I used this quote and
made the argument that gypsy music is the kind Adorno would enjoy because it
does not follow a structure already shaped by culture:
"The more totally the culture industry roots out all deviations,
thus cutting off the medium from its intrinsic possibilities of development,
the more the whole blaring dynamic business approaches a standstill." ...
"no single measure follows from the logic of the musical progression--so
the perennial fashion becomes the likeness of a planned congealed society"
pg. 124-125, On Jazz
I pointed to the atonality Adorno looks for in his avant garde that gypsy music has, but also to its belonging to a certain culture. Gypsy culture, as I knew it, is not influenced by commercial forces - it is not driven by profit. Disregarding the fact that this music does in fact have a structure shaped by ITS culture, I thought it correct to place gypsy music in the type of music Adorno would listen to.
His whole point is that any music which follows a format already established is not the kind he appreciates. It is difficult to really understand what he would appreciate, but my mistake is in labeling the music I shared as the kind he would appreciate.
I also tried to justify his potential liking by focusing on the lyrics of the song, the meaning of the singer's words. I wrote that this woman sings about having children and about the happiness that would come
with having them and the strength it would give her, and said that this kind of message is not one ever found in popular music, on the radio or the top sellers.This does not, once again, mean that the music does not follow structure. Perhaps I did not interpret Adorno literally enough - his hate of jazz threw me off and might have distracted me from his many other points.
After revising this post I come to realize my understanding of Adorno (and perhaps each other author) is not as clear or deep as I would like to finish class off with, but there is always the possibility of coming back to the work as I just did.
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