Among the scores of points that Longhurst addresses in "Corporeographies", she asserts that to understand bodies, "it is necessary to pay attention to discourses and/on/in flesh". Therefore, the 'common', fundamental definition of 'body' - what our skin covers - does not adequately describe said concept. Instead, Longhurst explains that "body" (or geographer's definitions of body) is influenced but one's sociocultural environment, colored by values, politics, and prejudices.
After reading this paper, I found a strong connection between how Longhurst approaches the body, and how our 21st century approaches music, more specifically, instrumentation. Just how Longhurst moves away from the fact that the body is not solely 'organs' (no pun intended), music today can be created and/or performed without instrumentation - it is no longer concrete and substantial, but rather an amorphous, sonic experience. To prove this point, I chose a youtube clip of Tiesto, a popular European DJ and the Blueman Group.
The fact that Tiesto never plays any instruments to produce his sound, I believe, provides visual evidence to my point. In addition, the incorporation of the Blueman Group - a genderless performance troop - may also stimulate conversation as to how 'body' - or lack thereof - can be connected to musical performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXd9XQsvkSY
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment