Thursday, May 9, 2013
Wong
Based on the reading, Wong spends the first half discussing her position in the ethnomusicology field. I thought it was really interesting because of our whole "insider" vs. "outsider" discussion last week. It seems to me that Wong is truly an insider as an Asian American ethnomusicologist studying Asian American music. But she furthers her position by describing what her background is and what her identity is. She talks about how living in Philadelphia shaped her "political sensibilities and need for civic and cultural spaces defined by Asian Americans" (3). My question to you is how does your background affect your views as an ethnomusicologist?
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This directly relates to my field of study for this class, as I am an Asian American myself and am studying a section of music clearly defined by the Asian American communities. My background as being Asian, more specifically Japanese, affects how I have perceived the culture because I initially had an attachment to it because it was Japanese and I thought that it might bring me closer to my roots. Upon further research and analysis as a result of my time being in the culture, I have found that this does not really relate at all to the historical Japanese traditions that I longed for. Because this is a tradition perpetuated by students and members each year, it is only natural that the culture will eventually deviate away from its origins and become its own thing. That is why there is such a big difference in the cultures of taiko within America: Youth, Buddhist Temple, Collegiate, Community, and Professional, as well as the differences between America and Japan (including the rest of the world). Obviously the differences are greater when comparing American and Japan, but there are still differences at every level because of the societies and cultures from which the groups originate depending on temporal and geographical features.
ReplyDeleteBackground gives you perspective - a way of viewing things through the lens of past experience and personal identity. How does it affect ones views as an ethnomusicologist? In terms of how one approaches and "connects" with the music and culture being studied, quite a lot i'd say. But in terms of approaching the study from a more "scientific" mode of observation, collecting of data, field study, etc ... it should not be allowed to act as a hindrance. An individual's background is important, nevertheless, since it varies per person it could potentially act as a barrier in the larger scheme or pursuit of "fact" and "truth" in the study of music and its cultural significance ...
ReplyDeleteThe "insider" vs. "outsider" issue is important to me in terms of my project as well as my ethnic identity as a Korean American. I think your background [as the people above have all stated] has an important impact on your perspective in terms of...everything.
ReplyDeleteIn the western art music tradition, I have a background in it since early childhood that I have maintained & continued to embrace into early adulthood. My view of western art music practices, performers, performances, composers, and all other participatory elements, is directly influenced [and inherently biased] by my background & training. I must admit that when I went into this project I had a considerably sympathetic view of WAM [both new & old] at UCSD. I hoped that I would discover that WAM can survive, and was initially delighted to find that the people I interviewed seemed to confirm this.
But as I analyzed my research I began to also realize that...I am an outsider, in spite of my background. Even if I am a part of the WAM tradition, I am an outsider in terms of my status within the field as an undergraduate with no real credentials behind me [as compared to grads, faculty, etc]. They treat me differently [probably much more gently & more censored than they would someone else] and in that sense I began to grow more critical of my findings. I think that the ethnomusicologist is always going to be the 'outsider' because that is how you situate yourself as someone analyzing a culture & music. Even if you're technically an 'insider' in terms of the society or practice to begin with, the role of an ethnomusicologist is different. Me, as an amateur ethnomusicologist AND an undergraduate, I am immediately an outsider in a tradition that I would normally think I am "insider."