I find Tom's blanket definition of Pop rather depressing. (sniff, don't worry Tom it's not your fault) Tom describes "Pop" as music for imaginary rather than real communities. I'd never really considered it in terms so crisp, but yes it works as a definition.
Within this frame of reference everything I listen to could be termed "Pop", it's just that (as far as I'm concerned) this brings everything down to it's lowest, emptiest form. You can laugh at me all you like, but I'll always feel that while often on the "demographic periphery" I belong to whatever scene I'm lurking around. I don't think people care too much about my background, in a dancehall or at a venue no-one is too bothered. Everyone has a Mum and a Dad, everyone watches TV, everyone buys baked beans. I find the self-conciousness at the heart of the Post-modern "Pop" propsition to be wholly inimical, unhelpful even in the way it acts to dispossess, separate and ultimately elevate.
I don't think being a scene surfer means you're not engaged either. Even the "die-hard" Garage crew have always got their sweet tooth for things you'd find unexpected. All that fucking hoo-ha when Dizzy says he likes Sepultura, my my.
(sighs) Let's not forget we're all people.
Posted by Woebot at February 9, 2004 01:32 PM