Music Genre Analysis

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A music genre is a category of pieces of music that share a certain style or “basic musical language” (van der Merwe 1989, p.3). The two articles that I will be comparing are “Genres, Subgenres, Sub-Subgenres and More” by Kembrew McLeod (2001) and “On the Value of Popular Music” by S. Firth (1996). Categorizing music is especially challenging when it comes to fitting it into sub genres. As we move through the ages, and technology and communication becomes more complex, newer and unique genres are emerging. At first glance the more specific subgenres cause dispute and thoughts of “hipster” emerge. Nonetheless, upon further inquiry, each of them makes cultural sense to be part of our ever-growing society. The two articles that I will be comparing have different levels of exaggeration, meaning and purpose. Nonetheless, both tackle the issues in relation to genre and its ideology.
The title “Performing Rites: On The value of Popular Music – Genre Rules” is itself, an interesting concept by Firth. It’s suggesting Performance is a religious act and popular music should be viewed with caution as to it’s worth in being listed as popular. Firth S. (1996) classifies how genre is created as a result of historical and social circumstances met inevitably through industrialization. Circumstances include making, selling and consuming; that in turn get categorized in order for consumption. This to me sheds light on how the problem is that market success corresponds to popularity therefore it deems cultural importance falling heavily in terms of countering critical judgement.
Firth identifies there are sociological forces present in genre making. He uses Rock FM as an example, classifying rock as “other than pop, album based music for adults”...

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...s, Subgenres, Sub-Subgenres and More have a more detailed argument in terms of specificity. McLeod states his points clearly and ensures that background knowledge is also given such as history on how Electric genre formed etc. Therefore, I would conclude that the latter was a more thought provoking article.

Both articles have different purposes yet tackle the same ideology, which is genre. It is understood from analysis of them that we are slowly loosening ties on what a genre is and becoming a much wider concept. We assume that success means cultural importance however they are not a decent representation of the quality of consumption. Through the articles it can be assumed that both authors are uncertain to the way in which Genre specifics are headed and demand for awareness and further accuracy and thought when it comes to creating more labels under genres.

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