RE:
Not necessarily my rebuttal, but an interesting one, from Jeremy Gilbert
and Ewan Pearson quoted without permission from "Discographies - Dance
Music, Culture, and the Politics of Sound":
"The only reason for staying underground is that in relation to dominant
structures of power, you are weak. To celebrate that weakness rather than
to try to overcome it is to concede social authority to those dominant
discourses. It is, in fact, to _choose_ too remain in a subordinate
position and to condemn others to a similar position."
Very nice use of that quote. I have yet to read that book but it just went
to the top of my list. That statement really puts all this "keep it real,
keep it underground" bullshit to the test. I don't think there are too many
artists who wouldn't jump at the chance of having some kind of chart/popular
success.
If you really want to stay underground don't make a website, don't tell
anyone about your music (or any other artists), don't try to distribute,
basically don't disseminate any info about who you are or what you're doing.
The minute you put up a web site you are trying to get some kind of
popularity.
I think the REAL underground can only be witnessed first hand, and not a lot
of acts out there go this route because it's hard (if not impossible) to
make a living doing it. I'm not saying that everyone is in it for the money
but anyone who records likes to see their records sell. It's the artist who
doesn't record their work in one form or another (for whatever reason) that
is truely underground. Imagine a DJ that only plays white label test
pressings that have no intention of ever being released for sale or promo.
That is a strong statement. Being underground is a very radical stance to
take. The problem is that the word has become a way to declare yourself
"hipper" than others. The way that most people use "underground" just means
that their favorite artist isn't as widely known as Britney Spears. But it
doesn't nessacarily make their fav. any more talented either.
Fred
From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <313@hyperreal.org>
CC: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [313] Underground (was Re: [313] Pooh-blahs)
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 13:08:38 -0400
on 8/16/00 12:22 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I appericate the fact you are 'helping' your friends , but if you
consider a
> spot on t.r.l. @mtv helping ....thats just a
> combitnation of pop music tatics (self promotion) and a painfully
evident
> lack of knowledge concerning what underground is , how it is , and why
it
> is.........
Not necessarily my rebuttal, but an interesting one, from Jeremy Gilbert
and
Ewan Pearson quoted without permission from "Discographies - Dance Music,
Culture, and the Politics of Sound":
"The only reason for staying underground is that in relation to dominant
structures of power, you are weak. To celebrate that weakness rather than
to try to overcome it is to concede social authority to those dominant
discourses. It is, in fact, to _choose_ too remain in a subordinate
position and to condemn others to a similar position."
Hmmm. The book is a recommended read for those who enjoy theoretical
cultural critique and analysis. Largely UK-centric in its approach to
politics, though. A bit of a polar opposite in approach to Dan's "Techno
Rebels" (or a nice companion volume, depending on how you look at it.)
--
There4IM
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