What Is World Music?

The idea of "World Music" can be determined under two meanings. The first portraying the idea of world music being viewed as something of a multi cultural entity, where all conceivable elements of music from around the world, not just in English speaking countries, are distributed and listened to on a global scale. These elements of music can be formed by any genre and usually have more of a cultural nature as to how they sound.

The second idea of world music could be viewed as music that is controlled and exported by the general media of usually the USA and UK as the English speaking media impacts the world on a global scale. The result of this concept generates a world music of almost global domination where many countries adopt pop music ect. as their main music which somewhat robs them of making music suited to their own culture. The USA is particularly influential in this matter as the drive to "sing American" is something that affects many non-American music artists developing music.

Is Pop music a mass produced commodity or a genuine art form?

In the modern world, it is agreeable to suggest that Pop music is a more manufactured and mass produced entity rather than a form of art. The reason for this assumption comes from the perception of how do you define art in terms of music? Art is nearly aways subjected to opinion, especially in terms of music, so it is difficult to define pop music as art. I also believe that modern day pop music that is portrayed on the TV and radio supports the idea that it is merely a form of mass production. With the exception of a few artists, the image and how they are made to look is nearly always at the centre of a pop musicians music rather than the music itself Lady Gaga is an example of this. Theodore Adorno's theory of Pseudo-individulasim is a an accurate assumption of how pop music is mass produced and used to manipulate people into believing that what they are listening to is original. For this reason I do not believe that modern day pop can be seen as art.

How useful is a production of cultural perspectives in understanding the birth of Rock n Roll?

As Rock and Roll music is based around the huge social changes of the 1950s, I think it is highly useful to observe the birth of rock music from a cultural perspective. Rock and Roll was generated by culture, but I also believe that the music was created by not one cultural element but several which all contributed in the development of this legendary music which has existed for 60+ years. The social changes of the era play a key part as it was the beginning of the teenage/rebel era and I think this cultural element helped spark the popularity of the music. The famous artists themselves have a huge amount of responsibility for the birth of the music, but I would also agree that most of the key artists, such as The Ravens, were generally formed from an African American cultural background, and I believe much of the blues rhythm that was created comes from African American bands. So I believe that all these factors  were key during the era, to the birth of Rock n Roll.

Is reasonable to consider that rock music is gendered male?

By looking at the many rock artists that have risen to fame in the last sixty years I believe it is fair to assume that rock music is dominated by a more male role than female, especially when it comes to the electric guitar. But I would not category it as a solely male thing.  I believe that during the time when some of the greatest rock legends were on the rise (Berry, Hendrix, Dylan) it was a social ideology that men were those who were the rockers, with guitars ect. and women were not. Despite this however, women were a fundamental presence in the rise of rock and roll, but not in the way of guitar (which is commonly recognized as the heart and soul of rock n roll) but more in vocals and we have numerous examples of female rock stars throughout the years. I am inclined to agree though, that even in modern day society, the concept of rock guitar is portrayed as a more masculine thing on a wider scale, despite personally knowing several women who play guitar.