stop and never-ending imitations of telenovelas and films, here’s we have the newest type of postmodern culture in our status quo.

Basically, culture is, as what anthropologists said, includes everything that happens in our society. The customs, principles and practices are always on its extreme and also, culture forms the formal institution in society such as churches, state, and academe. But since we’re now in a fast-paced generation, we can also include the “media” as part of forming our culture. And when we say media, it really has the power in spinning our heads and twists one’s way of thinking as well as way of living. By these, we’ve had postmodern cultures arises not just in religious aspect, or as an individual but also in our music.

Yes! MUSIC has its culture. Music is a form of language --- language of emotions. (Alperson) We made by the outward pursuance of what we feel of. That’s why, we chose to make sounds out of it and create our own identity. And as years passed by, these genres take stands in stereotyping discourses. We take these types of music as lifestyles, fashions, trends and/or simply meaning of itself that seems like forming new culture.

This reign of postmodern culture gives way to those who are overindulged indie… those peeps who are fascinated in having their own styles, originalities and make themselves as unique. For that, they create mixed genre. Some call them as weirdo, or in barbaric terms (for mocks) they call it as “bolokz”. But, to give respect for them, and make it as cute and pleasing to ears, we coined the term “EMOPHIZTAH”.

Emophiztah are usually misinterpreted. They loved mixed types of songs and wear wacky get-ups. But, whether you’re one of them or not, you still have this enigma when it comes to questions like this: “are these postmodern cultures served as a lifestyle, a form of music or both?” Commonly, when we heard emo, we usually say that it’s a simple genre of music. Some would say that it’s simply like a lifestyle by having intense use of eyeliners, fitted jeans, and so on. But how can we say when we already take it as a lifestyle or music? When did it start?

During 40’s, 50’s or the Cold War Era, and the likes (anything that pertains to wars), genre of music arises. People tend to express their woes in what they perceive on their status quo. But at the same time, the diversion of music to lifestyles, also give way during this. They wear frat shirts while yelling on streets towards change. They also wear something that may use to amplify their woes, to show what they felt. At the end, during 80’s, 90’s and to our current year, we already seize this idea in our daily lives until we serve it as annual fashion, trends and even reason of our existence. Due to this, it’s really hard to distinguish whether we take it as lifestyle or music ‘cause we have different views on it… and depends to the majority’s acceptance… the culture.

People especially youth, are really awesome in innovating things. We have the clear views of what may people use in the future. We explore the world. We… as I assure you will make other modernisms in diverse aspects. And maybe tomorrow, we’ll have another postmodern culture that we didn’t ever imagine.

POSTED BY: Sharon May Elorde

https://www.facebook.com/ako.sharon

@ August 13, 2011