This Monday, we discussed how eroticism can manifest in music. Our conversation arises from Ann Powers' (NPR) book Good Booty. Powers proposes that "being who you are is inherently sexual." And this notion has manifested in our music. From jazz music, to Rock N' Roll, sexual undertones have always existed. But, eroticism does not have to explicitly mean sexual intercourse. We watched a video of a group of African-American women performing in a ring shout. They were dancing in a way that was largely celebratory: they were enjoying life and dancing in a manner that mostly involved their hips. We spoke for a while on if their movements could be considered sexual or erotic. It was interesting to see how in our society we automatically associate eroticism with sexual intercourse. I was challenged in a way, to think outside of that box that I subconsciously placed myself in. I was particularly aided by Audre Lorde's offering that "eroticism is, in essence, both sensual and sacred, self-fulfilling and interpersonal. Spirit plays a central role in meaningful desire, though it need not be named “god."" I wanted to focus on some music that focused on "somebodiness." More specifically, music that focuses on self-love and interpersonal dealings that define our personal essence. But, I was also interested in the spiritual erotic not always being happy. It also allots for one's mind to be challenged. To me, this means exploring one's injured mind and attempting to repair. Like the numinous, I believe that this type of deep exploration of the mind may not be particularly healthy. In this post, I will try my best to explore some music that looks at the good and bad of this spiritual eroticism. Sabrina Claudio's "Confidently Lost" is a proclamation of independence and freedom. It is the accepting of any uncertainty that exists in one's life. In short, it is a love song about yourself. Claudio sings: "I'm alone but I'm not lonely/ Comfortably indulging/ And trying to get to know me" When I thought of the definition provided by Lorde, I immediately thought of this song. The visual enhances the music in a way that we see Claudio randomly going about her day in her home. She writhes around the floor in a way that is provocative and boisterous which immediately reminded me of the ring shout video. I like this song and video because sometimes we may turn to other people or relationships for confirmation. Claudio debunks this notion, saying that you "don't define me." Overall, I love "Confidently Lost" because it is simplistic, beautiful, and wonderfully sung.
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Rem HarrisSr @ Hendrix College Music and Reviews |