Scene or Be Seen
And heard.
What does “community” mean? Instead of quoting Merriam Webster’s definition, here’s my take. Community consists of people tied together by a common bond of beliefs, interests, ethos and/or identity. What differentiates community from those who simply share demographics, is people’s recognition and participation in building upon and maintaining the threads that bind them. Community members are far from clones- their perspectives, experience and backgrounds wildly vary. But that’s exactly what serves as opportunities to learn from one another- even when it means agreeing to disagree.
The thread binding readers of Rants and Raves is of course…music. But from my vantage point what community means in the sphere of electronic music has shifted in recent years, and space for diversity of thought has diminished. Which is odd, because the term is ever present in the cultural zeitgeist. You might balk at this and think something along the lines of “not my community.” Well, maybe it isn’t…or maybe it is. Or perhaps you define it differently. To each their own.
Across music scenes, there’s a whole lot of- take our oath of XYZ or begone. The topics being anything and everything- from the meaningful to the mundane, running the whole gamut from politics to pettiness and beyond. Too often resulting in the masses selectively picking a person or people who represent outrage and ousting them for not agreeing with every inch, iota and nuance of the “majority” opinion.
Solely surrounding ourselves with perspectives mirroring our own can be a detriment to personal evolution. And beyond that it drives fear of speaking aloud thoughts that are against the grain, creating a culture demanding complicity and total agreement. Which can eerily resemble fascist behavior and tendencies.
Apprehension from speaking one’s mind due to the possibility of personal ramifications inhibits real societal progress. Because it’s often the canary in the coalmine that calls attention to warning signs. And history is rife with instances that a once unpopular minority opinion proves true over time.
That we live lives centered in sound is an advantage- because we’re already attuned to listening with a keen ear. It’s no coincidence that the word community has similar roots as communication. Because one goes hand in hand with each other. Community at large might not always embrace each and every person’s beliefs- but a healthy one does make space. And since we’re already listening to music- why not hear each other out as well?!
Doing so requires us to burst through self-erected and protective bubbles with the ambitions of a greater good. Because closing our ears and minds to others weakens our ability to collectively combat very real and present dangers and threats. There’s no harm or foul in agreeing to disagree. And for all the time and energy we expend- we might as well use it to weave a tapestry for our shared experiences rather than tear us apart.
I refuse to believe my definition of community is a thing of the past- or my imagination. There’s plenty of room off the dancefloor for respectful debate for all types of subjects within all semblances of music scenes. I have high hopes that the stark divides deepened by rhetoric, algorithms and fear will eventually mend through mutual recognition of commonalities. Resulting in an even more equitable ecosystem with an ear for one another while tuning into the music.
And I wanna know- what’s your take on the state of your music communities?