Harlem Renaissance

I recently listened to a lecture on the Harlem Renaissance, and it got me thinking about the movement's legacy. How does America continue to feel the effects of it, and in what light are African Americans regarded today compared to the early century? Without the Harlem Renaissance, much of the popular music today, such as hip-hop and R&B would not exist. Music both directly and indirectly influenced by the Harlem Renaissance dominates the radio waves. Virtually all pop music features overwhelmingly strong ties to hip-hop, as 8 of the top 10 songs on the Billboard top 100 have strong ties to the early jazz movements. Do these artists realize how strongly their music is influenced by the New Negro movement? Arguments leaning either way are tenable, but it is safe to assume that those uneducated in the movement are oblivious to its impact.

African Americans hold deep stock in the pop culture of today. Their faces are featured on many magazines in the grocery store checkout line, many of them, specifically musical artists such as Beyonce, Jay-Z and Kanye West, are idolized by their fans. However, does their prominence lose some of its substance as many of their fans are passive toward their favorite artist’s musical heritage?

Outside the Numbers

Music body says 95% of downloads illegal. Obviously this comes as news to no one. Any avid internet user is aware of the frequency and ease of access of FREE, illegal internet downloads from sites such as mediafire and megaupload. The music industry's response to this activity was to focus more on concert sales and touring, as these have been the responsible for the majority of artists cash flow for decades. The problem now is, with the stingy economy, people aren't attending as many concerts as they have in the past. Adding to the issue is the tyranny of ticket brokering systems such as Ticketmaster and Livenation. People don't have the money to spend on concert tickets, and on top of that, people don't feel obliged to pay service to these companies presenting the tickets to them.

What can we do to combat the evils battling the music industry? I think we need to ride out the storm. Good music continues to flourish, maybe now more than any time in the past ten years. With revolutionary bands like Animal Collective, Phoenix, Grizzly Bear, Pretty Lights, and Bon Iver, music has been blossoming into beauty recently. Add to that resurgent past acts such as the Flaming Lips and Phish, and I'd say us music listeners are lucky. The future looks bright based on the present, despite what the numbers might tell you.

Over the Rainbow

In 1972, approximately 20,000 like minded individuals gathered in Roosevelt National Forest to celebrate self-sustainability. From this gathering, now annually known as Rainbow Gathering, a 'diverse and decentralized social fabric began to weave itself from threads of hippie culture, back-to-the-landers, american indian spiritual teachings, pacifist-anarchist traditions, eastern mysticism, and the legacy of depression era hobo street wisdom,' according to the website. Since its inception, Rainbow Gathering has grown into an annual summer wide gathering that inhabits a different National Forest each year. The gathering exists in order to, "renew our commitment to a better way of life, to be closer to the Earth, and to share Love & Joy with one another." What makes Rainbow unique is its cost to participate: nothing. Essentially, a human shows up with various goods, and barters them amongst their brothers and sisters. People give and receive freely, and no real currency exists. It is an escape from social norms, living with a community committed to living simply. However, there is a level of development on the land. People construct water pipe systems to make water available for cooking and drinking. Makeshift kitchens and ovens are erected from the ground using whatever tools available. Much more than just a bunch of dirty hippies gathering in the forest, Rainbow represents active social change. Rather than lobby for the government to take action, the Rainbow family simply lives the way they feel is best. And after the gathering has ended, there is no trace that it ever existed.

Rainbow has inspired similar gatherings around the nation such as Burning Man, and Water Woman. The future Villages in the Sky gathering will round out the representation of the elements by humans. Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.

Welcome

Greetings. As this is my opening blog I would like to take a moment to introduce my blog. Music I enjoy listening to: Grateful Dead, Phish, Velvet Underground, Les Claypool, Talking Heads, Yonder Mountain String Band, LCD Soundsystem, Widespread Panic, Allman Brothers

Music I avoid: Mainstream Radio, gangster rap

I like the earth. If you haven't seen Avatar I strongly suggest doing so. It truly is an uplifting experience.

My Mind's Got a Mind of its Ow...

Fat - Weird Al Yankovic