In between genres

31May09

Gabriel points me to Simon Reynolds’ “In praise of ‘in-between’ periods in pop history.”  Essentially, Reynolds argues that music history focuses on epic and unusual moments in a small number of movements to the exclusion of the multiple, interesting, and unnamed alternatives that are always percolating.  He begins with an objection that music from 1988 [...]

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“but why would our readers care?” she asked

31May09

Here’s a link to the Vanderbilt View article about the paper on music genres that Pete and I completed last year.  I do wish the photographer had encouraged me to do something differently with my legs, but it is a little late now for vanity.
The Arts and Science Magazine is out in paper but the [...]

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R.I.P. Ron Takaki

31May09

Scholar Ronald Takaki, author of several important texts on the ethnic history of America and the very first person to teach a black history course at Berkeley, has died.

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Today’s featured Venezuelan-American

30May09

Devendra Banhart just came across my wires, and I’ve spend an enjoyable afternoon getting to know his 2005 album, “Cripple Crow.”  My entry point was a song entitled “Chinese Children”; the first line is: “If I lived in China, I’d have some Chinese children.”  It turns out, even if he lived in Spainland, they’d still [...]

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Charticle

28May09

On date rap jams.  Worth reading the commentary.

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Submitted

22May09

I submitted my tenure file yesterday, and this morning I head off to Philly to visit Swarthmore for their Senior Thesis extravaganza.  I had the honor of reading a really nice piece of undergraduate research and I’m looking forward to talking about it with Robin, Mike, the student and other examiners.  By Sunday morning, I’ll [...]

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Today in rap music

20May09

I don’t have the time to digest it for you now, but still want to call your attention to a “roundtable” discussion on rap music, hosted by The Atlantic.  Big ups to Hua Hsu, to whom I owe a big debt.

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Round up, dos

15May09

Coldplay’s new album, free download.
Photo spoof website of the day.

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Round up

15May09

Soc blogger Kieran Healy quoted in “Quick Takes” joking about Wife Swap recruitment of philosophers.

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Guess who’s coming to dinner?

11May09

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