Hard Thinking #1 #2

Approach to non-eurocentric music #1: “World Music” – Folk Music – Old School Ethnomusicology

How it analyses the power imbalance in music: In most parts of the world there’s a significant dominance of genres of music that derive from big mainstream American hits, brought on by capitalism and cultural imperialism. This manifestation of eurocentric power has oppressed the real, indigenous music of the third world. 

How it attempts to empower third world musicians: By using mainstream eurocentric record companies and producers (or field recorders) to record and distribute this oppressed folk music.

What it gets right: Hegemonic pressure in shaping culture and the power of large record companies is often lost in other analyses.

Where it fails: Hoo boy. From the racist idea if musical roots, through the fact that market, distribution and selection (and thus power) is still squarely in European hands, to the way it is implied that someone from the third world can’t be modern… So much fail. So much fail.