As I was on my way to the beach with a new friend, she mentioned music is very important to her: that she can sense a great connection. That is, if you and her have the same taste in music, you're essentially cool. She didn't go on to say more like if you don't have the same taste as her, she doesn't like you anymore. But I would like to take this matter further as I thought her claim was a bit bizarre. How can music define a person's personality?
As I was thinking about it, I thought "great", this is why some people I know think I'm a snob since I love classical music. And then I thought: there are people out there who actually enjoy Brittney Spears. Need I say more?
No seriously, while I don't think that music defines a person's entire personality it does define a bit of it. For example, I might go on to say that you really don't have great taste in music. Thus, if you like Spears, I might judge you, but I might still like other bits of your personality.
All in all, it is a strange claim indeed: to say that music defines a person's personality. I could not help to stop pondering this conversation. In fact, I found it to be a bit silly, really. But in the end, music sort of does define our personalities--to what extent? Not sure; but I don't think that it is grave. One might say, that I like classical music because I appreciate the constructional aspects of making a beautiful harmony whilst using a variety of instruments, or simply, using one instrument. Hence, I admire musical talent. Or one might like punk because they are political, and thus he's probably has some interesting political views to be discussed etc.
But I really don't see why anyone would like Spears, like at all. Some people say she is a great performer but I will say: Just don't play your Brittney Spears at my house.
yes, you're right, personalite is a part of us, not all, maybe music represent a part of us, but it doesn't present all either, so juste enjoy your friend no matter what kind of music does she likes. But I dont need Brittney Spears either in my house!
ReplyDeleteJeanne
I do agree with you. But perhaps I was not clear: music does not define our entire personality, only a bit or a small part of it.
ReplyDeleteyeah, it s doesn't have a good understanding of english!
ReplyDeleteI suppose if one were to read it and English was her/his native language they would be able to understand it. I wrote too colloquially... sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteburger!!
ReplyDeletesorry i took so long to check out your blog! i will come back more often in the future....
anyway, i think your friend has it backwards. i think our personality defines the kind of music we're attracted to. and what defines our personality? well, supposedly some nature, some nurture. but you'd have to be heavily saturated in music for it to change your personality. for the most part, i think our major dispositions are unchanging from the time we are small, and most of us just aren't exposed to a lot of music until we search it out on our own later in life. by then, it's too late to change your personality.
i'm not saying we're stagnant. of course that's not true. i'm just saying that the things about us that are dynamic are minor, and for the most part show gradual shifts. it would be rare (and i would claim impossible) for someone to hear a piece of music and experience a giant alteration in personality (e.g. Jen listens to a Britney song she never heard before. From that moment forward, she only sleeps with thugs, eats nothing but fried chicken or BBQ, uses incorrect grammar, and wears only plaid or glittery items of clothing.)
In this case Jen's personality did not change - she had a psychotic breakdown! No. Music does not shape our personality.
Jesse I just saw that you responded! Sorry I'm responding so late.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks for you post. I couldn't agree more. Thank goodness, I don't like Britney Spears and that if I did like her did like her, thank goodness I would not be defined by that...ugh.