Blog 3 Polynesian Dance Comparisons

While the two videos both played Gamelan music, they were very different. When watching the videos, one notices the difference in setting. The Ratna Ayu performance was in a relatively new looking theater, while the Balinese Gamelan was performed on the beach, a more traditional setting for this musical event. The dress of the performers in California was very extravagant and exaggerated. This was most likely to attract the audience to Polynesian culture. The performers in Bali were not dressed as fancy. Instead, they were wearing mostly plain white. In the Bali video, there were not even dancers as opposed to the performance in California. Another interesting aspect of the two videos is the separation of the audience and the performers. In the California performance, the Polynesian dancers are on a stage and are distant from the audience. In the Bali performance, there is no stage and those who were watching could view the performance right next to the performers. This is significant because being near the performers adds on to the specialness of the performance, as well as involves the audience more. The two videos demonstrate the difference between Polynesian and American culture.

Insider, Outsider

1.
While attending the University of Washington, I felt as though I was one with all of the students. We were all Huskies, and yet I felt like an outsider even so. While at the UW, I experienced criticism, lack of respect, and unacceptance simply because I was from Los Angeles and not Washington. Another instance where I have felt like an insider as well as an outsider is when I went to a party with my friends from private schools. I never felt any awkwardness because I went to public school until I was at the party. While I knew quite a few people there, the party was nothing like a public school party. So I felt like an outsider, even though I was accepted there.
Being half Jewish and half Christian, I have never been able to associate myself as one or the other. However, I consider myself more Jewish because I never went to church and celebrate Chabat frequently. But even though I feel I am more Jewish, my mom's side of the family celebrate Christmas every year and so this accentuates the Christianity I have in my blood. However, I look at Christmas as a time to be with family and not as a religious event. I participate in Chabat because of my beliefs, and so Judaism is part of my identity. Music has played a role in this context because at Chabat, we sing and say the prayers. I feel that this is the most important part of the dinner and so I believe music plays a huge role in this context.
The high school I attended was around 70% African American and Caucasions were the minority. Because of this, I was able to experience something most people will never be able to do. I learned much from being in this environment, and what I learned shaped me and continues to allow me to be accepted by different cultures. Music is a huge factor in this instance. A person's ethnic background obviously does not determine musical taste, but it is often the case that people like music from their own culture. I was able to connect to African Americans through my love for hip-hop and my production skills. Going to this multi-cultural school has allowed me to learn about other cultures and has expanded my musical taste as well.

2.
When I was younger, my friend's father would come to school and perform African music. He would drum and sing, but dancers accompanied him as well. At this age, I was too young to understand the cultural significance of the dress and body movements, but looking back on this event, I remember how much more there was to the performance than just music. The dancers were all women and would dance to the rhythm of the drums while clapping as well. All the drummers were male and danced back and forth while drumming. The outfits were so strange to me at the time being that they were tattered clothes made from animal hinds. The painted faces were also strange to me, but it was all part of the act. I appreciate being able to experience this in my life, but feel that I have no idea about African song and dance. I can enjoy it, but I will never have the first hand perspective of an African as he drums and dances. While I listened to the music, I had no idea what any of the words meant, but still enjoyed the singing and drumming. The music itself reflects a part of African culture that is so foreign to Americans. I am just glad I got to experience part of their culture.

My Musical History

I played the trumpet for three years in middle school, but gave it up and discovered my passion for electronic music while attending Hamilton Music Academy. To this day, I continue to make music electronically. I do not participate in any ensembles, but friends of mine that rapped on one of my hip-hop beats performed the song using my beat in front of their school. I do not perform music, so I am an avid consumer, but I still enjoy producing and hopefully I can become more of a performed one day. I have embaressed myself doing karaokee, but prefer singing alone. I have always loved music no matter what kind it is. My friend's dad really opened my eyes to African drumming when I was younger, and since then I have tried to expand my appreciation for music from other culture. I feel this class will do so. I have traveled throughout Europe and went to Costa Rica as well. However, in Europe, I went to the more commercial areas so I could not experience anything remotely traditional of European culture.