I love listening to music, as I'm sure everyone here does, too. While listening to some music and working on a paper tonight, I heard a song that reminded me of a place that I had been. Has that ever happened to you? And not just a concert you went to and the artist sang the song that night, but maybe a song that was playing at a high school dance, or in your car on your birthday.
I think music and history are intertwined more than we care to realize. And not just our personal history, but the history of a country, or the world. Like the Star Spangled Banner (or any other national anthem), or Celine Dion singing "My Heart Will Go On" at the Oscars, or Bruce Springsteen singing "The Rising" after 9/11, or the Olympic Theme.
I think music takes us back to the exact place we heard it; sometimes songs just stop you in your tracks, and this could be a good or bad thing. For example, my first dance was in 6th grade and it was to "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith. Do you know how long that song is, especially for a couple of sixth graders at a Catholic school dance? Every time I hear it, I laugh and think about my awkward first dance in my grade school gym. Obviously this is not some profound sense of place breakthrough, but it does illustrate my point.
I think it would be cool to have a museum that plays music at different parts of exhibits. It could involve visitors, and it could help transport them back to a certain time and place in a way that written words just can't.
I definitely agree that music can create a sense of place. One personal example I can think of is when I took a trip with my mom and aunt to California when I was 11. While we were there my aunt bought the soundtrack to the movie Girl, Interrupted and we listened to it repeatedly as we drove along Highway 1. Whenever I hear any of those songs, I immediately think of the towns we saw along the Pacific coast (and even the weather -- it was predominately gray and foggy that week). Also, most of those songs are from the '60s, so even though the trip was in 2001, it's sort of like my memory of the place has a different time attached to it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that music in museums could be used to reinforce a sense of place or of a certain time. Music is very evocative, almost like the way a certain smell can trigger an unconscious memory and immediately transport you elsewhere. I think you would have to switch up the tracks, though. Like that song they played in the workshop at Dayton History? That would get old (pun not intended) if you stood there too long.
That's the only problem with music in a museum -- the looping would drive the staff crazy. Maybe a playlist would be a good idea.
DeleteI think it is really funny, because every time I'll be thinking about something, or might make a blog post about it, someone else seems to have that same idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I want to do my paper on, only music and how it can reflect a sense of placelessness.
lol
That is funny. I'll be interested to hear what you have to say!
DeleteOh man, I am going to listen to "Enema of the State" by Blink 182 whilst walking to class and be 15 again. Hell to the Yeah.
ReplyDeleteI do this almost every day with Good Charlotte's "Anthem." Because my teen angst was so angsty.
DeleteMusic and memory, it's funny how they work together. I agree music can create a sense of place. I'm going to go to depressing for a minute and say that there is this song by Rascal Flatts called "I Won't Let Go". The first time I heard I thought about I Poppy who died a few years ago, but know that song brings back the memory of my step-grandmothers funeral and how the family stood up and sung the song. Also the "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood, and "When I get where I'm going" by Brad Paisley, both bring up memories of my Pop.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to Myrtle Beach with some friends for Spring Break we listened to a mixed cd all the way there. Now every time I hear those songs I go back to that fun week at the beach.