Aesthetic Reflexivity

How do we identify ourselves? There are many ways we choose to create our own identity. The way we dress, the way we talk, the movies, television shows that we watch, and the music we listen to all help the way we identify ourselves. This is known as aesthetic reflexivity, which is really emphasized in the book Music in Everyday Life by Tia DeNora. Self-identity is really important amongst everyone which is why we spend so much time trying to discover ourselves.

                Music is one of the most important ways we identify ourselves. The type of music we listen creates certain cliques, and trends that we follow. People who usually listen to hip-hop dress a certain way, as well as the kids who listen to punk rock, have an entirely different style. The type of music we listen to is how we identify ourselves. Most of us don’t just listen to one type of music. We have a variety of preferences for music. This can make it a little more challenging for finding oneself.

                There are many reasons to have a preference for a certain type or a variety of types of music. Sometimes one might like a song based on memories affiliated with that song. Sometimes people just like the style of the artist. The voice of the artists or the uses of the instruments are all important attributes to making good music. The lyrics can also make a song more appealing for someone. The lyrics are able to convey a certain message to the listener, which allows the listener to relate to the song. Some messages are inspirational, and some are just expressions of emotions that we all have experienced. Many different types of music acquire these qualities, which is one of the reasons I don’t have a very narrow preference for only certain types of music.

                The first thing that usually grabs my attention when listening to a song is the voice of the artist. Alicia Keys, Tom Jones, and Freddie Mercury are very talented singers. In many of their songs they sing with such passion, which is why I enjoy listening to their music. I like passion in music, I am not exactly sure what that says about my self-identity, but when an artist has a passionate voice, I am drawn to them.  I also like music based on the way it sways my mood. I love to listen to music that makes me feel happy, or music that makes me feel relaxed. Sometimes though, I do like to listen to music that helps me vent when I am feeling angry. Songs that bring back memories also have huge impact on the way I listen to music. I do listen to certain types of music that bring back certain memories, which can also alter my mood. A variety of types of music acquire these attributes, which is why I have a wide range of preferences for music. After 18 years I am still not able to identify myself through music, I am not sure that the self is something that can be defined.  What I am sure is that even though music isn’t required for survival it is an important aspect in our daily lives, making life a little more colorful and interesting.