Reflecting on Cross-Cultural Music Making Perspectives

This week I couldn’t help but return to Kim’s article on cross-cultural music making after viewing Mississippi Masala this week. Inter-ethnic relationships is a very interesting topic to me, because I have one myself. Music represents a form of communication that transcends language, which is why I’m so interested in cross-cultural and bilingual music. What’s causing artists to incorporate certain sounds and instruments from “other” cultures? Kim uses embeddedness theory to answer this question, but she does so without getting the perspectives of people who MAKE cross-cultural music. I don’t discount embeddedness and how it permeates everything, but I think, especially as anthropologists, we should not forget ethnography and the importance of perspective.

Kim claims “cross-cultural music making” (CCMM) is a product of power dynamics between nation-states BECAUSE of historic and economic relationships. Basically, she just means we need to think carefully before making assumptions regarding CCMM because there are many factors behind why someone would mix more than culturally distinct style of music. For example, Vietnamese Southern Trap music is a form of cross-cultural music.

Kim assumes that artists who use sounds, instruments, vocals, and language from another culture to create music are capitalizing on exoticism. This means artists just use those sounds because Americans attribute foreign instruments to being “mysterious” or “exotic.” It can also be about power too, Kim argues. The reason a Vietnamese artist would use an American style of music as the basis for their song is because of the Vietnam-American War and this idea that people in Asian countries are becoming more “Western” or “American.”

But I have trouble understanding these concepts in relation to the act of creating content. Of course there are political motives for doing such a thing. The war split many families when refugees fled their country for the safety of the United States. As a result, the 1st generation refugees had kids, and then their kids had kids. But many Vietnamese-Americans in the United States have family in Vietnam who never left. Since travel is open between the two countries now, many have reconnected with those they had to leave. The Vietnamese community is very much a transnational community. American and Vietnamese culture are inevitably mixed up at this point, and that’s why we have Pho restaurants over here and Pizza restaurants in Viet Nam.

True, the history of this whole relationship with Vietnam is particularly unsettling when you look at it on a macro scale. Policy and economic strategy is part of the reason we went to war in the first place! If we didn’t get involved, who knows if we’d have Pho shops popping up all over the place. So yes, that explains why an American artist would hear or find Vietnamese music. But it doesn’t explain why it’s appealing to people. Or why hybrid forms of music are immoral.

In my opinion, creators are constantly thinking about developing their own thing by bringing new approaches to an already existing art. You have to understand what’s popular and why, in order to appeal to it in your music. Which brings me to yet another concept I had buried deep in the back of my brain. I learned a bit about how items get borrowed by other cultures and how new features are added in an introductory Archaeology class. I think this can be used to understand cross-cultural music making. If only I can remember the method! I’m starting to get close to remembering what is in my mind, and here’s what I got so far.

Trans-cultural diffusion is the spread of cultural items between individuals or groups. I can’t recall the specific terms for the process, but there is a comparative method used in Archaeology that came back to me while writing this post. Basically, it’s that we can trace how cultural items are spread by comparing their different forms relative to their locations with other item. I think this will be a prime topic to research because I see some connections with cross-cultural music making and the spread of different forms of music. Perhaps there is something from Archaeology that I can bring to the table. Look for that post next week!

Sources:

Kim, Jin-Ah. “»Cross-Cultural Music Making«: Concepts, Conditions and Perspectives.” International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music, vol. 48, no. 1, 2017, pp. 19–32. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/44259473.

See what your friends think!
Email this to someone
email
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on Google+
Google+
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Share on Reddit
Reddit

You may also like...

23 Responses

  1. Compatibility with Android programs has brought many people’s advantages to the forefront. If you want a systematic way to help you in a comfortable and quality use of your car’s smartphone, download tubidy mp3. tubidy mp3 download and listen to the latest music and tracks first thanks to this program you.

  2. I’m impressed, I have to admit. Genuinely rarely should i encounter a weblog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you may have hit the nail about the head. Your idea is outstanding; the problem is an element that insufficient persons are speaking intelligently about. I am delighted we came across this during my look for something with this.

  3. tubidy mp3 says:

    If the music or video you want to download is on YouTube, you can download this music or video to your device via Tubidy, then you can play this video or music without an internet connection.

  4. e kitap indirme sitesi.

  5. mobile music and video search engine.

  6. bacarasite.com says:

    Finalmente me alegro de encontrar este sitio. ¡Gracias por el trabajo y el trabajo! Por favor, sigan compartiendo más tales blogs.

    https://www.bacarasite.com/

  7. oncablog.one says:

    Personally I think overjoyed I discovered the blogs.
    I would recommend my profile is important to me, I invite you to discuss this topic…

    https://oncablog.one

  8. Trung tâm Thi Bằng Lái Xe A1 là cơ sở uy tín và chất lượng top đầu tại TPHCM chuyên: Tuyển sinh – Đào tạo – Sát hạch GPLX Hạng A1, A2. Với đội ngũ giáo viên đã có nhiều năm kinh nghiệm cũng như trang thiết bị hiện đại, trung tâm cam kết sẽ mang đến cho học viên một khóa học bằng lái xe đầy đủ kiến thức, kỹ năng cần thiết để có thể đạt kết quả tốt nhất trong kỳ thi. Lộ trình học và thi được tổ chức chặt chẽ, khoa học, kỳ thi diễn ra theo đúng cam kết. Khi đến đây, bạn sẽ được hỗ trợ một cách tận tình nhất từ bước ghi danh cho đến khi nhận được bằng. Hãy tham gia đăng ký khóa học lái xe máy tại TPHCM ngay hôm nay để trải nghiệm dịch vụ với chất lượng tốt nhất mà chúng tôi mang lại nhé.

  9. Tenkei Hyouka says:

    Thank you, author, for dedicating your time to share your informative knowledge. I hope the article will be spread widely to contribute to disseminating useful information to the community. Don’t forget to visit bk8 to participate in thrilling entertainment games.

  10. Josh J. Danner says:

    I wholeheartedly express my gratitude for your informative article. I hope it spreads widely so that more people can gain access to this valuable information and immerse themselves in the thrilling games at 77bet.

  11. Hannah says:

    I sincerely thank you for your informative article. I hope it gets spread widely so that more people have the opportunity to access this useful information and experience the exciting games at Zowin.

  12. At Bet365, players enjoy live sports betting, competitive odds, and fast payouts. The platform’s mobile app ensures a seamless betting experience, while its secure payment system and excellent customer service make it a trusted name in the industry.

  13. “Zomclub delivers fast payouts and secure transactions with a variety of card games and slots. The platform’s easy navigation and excellent customer support make it a trusted choice for online gaming.”

  14. “Zomclub offers a wide selection of games, fast payouts, and secure transactions. The platform’s intuitive design and top-tier customer service make it an excellent choice for casual and experienced gamers.”

  15. Play Sic Bo on the top-rated online casino! Enjoy unparalleled security, fantastic bonuses, and fast payouts. Get ready for an unforgettable gaming adventure!

  16. The game selection at B52 is impressive, with a range of classic and modern titles. Players can choose from traditional card games or explore the latest slot releases, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

  17. Looking for an exciting gaming platform? 77bet offers top-notch slots, live casino games, and sports betting. Enjoy fast payouts, secure gameplay, and exclusive promotions. Join now and start winning with 77bet!

  18. “Join Shbet for a premium gaming experience with secure transactions, fast payouts, and a variety of games. Exclusive promotions and top-quality support make every moment enjoyable.”

  19. “At C54, players can access a wide selection of exciting casino games, including slots and live dealers. With safe deposits, fast withdrawals, and generous promotions, C54 is the go-to platform for thrilling entertainment.”

  20. zomclub link says:

    “Zomclub delivers a premium gaming experience with fast payouts, secure transactions, and a wide range of card games and slots. The platform’s easy navigation and dedicated customer support ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *