Contextual & Theoretical Studies.: December 2009

Thursday 10 December 2009

On Popular Music. Adorno. TASK2.

Adorno's (1941) article 'On Popular Music', stresses his feelings towards 'popular music' of which he states is characterized by it's difference from serious music. His article is split into 3 seperate ideas.

-The Musical Material.

-Presentation of the material. &

-Theory about the Listener.

He talks about the idea of this 'popular music' and standardization, (Adorno, 1941, p1). Through this standardization, all music is written to 'a formula', from which all genres of music aim to apply to this standard. An example he uses is the fact that there seems to be an apparent rule within this idea of 'popular music': '...the chorus consists of thirty two bars and that the range is limited to one octave and one note.' (Adorno, 1941, p1)

Adorno talks about how this standardization of music creates standard reactions and people just 'know' how to react to a genre. Popular music is not just manipulated by it's promoters but by the nature of the music itself. By just knowing how to react to genres of music it seems to take away the idea of individuality, people are tricked into feeling/thinking they are individual. This leads to the idea of popular music being pre-digested already for us before we even hear the music.

There are good examples of this pre-digested approach, firstly within design, everybody is always designing to a specific style of that season, therefore it's a pre-digested style. Goths are another good example, they think they are being individual but this is really pre-digested. Even within the art world, people buy into a standard 'brand', such as Damien Hirst or Banksy.

Adorno also keys into this idea of 'plugging' (Adorno, 1941, p2), which translates to the promotion of yourself, this is seen done by music artists all over the world, on chat shows and within performing, an example of bringing to uncommonly seen together artists is a good example of plugging.

Adorno also explains how any popular music can be a success as long as it sticks to the 'rules' but has one unique feature. Covers done by artists and The X-Factor is another good example it's just working to who is the most pliable in this market, the idea of us having public choice is an illusion. By plugging in different ways - making things 'appear different' by using different environments, this can de-standardize it.

The main subject of this part is how the appeal of music and fashion and the idea of 'belonging' (Adorno, 1941, p3), offers you connectivity to mainstream society. It says how music is largely a social cement, and the ideas of 'adjustment' to the mechanisms of present-day life.

This text also relates to the idea of mass culture, (popular and consumer based culture).

The pop video which I have chosen that I think is very true of Adornos' views on popular music is Take Thats', 'Relight my fire'.

As well as their sexy attitude to dance, fantastic taste in clothes and amazing good looks, I chose this video as I feel it demonstrates Adornos' sentiments largely.

I feel that it shows 'plugging' (Adorno, 1941, p2) in some way as Lulu is in the video and song this promotes her career and also that of Take Thats', and of course, today, Take That are forever 'plugging' their come-back, with interviews, show appearences and media coverage. As Adorno explains that to be a success in pop music you have to abide to all the 'rules' of popular music and then a certain element that differences you from other music, takethat have done this through having no Robbie Williams anymore.

As you listen to the song you realise that it has been pre-digested for you, you know how to react to the song genre.

I think that all take-that songs evoke the general rules of popular music, through there

the links to wider culture.