Josh+War’s+OpEd+Article



Ah American consumer, you capitalist hypocrite.

You preach cultural defects in our society, particularly in the field of music. You proclaim the intellectual hideousness of pop stars such as Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber, but you stupidly throw at them your money, the only opinion of yours that matters. You support mass media by loving to hate it. You are infatuated with the idea of superstars, you idealize them, support them, side with them on petty arguments. You willingly pay for the corporatization of American culture. Already we see it. There is no “art” behind a mainstream “artist.” Music companies rule the artist, controlling them as if they were a marionette. Our art is now a commodity, capable of being mass produced for the blinded collective, wishing to be socially “popular” along with their music.

Music isn’t a sound now, it is an image. Whoever can “look” popular, whoever can “look” like they are ahead of the pack, whoever can “look” like they are loved by the social/consumer collective are indeed those who stand to make the almighty dollar. There is no message behind music. You only hear an electronic rhythm of words, talking about sex, drugs, and alcohol. You shout above the bass that this awful, but you throw your time and money behind it.

There are those that claim the Indie genre is the exception, that an independent band is truly independent. May I remind you that “Mumford and Sons” was once an indie band? The original album was what many considered amazing. Their second, an overly produced mix of sound. You may claim that the band “no one’s ever heard of” will outlast corporate greed. Yet, only 20 years ago, the punk movement died a violent death with the emergence of bands bent on monetary self-promotion, such as “Green Day.” Any alternative movement or type of band will fall victim to corporate expansion.

Ultimately, you, the American consumer, will destroy the music you love. May your shallow, blinded love of all that you consider bad be your downfall.