digitizing folk music history seminar, 2012 notes.
starting to think about the “re” in revival
folk vs. roots vs. vernacular — how do we talk about this music? — what do the different labels enable and/or prevent?
“middlemen”: collectors, presenters, recorders, documenters, and perhaps even musicians themselves?
“culture workers” – “memory workers”
the continuing saga of “authenticity”
the role of race in cultural preservation and memory
commerce as compared to (or in league with) folk/roots/vernacular music
conservative/reactionary to progressive/radical — leftwing rightwing — conservative – liberal – radical visions and uses of folk music
the “brows” of taste culture in relation to class: high, middle, low and the work they are doing in terms of social hierarchy and power
Musicians today making the move from pop star to memory worker? Timberlake with R&B? Madonna? What about someone like Bruce Springsteen?
starting to organize a timeline of folk revival history in your mind