2/4/18: Chapter 2/3 & Class Discussion - EDM / Dancehall
I was very interested by our conversations pertaining to dancehalls and festivals. I thought that the drug scene pertaining to how often people take drugs such as MDMA, ecstasy, and other drugs was always fetishized by the media and Hollywood. It was very telling to see how people took drugs to enhance their musical experiences. EDM is not something that I have indulged in over the course of my life, but I do think that it will be great to listen to EDM and connect it to Sylvan's observances.
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Today's reading talked about the ceremonial practices of prominent religious tribes in Africa with a special focus on the Fon and the Yoruba. The author claims that these two tribes have a special influence on African-American religion. The tribes' process in religious celebrations involves "libations," or a the indulgence in a beverage before having some sort of sacrifice. After the rituals are performed the tribes take part in dancing and music. In this chapter I was specifically struck by the author's descriptions of the dancers. She describes them as being "possessed" in which the person's body thrusts as if taken by some "powerful physical force." This chapter relates to some of our previous class discussions about the numinous, especially when we talked about how we may experience it. It seems that the dances in the chapter were not in control of themselves; rather, they became one with the music. The author says that the dancing was not totally out of control, though. It is "stylized and restrained." Growing up in a COGIC church, I can see how the African influence is still alive. Whenever people caught the "Holy Ghost," some of the same characteristics could be attributed to those early saints who had their own unique dances. Overall, I was impressed with Sylvan's ability to observe with such careful attention.
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Rem HarrisSr @ Hendrix College Music and Reviews |