Week 1 Forum - Listening Culture

I can’t remember who said it, but I do believe that the main reason why people listen to music whilst doing other things is simply because “we can”. Music is so portable now it wouldn’t really make sense to sit down and do nothing but listen to music. For us in the Elder Conservatorium, it is a different way of thinking. We may do it because we are studying music and we can appreciate just music. I don’t believe that the average person would think like that, especially the younger generation.

Music has changed in a number of ways, but the culture of listening to music has changed because music is more portable and also because it is now associated with visual content. Stephen gave us the example of how in the past a family would sit infront of the radio and listen to see what was on. That still happens except now its called television.


[2]

I think this video sums up the culture of portable music to some extent. . .


[1] Stephen Whittington, "Music Technology Forum: Semester 2 - Week 1 – Listening Culture". Lecture presented at the Electronic Music Unit, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 31st July 2008

[2] Google Video, 'SNL iPod'. www.broadcaster.com (Accessed 1st August 2008)