Classical fans: what's your opinion on metal music?

[Jo498]

The general appeal for me, emotionally, is that it feels like the extreme opposite of what is socially acceptable.

So it's a bit like Carnival/Mardi gras because "metal" (and other popular music with similar behavior at concerts) is huge and within these concerts/clubs the "transgressions" don't count, like they are acceptable during carnival in many countries.

[Szykneij]

Quote from: greg on July 22, 2022, 08:31:56 PM
The general appeal for me, emotionally, is that it feels like the extreme opposite of what is socially acceptable.

So it's a bit like Carnival/Mardi gras because "metal" (and other popular music with similar behavior at concerts) is huge and within these concerts/clubs the "transgressions" don't count, like they are acceptable during carnival in many countries.

I get the emotional appeal aspect. There are songs that evoke pleasant memories when I hear them, even if I don't find them musically interesting. Some dance music can provide an exciting and enjoyable backdrop without much musical sophistication. But when I put on a set of headphones for serious listening, I'm more discerning as to what I choose to listen to.

[greg]

So it's a bit like Carnival/Mardi gras because "metal" (and other popular music with similar behavior at concerts) is huge and within these concerts/clubs the "transgressions" don't count, like they are acceptable during carnival in many countries.

Hm, yeah, I think it's a good comparison.
The overlap with drunken fun can be similar, as I will see plenty of people with alcohol and such at metal concerts.
But the flavor is distinct in the way like this- Mardi Gras seems to be more of a reaction against the "robot" part of expecting to be a "smiling robot." The partiers are smiling and having fun, but they are doing their own quirky thing and acting animalistic, or more human.
(keep in mind that i don't know much about Mardi Gras at all/the history,etc., just observing how it looks)


Metal is like being the opposite of the "smiling" part.




I hate it when people tell me to smile... and then joke around with nicknames like "sunshine" or whatever. Lol!

You can't be aggressive and you can't look sad or depressed IRL. You can't go around looking with a face looking like the above picture, it's unacceptable. Partially because others don't deserve the bad attitude, and also it's just bad for community and business. Metal embraces the darkness and restores balances. It's an escape from the unnatural society to the natural self. Same effect with much classical music that is dark and highly dissonant.

[Florestan]

It's an escape from the unnatural society

There is no such thing as "unnatural society". If it is unnatural, how come that it did appear, evolve and survive?

[greg]

There is no such thing as "unnatural society". If it is unnatural, how come that it did appear, evolve and survive?

Because it requires a massive amount of humans to give up their natural selves to fit in. That's the only way it works. It's entirely a bargain.

[Florestan]

Because it requires a massive amount of humans to give up their natural selves to fit in. That's the only way it works. It's entirely a bargain.

How do you get a massive amount of humans to give up their natural selves? Actually, how can one give up their natural self? Is it even possible?

[greg]

How do you get a massive amount of humans to give up their natural selves? Actually, how can one give up their natural self? Is it even possible?

Well, no one wants to work, do they?  (at least most people)
That is the bargain for surviving...
Working is not your natural self. I mean, what do you wanna do on a Monday morning, a) get stuck in traffic and go to work or b) sleep in, listen to some music in the afternoon, do some reading, and by 4pm pick up some hot chick and take her home?
Or... what would you do if you had a week to live? I think that is the closest you'll get to knowing what your natural self would be.
That's why I mean by natural self, not sure what you had in mind.


(not to mention the whole aspect of someone having the power to get cops to put people in prison for not obeying the law... like if you have the random urge to drive 120 mph on the highway (even if no cars are around and it's safe), you have to repress that urge, that natural self, because you can still get caught).

[Jo498]

There's an ambiguity in "natural" here, I think. As humans are "naturally" malleable therefore depending on environment even at a "primitive" stage there are different lifestyles "natural".
However, I think greg is correct that the highly regulated (in a wide sense) life of modern humans is rather special. In any case we know of "outlets" like carnivals, 12th night, feast of fools etc. in  many cultures and since a long time. Obviously, this is still different because these festivals are at a specific time for everyone (and often before or after a fasting or similar period), it's not like relaxing/celebrating privately or within a subculture like heavy metal concerts.