Postmodern music - Kramers music theory.

Jonathan Kramer's 16 postmodern music theories:

1. is not simply a repudiation of modernism or its continuation, but has aspects of both a break and an extension
2. is, on some level and in some way, ironic
3. does not respect boundaries between sonorities and procedures of the past and of the present
4. challenges barriers between 'high' and 'low' styles
5. shows disdain for the often unquestioned value of structural unity
6. questions the mutual exclusivity of elitist and populist values
7. avoids totalizing forms (e.g., does not want entire pieces to be tonal or serial or cast in a prescribed formal mold)
8. considers music not as autonomous but as relevant to cultural, social, and political contexts
9. includes quotations of or references to music of many traditions and cultures
10. considers technology not only as a way to preserve and transmit music but also as deeply implicated in the production and essence of music
11. embraces contradictions
12. distrusts binary oppositions
13. includes fragmentations and discontinuities
14. encompasses pluralism and eclecticism
15. presents multiple meanings and multiple temporalities
16. locates meaning and even structure in listeners, more than in scores, performances, or composers

Since discussing Jonathan Kramer's throeies in class, i am now going to apply these to a variation of artists songs to identify how their choices of layered sounds create a new brand of music.

This is Aaliyah - Are you that somebody - produced by Timberland



Throughout this song Timberland has chosen to encorporate a baby gurgling in the backing track as well as vocal tics. I interpret this as ironic as the American culture often call each other 'baby' which is also included in these lyrics. Whether this is deliberate or not it adds an element of irony and humour.

2.is, on some level and in some way, ironic

13. includes fragmentations and discontinuties

14. enco,passes pluralism and eclectism



Karlheinz Stockhausen - Helicopter String Quartet



This piece of music by Stockhausen i find largely inspiring and enjoyable to listen to. I feel that the additional element of the helicoptor made the piece contemporary as well as creating additional elements that in their own way related to clasical music. For instance i felt that the continuous and accurate pace of the helicoptor was as effective as a metronome used to keep the pace and timing for music.

Alvin Lucier - Im sitting in a room

Homework postmodern essay

Discuss two or more media texts that you would define as 'postmodern' and explain why you would give them this label.

My first media text that I have chosen as a representable artist within postmodern media is singer and lyricist Lady GaGa. She has suddenly become recognised worldwide since the release of her debut album ‘The fame’ only 18 months ago. Since then she has successfully exploited herself in detail through her music and lyrical choices as well as the way she has always presents herself in the public eye. My reason for labeling Lady GaGa with this title is due a range of elements that display an additional identity for Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, this is Lady GaGa. Everything about her character is exaggerated to express features and connotations that make such controversial statements.
Lady GaGa’s character evolved from many inspirations from pop culture including Andy Warhol and David Bowie, both these people are often made reference to throughout her public displays and performances. An example of this was at the beginning of GaGa’s career when should never been see at performances or interviews without a lightening bolt across her face similar to David Bowie. This reference to his iconic image highlights his efforts to create new identities for each of his albums along with their genre of music; both these artists explore the impact of manufacturing a person that challenges society and values. For example Lady GaGa has deliberately molded her character around the negative things she feels are present in society similar to Andy Warhol who highlighted vanity and various cultural messages; her motivation behind her extreme clothing style such as dresses constructed from Kermit the Frog heads and another that consisted only of transparent plastic bubble, she strives to complete the image of a ‘freak’. This dramatic contrast between the appearance of fame and her image is the statement that has captivated people worldwide and forced everyone to recognise a new reality.
Another factor of her appearance is wearing black lens glasses - often present in interviews and large performances. This is reference to the image of the ‘haunted celebrity’; Michael Jackson was commonly known to make this statement also. Her concept of identity is what has made her career so explosive and fortunately for her the public has accepted her and appreciates her work. A quote from a Guardian journalist stated ‘[contemporary] rock and pop performers today have to speak in multi-media tongues’, Lady GaGa presence is an example of this.

My second media text that I am looking at is the film Fight Club. Despite starring Brad Pit and Edward Norton the film failed to make an impression on the box office and it wasn’t until it became released on DVD that it became the film to watch. As the word spread about this film so did the status that came with it, even to the extent that many fight club groups were formed all over the country following the films impact. Though it is not only this that has earned its name as a great postmodern film, it is numerous subtle elements that build up this narrative and challenge the audience.
An example of this is the narrative; beginning with the last scene of the film (the future) followed by jumping to the beginning of the film (the past). This irregular flow of time highlights that none of it is in present time and where it stands in reality. The element of manipulating time is a huge part of postmodernism as it creates a whole new reality, this ironically relates to the twist in then story where there Edward Norton’s character realises that he is both himself and Tyler durden (Brad Pit’s character). This concludes that a lot of the film is questionable whether parts are imagined or reality and therefore part of a new reality which is his imagination in his mind.
The strong address of violence within the film is often paired with humor; Brad Pit’s character is seen to influence many crimes and acts of destruction which are references to serious issues happening in the modern world and society however I believe that the film have twisted the character to also introduce humor to highlight that these events within the film are extreme cases. His character emphasizes to enjoy life and not worry about the risks involved in any actions, in some ways this does carry important messages though ironically I believe this is because Brad Pit’s character is only an imagination therefore can never lose anything and wouldn’t ever be afraid of anything.

Ethnographic model

Using the ethnographic model (try and separate it into the three areas highlighted) evaluate your own text. Have you inadvertently prevented certain 'audiences' from accessing your text?

My media has prevented various audiences concerned by 'stress one and three'. This is that due to the domestic enviroment that structures the media as currently it is not possible for every household to have access to the internet because of financial issues. This rules out those in society who are labeled as information-poor, these people may not be exposed to the media ......

Evaluation

Evaluation question 1 – In what ways does your media product use

Question two is a video commentary however it is too long to upload onto youtube or onto this blog and so i am going to burn it onto a disk.

Evaluation question 3 – What have you learned from your audience feedback

Evaluation question 4 - how did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Final cd case images

Album cover:



Cd print:



Inside of cd case:



Back of cd:

Close call!

This could have been a huge embarrassment! Just as i thought i had finished i realised that the image inside of my cd case had a word missing in the song title, below is the corrected version.

Cd cover

This image is a development from my last cd cover mock that i am considering as my final cd cover.