2002-10-29
NO boxes for me please
I hate the sterotypes that come along with being a college student, especially a college student at an extremely liberal college. It seems that one can never be "enough" of anything.
Everyone sterotype has a rigid little box and every one should fit into one of those boxes. And don't even think of blending more than one box. Because you can't fit into more than one.
And it all comes down to the type of music you listen too.
If you listen to New Found Glory and you don't own a skateboard, you are a poseur. But if you own a skateborad just to look like you are worthy of New Found Glory-dom, you are even more of a poseur. I don't own a skateboard and I don't want to own a skateboard. I just want to listen to New Found Glory in peace.
If you listen to The White Stripes or The Strokes you have to be "underground" and you of course have to have listened to them "before they hit it big." Until this fall, I lived in a small town in Southwestern Michigan where the primary music is country. I don't live in New York City where there is all kinds of music to discover. I could give you a complete review of all the local music of the Kalamazoo Michigan area...but I'm not underground. If I hear a song I like, I'll listen to it. I just want to listen to my White Stripes in peace.
If you listen to Bob Dylan or The Beatles you have to have committed every inane fact about either to memory and be prepared to launch into a full-fledged discussion of their impact on popular music today and their continuting legacy. I'm not a music historian. I was brought up on Bob Dylan and The Beatles along with a long list of the Who's Who of Rock and Roll Greats. If you want me to tell you about how I felt the first time I heard "The Hurricane" or how I used to love listening to "They Killed Him" on the way to soccer practice, I can do that. I just want to listen to my Bob Dylan in peace.
If you listen to Country, you must own a cowboy hat and boots. I hate cowboy hats, but not as much as I hate cowboy boots. I just want to listen to my Dixie Chicks in peace.
If you listen to "Heavy Metal" or "Hard Rock" there is a certain level of hardness you must obtain. I don't like headbanging...it gives me a headache. I have my own style of dancing...not many people appreciate it's geniusness but I enjoy it. I just want to listen to my "Heavy Metal" and "Hard Rock" in peace.
If you listen to Ani or Dar or any other "folk" singer you have to be an activist. And don't ever think that you can be too involved in activism...because you can't. You must fight every single fight for every single unknown cause. The world will not be right until you right it. I am knowledgable about worldly events. I read the newspaper and watch the news. That doesn't mean that I want to sit around in the cold at a drum protest for peace. Or march in NYC against war. I have my own views. I prefer not to force them on unwilling bystanders. I only wish others would do the same. I just want to listen to Ani and Dar in peace.
I like many different styles of music from 'N Sync to Ani DiFranco to Nirvana to Bob Dylan to Faith Hill. I don't fit into any box you can think of, except one. And that's my own personal box. I like my box. There might not be many people that like it but don't think you can change it. I'm not a stereotype. I'm a human being with my own unique personality.
zappagrrl at 4:19 p.m.