Alternative Culture and Postmodernism

Alternative Culture and Postmodernism Music in the past twenty years was characterized by, among other concepts, the two concepts of alternative cultures and postmodernism. The context below will explain how the lyrics, instrumentation or sound, subjects or themes of five major cultures of music support or relate to these two concepts. Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Alternative Culture and Postmodernism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This article will also provide examples of artists, the varying years they recorded their album in various cultures of music. The context below shall also reveal my thoughts of how the five different cultures of music portray and display our current generation in relation to the concepts above. Several types of music On examination of the concept of alternative cultures in music, it can be observed that this concept varies with different kinds of music culture. The common cultures of music known today are the hip hop, b lues, jazz, rock-punk, and modern crank cultures. The instrumentation used in the hip-hop culture is diverse. Around two decades ago, the culture of hip hop was referred to as commercial hip-hop within the dance industry. Today, there are the meaning of hip-hop is varied as numerous artists have defined the culture differently. One popular definition is that included in the 1999 album of the high and mighty hip hop group titled Home field advantage. The lyrics of one of the songs in the album stated that â€Å"Modern hip hop has grown from the dancing and shaking moves to just plain rapping.† This, according to Brod (159), describes the evolution of hip-hop in the recent years. Meanwhile, the culture of blues is usually associated with characteristics such as specific lyrics, bass lines and instruments which derive sounds that affect individuals differently. For instance, some people are used to listening to blues when they wake up in the morning while others love to listen to blues just before they sleep. The culture of blues was traditionally known as rock and roll. The new modern genre of blues that goes by the title of blues rock is a culture based on love songs and relationships. In the modern world, it is also associated with human emotions examples being melancholy or sadness.Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The culture of jazz, entails making music by the use of instruments, mostly drum sets and trumpets. These instruments used are meant to echo sounds of clarity, warmth, unbelievable sense of swing and therefore create a harmonious atmosphere. In the history of jazz music, Louis Armstrong was among the most popular individuals related with the genre. On August 4th 1901, Armstrong perfected the improvised acts of performing solo (Storb 103).At first, the solo performances were done in shows during the breaks but later, the solo performances turned into shows of their own. In exploring the concept of modernism in the evolution of jazz, there are several types of jazz music that arise and these are the Big Band, Bebop, Ragtime, and Early fork jazz. In the current day, there exists a new type of jazz known as Free Jazz which entails the players being allowed to produce squeaking and sniveling sounds with their instruments, of cause depending with the audience. The culture of rock music, especially the punk rock, is often associated with fast, hard-edged music with stripped down instrumentation that create excessive sounds of metallic rhythms. Punk rock music had various phases in the 1980s such as the proto-punk type of music that was composed of short songs that were often political and very aggressive in nature. As years went by, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, musicians who were inspired by punk rock designed a new kind of rock known as pop punk rock which included distinctive styles of clothing and jewellery adornment. The crank culture is the most recently adopted culture in music. The crank form of music originated from fusion of the hip hop and electric genres. Crank music originated from Memphis, Tennessee and had become very popular in the 1990s within the US. By 2004, the genre had attained mainstream success. The music is characterized by the use of drum-machine rhythm, vocals characterized by shouting and heavy bass line that rhyme together in a call-answer manner. My perception about music culture My perception of some of the positive results associated with music cultures includes the creation of employment to many individuals and the entertainment associated with music while the negative effects include the music culture’s negative contribution to the erosion of societal moral standards. Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Alternative Culture and Postmodernism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More T hese evolving cultures portray our current generation as morally decayed, not principled and also a generation that is gradually abandoning the historical heritages that was one associated with music. Conclusion There are several cultures associated with different types of music, each having a few characteristics that differentiate it from the rest. This article has explored five different types of music cultures and described a few of the characteristics associated with each. The article also includes my views about the positive and negative effects of the music culture. From this article, it is apparent that the music cultures have evolved a lot since inception and will continue to evolve as time passes by. Brod, Doug. SPIN: Greatest Hits: 25 Years of Heretics, Heroes, and the New Rock n Roll. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons press, 2010. (Print). Storb, Ilse. Jazz meets the world the world meets Jazz. Berlin: LIT Verlag Munster press, 2000 (Print).

Sample Common Application Essayâ€Topic of Your Choice

Sample Common Application Essay- Topic of Your Choice Alexis chose option #7 for her Common Application essay. This is the popular topic of your choice option on the 2018-19 application. The question asks, Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one youve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. The other six essay options on the Common Application give applicants so much flexibility that it is rare for a topic not fit elsewhere, but in some cases the topic of your choice is indeed the best choice. This is true for Alexiss essay below. Sample Essay on the "Topic of Your Choice" Option My Hero Harpo In middle school, I took part in an essay competition where we had to write about one of our strongest role models- who they were, what they did, and how they had influenced us. Other students wrote about Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, George Washington, etc. I, the youngest of five sisters and one of the quietest people in the school, chose Harpo Marx. I did not win the competition- to be honest, my essay wasn’t very good, and I knew that, even at the time. I had bigger, better things to worry about, though. I was taking swimming lessons, and was terrified of discovering a shark in the deep end. I was making little hats for my dog Alexa, which she did not appreciate. I was busy working on a clay chess set in art class, and learning how to garden with my grandmother. I’m getting off-topic, but my point is: I didn’t need to win a competition or write an essay to feel validated. I was learning who I was, and what was important in my life. Which brings me back to the Marx Brothers. My great-uncle was a big old-movie buff. We’d go over to his house most mornings during summer vacation, and watch Philadelphia Story, The Thin Man, or  His Girl Friday. My favorites, though, were the Marx Brothers’ films. Duck Soup. A Night at the Opera (my personal favorite). Animal Crackers. I can’t logically explain why I found these particular movies so hilarious and entertaining- there was something about them that not only made me laugh, but made me happy. Now, of course, watching those movies again, I’m reminded of those summer mornings, and of being surrounded by the people I loved, unconcerned with the world outside, that adds another layer of appreciation and joy. The brothers each brought their own unique humor to the pictures, but Harpo- he was perfect. The hair. The wide ties and crazy trench coats. The way he doesn’t have to say anything to be funny. His facial expressions. How he offers people his leg when they try to shake his hand. The way you can see the change in him when he sits down at the piano or the harp. The subtle shift from comedian to musician- not a complete shift, of course, but in that moment, you know just how talented and hard-working he must have been. I love that rather than being a full-time, professional musician, which he certainly could have done, Harpo (known as Adolph off-screen) instead devoted his time and energy to entertain, to make people laugh, to be a big goof with a bicycle horn and a killer whistle. I identified with him- and still do. Harpo was quiet, funny-looking, not the most outgoing or famous performers, silly, and still insanely dedicated and a serious artist. I don’t plan on going into show business. I mean, never say never and all that, but I don’t see myself as ever really getting bitten by that particular acting or performing bug. But the lessons I’ve learned from Harpo (and Groucho, Chico, Zeppo, etc.) are the kind that can transcend careers. It’s ok to fall down (a lot.) Learn to laugh at yourself. Learn to laugh at your family. Making faces is a perfectly good way to express yourself. Wear the weird clothes. Don’t be afraid to show off your talents when given the chance. Be kind to children. Have a cigar, if you want. Make up a silly song, or a goofy dance. Work hard at what you love. Work hard at what you don’t love, but what is still necessary. Don’t shy away from being the strangest, brightest, wildest, wackiest, passionate you you can be. And also carry a bicycle horn with you, just in case. A Critique of Alexis's "Topic of Your Choice" Essay With the topic of your choice essay option, one of the first issues to consider is whether or not the essay should have been presented under one of the more focused Common Application prompts. Its easy to be lazy and simply choose topic of your choice to avoid thinking too hard about the most appropriate fit for an essay. For Alexiss essay My Hero Harpo, the topic of your choice option does, in fact, work well. The essay could potentially fall under Common Application essay option #5 on a realization that sparked a period of personal growth. Alexiss experiences watching Marx Brother movies did lead to an understanding of personal identity and life balances. That said, an essay on comedic actors doesnt quite fit the general seriousness of the option #5 prompt. Now lets breakdown some of the important elements of Alexiss essay: The topic. Harpo Marx is a rather unusual focus for an admissions essay. This can be a good thing, for Alexiss essay wont be a clone of other essays the admissions office receives. At the same time, one could argue that Harpos slapstick comedy is a rather superficial focus for an application essay. This certainly could be true if the subject matter were handled poorly, but Alexis manages to turn an essay focused on Harpo Marx into an essay that is really about much more than Marx. Alexis identifies with Harpo, and she explains why she identifies with him. In the end, the essay is as much about Alexis as it is Harpo. It is an essay that reveals Alexiss self-awareness, analytical skills, and sense of humor.The tone. Many applicants wrongly assume that an application essay needs to shine a bright light on a writers accomplishments while hiding any warts. The reality, however, is that were all quirky, flawed, complex people. Revealing an awareness of this fact is a sign of maturity, and it will often play well in an admissions essay. Alexis succeeds admirably on this front. The overall tone here is conversational and slightly self-deprecating. Alexis identifies with Harpos goofiness and his decision to focus on bringing happiness to others rather than personal prestige. We finish Alexiss essay with a sense that she is reserved, silly, able to laugh at herself, yet quietly confident. The overall impression is certainly a positive one.   The writing. Alexiss language is clear and engaging, and she avoids common stylistic errors. The essay has a strong voice and personality. The essay does, in fact, have several sentence fragments, but these are clearly used deliberately for rhetorical punch, not because Alexis is a grammatically inept writer.  The impact. Its always important to step back from an application essay and consider the big picture: what will a reader take away from the essay? Alexiss essay doesnt present any remarkable accomplishment or impressive talent. It does, however, present a student who is thoughtful, self-aware, generous, talented, and quietly ambitious. Does Alexis come across as someone who the admissions folks would want to join their campus community? Yes. Make Your Essay as Strong as Possible If a college requires you to submit an essay with the Common Application, it is because the school has holistic admissions- the admissions folks want to get to know you as a whole person, not as a simple compilation of numerical data such as grades and standardized test scores. Along with extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and in some cases an interview, the essay can plan an important role in the admissions process. Make sure yours is as strong as possible. As you write your own essay, be sure to avoid the bad essay topics,  and follow these tips for a winning essay. Most of all, make sure that your essay makes a good impression. Does it present a dimension of your personality and interests that isnt obvious from other parts of your application? Does it present you as someone who will contribute to the campus community in a meaningful way? If yes, your essay is performing its purpose well.