The conversation regarding GirlTalk begin to get very heated in our class discussion. Many people had many valid points about how GirlTalk is an artist because he creates new and interesting music, they also felt that just because his music is a mashup of music that is already out there and uses a computer, which is his instrument, does not take away from his title as an artist. I would beg to differ because those reasons are exactly why he would not be considered an artist.
I will not disregard the fact that what GirlTalk does is very interesting and new, but I do not see his originality. I find that him taking existing music and mixing it with various verses and beats from other existing music simply makes him a great mixer of music. He is not taking his own words and beats from his own songs and mixing them, but taking other artists songs and mixing them. Yes, it does take a certain skill to be able to manipulate and break up a song and add it in the correct spot with numerous other songs to make it all blend, but that it not the same skill as siiting down with a piece of paper and pencil and writing lyrics to a symphony, then taking those lyrics and putting notes from a piano to those words. We must not forget the immense amount of talent and time that it takes to hone a skill like this. I can say that it would take time to master the computer, but not in the same intensity and focus that it takes to master playing a song on the piano.
GirlTalk's music is very ground breaking and should not be frowned upon, but when comparing popular artist of the past and present, the difference is obvious and audible. It is true that all music stems from already existing music, but that it true for all creative industries. There would be no beginning if music didn't start somewhere. Some songs may have a line or two that are the same of an existing song, and others may have the same beat or tune, but that is common. What GirlTalk does is take very distinctive and already popular music and mixes them together. He does not manipulate the words of the song, or even the beat in any way. Therefore is he creating something new, a mashup, but not something completely new to the ear.
Maybe I'm just an old fashion girl, but music is original when it is your own words and symphonies creating inhabitating just a little bit of inspiration from the past. Not copying and pasting.
I agree that "music" is no longer a universal term; what was considered talented to our parents requires a little more tuning (auto-tuning?) for our generation. I always wonder what we'll be dancing to at the local bingo center when we're all in our 70s and our kids complain about our old fashioned tastes in music. Or will artists like girl talk become the Beatles of our generation--influencing music for ages to come?
ReplyDeletei definetly cannot answer that question, but it is definitely something to ponder about. Music is always changing, evolving, and being revamped by new artist. I do believe that a lot of the music that we listen to today that will be revamped for our children generation to listen to.
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