Quote from: Andrew McIntosh on June 09, 2012, 01:19:32 AM
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on June 08, 2012, 09:23:53 PMFor russian mentality...
I thought you meant this.
Not that. I guess russian mentality - as seen by russians themselves too - is different from the stereotype. I'm fully aware of the relativity what ImpulsyStetoskopu says, but there is a thin line of stereotype and prejudice. If we would talk about what kind of prejudice Finns have against Russians, result would produce different that what prejudices Americans have against Russians. But when we look the "Russian Mentality" what is present in culture, art, characteristics they studied and accepted, changes in it among generations, etc. we see stereotype can exists. If it's construction enforced by culture, it hardly matters what is the cause of it being true and can it be changed.
What are the stereotypes of man or what are the prejudices women may have against men, are maybe different, but these traits are clear and visible to recognize what would be masculine and feminine cultural elements. We can try to destroy race, nation, gender and all "constructions", yet the life will prevail over politically correct suffocation.
Quote from: enmity on June 09, 2012, 04:54:00 AM
In this matter I feel we can all only truly speak of subject matter that we want to be conveyed, if we actually lived it, I seriously doubt we would even care about music period, or be making a front about it.
Could you write about death without seeing a lot of death or ultimately seeking to die yourself (a'la Atrax Morgue)?
I think only actual thing that matter is the the passion and belief. Which I consider lacking. You can look at most of underground music, a lot of political movements, a lot of... basically everything, and illusions have crashed and the faith to really stand for something is most often gone. When was last time you heard relevant new punk recording with actual substance in it? I went to see documentary of contemporary Finnish punk, and there was interview with singer of band who explained that he is so pissed off about injustice and people not accepting each other - not in world in general, but within scene. He said it couple times and said he also does care little bit about injustice in the world, but more strongly he feels about the scene. I was so amazed.
If the existing reality is, that nothing matters, why even try, lets update our facebook with announcement of new soundcloud rehearsal sample, who could it posses any kind passion similar to punk in its time of true rebellion, ideology and honest belief of possibilities.
This postmodern disbelief on anything bigger than man has destroyed pretty much every form of underground music, and made "artists" turn only into themselves, into modern emo boys.
Quote from: HongKongGoolagong on May 21, 2012, 09:13:23 PM
I thought the drownedinsound discussion was excellent because it makes something which is very much becoming either commodified as art or turned into a safe hobbyist private club briefly appear provocative and dangerous again.
This is from another topic - and while I slightly disagree about hobbyist private club being bad in any way, I admit it is related to this change of climate / social factor topic in slightly unpleasant way. Where the social factors of selling, promoting, attention, "xxx like this", and all those appear to get more focus than release itself. When hobbyist club is focused on idea of having for example batch of tapes out, I'm quite sure there is a compromises of some level. I'm quite sure there is art turned into production line of commodities.
Not long ago we saw announcement of release, which was being available on pre-order in moment when some artist involved had not even made any music for it. There was idea of packaging, idea of format, idea of who will be in, limitation to sell out in advance, price and possibility to paypal your funds in right now. But the actual substance, being noise itself, wasn't yet done. Of course not all is this bad, but what does this order of making things tell? Labels/artists supplying product to buy, making noise on demand, rather than somewhat isolated passionate artists making what he believes in - and eventually get it out in way or another?
So much is focused on ideas of possibility of re-selling, value, collectibility, etc. that actual material appears to lose its meaning. And in the end, it would be all social and financial factors, where noise is more of footnote in whole process? The old PE was hardly ever "limited edition" collector stuff if it was tapes. I guess Whitehouse still sells their live actions, Con-Dom still manufactures his tapes from mid 80's etc. Many of those who are still around from old league, used to run labels in different ways. I wouldn't want to stress so much more of "american" influence, yet just take a look when and how the whole "ltd 30 copies C-__" type of culture took over? The old nasty noise, the old PE scene it's all pretty much C-45 to C-60 relevant tape albums sold for regular price as long as demand is there (or large pressing anyways). Any label from Sound of Pig to Deadline to MSNP to Nihilistic to Zero Cabal to Slaughter prod to..
Change in climate of noise shifted focus on something else, and it certainly is new american idea. In favor of business operation. It needs to be easy for label, easy for artist, easy for consumer. If it will be a task, if it will a pain in the ass, if it will be sacrifice of some sort - without true faith/passion you ain't going to do it. And pure mathematics would indicate direction (judged from this perspective) has been downfall.
