https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj Defining Aesthetics, Rethinking Elements en-us 2017-10-08 23:10:48 UTC 2026-01-17 19:33:55 UTC hello@padlet.com elizabethmontgomery https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195057879 "If all music is ritual-which it all is, in some form- then let's say that variation celebrates the proliferation of life; the theme that binds the variations together implies a unifying power, maybe even a theistic one. Repetition is  little more about the music itself, and thus a little more about humankind alone."
- Ben Ratliff (p. 14)]]> 2017-10-08 23:21:11 UTC https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195057879 elizabethmontgomery https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195059437 "The musician earns your trust through some form of a question, a testing of boundaries and a half-turn away from the audience. Music is a game between performers and audiences, a loop in which performers hold the upper hand, then audiences, then performers again. The performers, however, have the home-court advantage. They always make the first move."
-Ben Ratliff (p.19)]]> 2017-10-08 23:40:25 UTC https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195059437 elizabethmontgomery https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195060639 According to Ratliff, the definition of repetition is a recognizable consistency in music, whether it is within a single song, across an artist's discography, or within an entire genre. A phrase Ratliff stated to help readers understand the role of repetition, besides being an obnoxious element, was: "repetition is a smart psychological operation- a way to make you focus on all that is in fact non-repetitive" (14). I completely agree with Ratliff's interpretation of the musical element repetition, because it is one of the most engaging elements, especially in a performance setting such as a concert or recital. The audience can directly interact with a singer by knowing the lyrics and singing along, even if it is their first time hearing the song. ]]> 2017-10-08 23:54:49 UTC https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195060639 elizabethmontgomery https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195063011 The example that intrigued me the most was Kesha's song "We R Who We R." This song exemplifies the concept of repetition in the chorus, where she sings "We're dancing like we're dumb-dumb-duh-duh-duh-dumb." This type of repetition is more of a free, fun, laid-back type. I see this repetition as a fun way to sing alone and connect with the free-spirit theme of most of Kesha's music. ]]> 2017-10-09 00:23:16 UTC https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195063011 elizabethmontgomery https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195066552 This song is a great example of repetition that is not included on Ratliff's list. "Little of Your Love" is the perfect rock tune to exemplify repetition, which is shown in the chorus where the girl group repeats "Gimme just a little of your love." While at first it seems that these words are just part of the chorus, the lyrics are repeated in the background and followed by inserts of the lead singer saying "Come on!" "Ha!" "Yeah!" etc. Then, the song ends with the repetition layered with a guitar solo. This matches up with Ratliff's interpretation of repetition because while one element is repeated throughout the entire song, other elements such as instrumental changes or interludes of new lyrics make it unique, and make it more engaging for the listener.]]> 2017-10-09 00:56:08 UTC https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195066552 elizabethmontgomery https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195067532 Pictured is James Brown, one of the most iconic singers of all time. Ratliff specifically analyzed his unique and compelling use of repetition in many of Brown's songs.
Credit: http://onwallhd.info/james-brown.html]]> 2017-10-09 01:04:42 UTC https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195067532 elizabethmontgomery https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195068079 Pictured is the album cover for one of the most popular Beatles songs, "Let It Be." I think that the repetition of the title throughout the song is what makes it most memorable.
Credit: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/let-it-be/id401151866]]> 2017-10-09 01:09:49 UTC https://padlet.com/elizabethmontgomery/fhivq2n2srcj/wish/195068079