f - week 8 - gender in

Another week on the issue of Gender in Music Technology.
Really quite a loose interpretation of the subject.

Kraftwerk[1], de-gendering music. That's like saying looking at something through a window removes you as a subjective interpreter. Just because you use a machine doesn't really remove your input, and just because it sounds like a machine doesn't mean it was created by a machine.

Freddie Mercury and Queen[2]. Never really noticed that the band name was slang for gay, quite amusing how one can just not notice something. Bring back the court of Louis XIV and let's all wear wigs and makeup :)

Pink vs. Eminem[3]. It was mentioned last week that love songs transcend the gender boundary[3a], people still will buy a love song about the same sex as the purchaser.
Well, Eminem is a tad rude perhaps, and I don't know his demographic. But he generally has quite nice backing music, and a good sense of rhythym - that's really the only thing I enjoy him for (not that I actually own any - of course not).
I don't really listen to Pink, so maybe she sells as a role model. Kylie will always be Charlene, and the buying public know it (she hasn't managed to make it in the US).

I also presented[4]. My point, in case anyone missed it. We are all suckers for what our minds tell us, and if it tells us that Music Technology is cool then it is :)
More affirmative action can only help the situation of imbalance, so I'm in favour of it.
I also wanted to get into the Jungian collective unconscious, and archetypes but didn't quite get excited enough :)




[1] Leffler, Bradley. “Music Technology Forum – Week 8 – Gender in Music Technology, can you tell the difference?”. Forum Presentation, University of Adelaide, Schultz building. 03 May 2007.

[2] Cakebread, Ben. “Music Technology Forum – Week 8 – Gender in Music Technology, can you tell the difference?”. Forum Presentation, University of Adelaide, Schultz building. 03 May 2007.

[3] Gadd, Laura. “Music Technology Forum – Week 8 – Gender in Music Technology, can you tell the difference?”. Forum Presentation, University of Adelaide, Schultz building. 03 May 2007.

[3a] Morris, Jake.“Music Technology Forum – Week 8 – Gender in Music Technology, can you tell the difference?”. Forum Presentation, University of Adelaide, Schultz building. 26 April 2007.

[4] Kelly, Edward. “Music Technology Forum – Week 8 – Gender in Music Technology, can you tell the difference?”. Forum Presentation, University of Adelaide, Schultz building. 03 May 2007.