1)What surprised or intrigued me?
I was definitely surprised by the child's wake, the reburial of the dead in Madagascar, and the Chinese opera. The child's wake was just a huge wake up call, sort of like a reality check. It's kinda like how you pinch yourself to make sure you're still alive. I'm definitely alive. Life is real. Life hurts sometimes, too. The reburial of the dead in Madagascar was shocking and slightly disturbing, but I'm sure they think we are shocking and slightly disturbing, too. The Chinese opera was just like gymnastics, opera, Shakespeare, and Cirque de Soleil all rolled into one.
I was intrigued by the way the Native Americans linked their religiion and their music so much together. It was also incredible to see things that are prominent in every culture examined as vital facet of that culture, for example, things such as religion, music, death, social interaction, the arts, survival, expression. These are all things which every culture has some form or fashion of. It's just really neat to think about.
2) What did I learn about my own culture?
I learned that I'm not as normal as I thought I was. I'm weird to the rest of the world. I am different. We are all unique. I am very small. My world is much smaller than the world that I live in. Maybe my ways of doing things are just simply that: they are mine. I have a heritage, a cultural tradition that has been passed on to me. What if I had been born somewhere else? Where would I be now? What would I be doing? How would I view music and religion- two of the most important things in my life?
3)What will I learn more about?
This course has inspired me to learn more about the link between music and the individual person. Why do people sing those words or that style? Why is that culture primarily soloistic in their music? Why does this culture not let women sing? Is that man being rude by taking off that medal of honor or is he being humble? Why does that women never speak up for herself in situations where I would be comfortable speaking up for myself? What is it about a culture's music that shapes the mindset, the social mindset, the personal character of a person? How different of a person would I be if I didn't listen to American pop, contemporary Christian, and Southern country? Would my ideals be different? Would I feel differently about my personal rights/freedoms? It's just neat to imagine. It's neat to find out WHY people are the way they are. I guess it's one big psychology experiment.
5 comments:
The child's wake definitely made a lasting impression on me as well. Growing up I never expressed difficult emotions, so it seems so hard to lament for someone in front of your whole community. But it also seemed very necessary and beautiful. I was definitely shocked at first at the reburial in Madagascar. I just thought the musical aspect and the passing around of the body was strange. I guess that shows that my culture has made me take my own norms of things. And, I love your description of Chinese opera!!
Yeah, the Chinese opera was definately a culture shock. I believe Dr. Vaneman's line about it being the child of the Circus and something else was not far off the mark.
As for your last remark, that's an interesting line of thought. It's my personal belief that the type of music we like depends on what's inside of each of us. The kinds of music that we enjoy and identify with are what tells other people what goes on inside of your soul far more accurately than anything you could say. But that's just my thoughts.
The Chinese opera was a huge shock. Your last remark really mad me think about everthing. My Belief is that the kinds of music we really like all depends on what is in our hearts and helps to tell the world that.
I love opera, but the Chinese Opera was--different.
Taking Music for Diverse Cultures makes me want to hold hands with the world, skip, jump, and sing harmonious melodies, because it's true although we're all very different life brings joy, music, death,life happens where ever you go.
Post a Comment