Noel Ripberger's Final Reflection

Noel Ripberger
International Studies 501
Final Reflection

    Watching all of our presentations, I found it really striking how diverse not only our subject matter was, but also the way everyone approached their topics. Each presentation was a really interesting piece that shed light on the way music makes us feel.
    Rachel's presentation on Bhangra was a very enlightening look at the way music can evolve through migration and time. We talked about similar issues when we watched the documentary on Rai music, but she was able to so well illustrate them. Having started as a celebratory harvest dance performed strictly by Punjabi men, it's interesting to me that Bhangra was what was reclaimed by Indian youth in Britain. However, in some ways, it feels very appropriate that a dance celebrating a traditional way of life, farming, is what people would choose to use to help establish a stronger bond between themrselves and their culture. By modernizing Bhangra, they are saying that the traditions of their ancestors don't have to die or change just because the people are spread out and modernized. Having the music return to India in a big way, like in the Bollywood scene's Rachel showed us, would be an amazing affirmation to those youths in Britain that distant can't seperate them from their culture, and that, despite any social issues they face in Briatin, they are part of a rich, welcoming tradition. Even the sound of modern Bhangra, for the people involved in it's transformation, must evoke a sense of pride both in their cultural traditions, but also in the accepting nature of both communities they are a part of.
    Brian's presentation, as well, was a very interesting and specific look into music and the emotions it inspires. While the notion that music can be used to pump us up or calm us down isn't a new one, it was very cool that a community of soldiers (with exceptions, of course) can unite behind a music to help create a common mindset. In an atmosphere that relies so heavily on cooperation, sharing even a genre has to be an imminse asset. Personally, I'm not a big fan of gangster rap, perhaps for some of the same reasons it's popular among soldiers. As Brian pointed out, such music often includes themes of hyper-masculinity and violence, without remorse. In the normal setting of my day-to-day life, ideas like those expressed in gangster rap really have no place and can be offensive. However, I never really considered that the ideas behind the songs could be beneficial in other circumstances. The idea of power coming from music is something many people can relate to, but through different genres. Gangster rap, and also Metal, express power in a very aggressive, in your face way, that as Brian discussed, can be very effective for someone about to go onto a battlefield. As we talked about many times at the end of this quarter, different music appeals to different people. We all have personal reasons for appreciating things others can't stand, but no matter what it is we listen to what we do because it means something to us (or at least its fun and we enjoy it), even if others can't immediately see why.