Hardening of taste #1
From The Barcelona Way: How to Create a High-Performance Culture by Damian Hughes (London: Macmillan, 2018), pp. 90:
Many leaders pride themselves on setting high-level direction: ‘I’ll set the vision and stay out of the details.’ It is true that a compelling vision is critical, but it is not enough. Big Picture, hands-off leadership isn’t likely to work in a cultural change situation, because the hardest part of change – the paralysing part – is actually in the details.
There are certain music genres I wouldn't typically seek out. For this post, I'll focus on house and country music. Funnily enough, if I were stuck on an island, these might be the two genres I'd want to listen to. Think about it this way: if you were stuck on an island with only your favorite albums or songs, wouldn't their charm run out? You kinda already know those songs. You’d get bored and seek novelty. But on the other hand, being stuck with songs you initially don't like offers you a chance to grow fond of them over time. You are stuck on an island — you have all the time in the world, homie. Anyway, I do listen to country music sometimes but it’s mostly when I miss my father. He was a huge fan of gospel, rock, reggae and country. I can stand the first three genres, but when he played country musicians other than Kenny Rogers, Shania Twain, and Faith Hill, I’d just get a tad miffed. Yes, music can make you go nuts. In 2019, I did make a county music playlist to mourn his loss. But I intentionally left out some songs I knew he liked, just to see if it would make him turn in his grave. I am his son, after all. I chose songs that I personally liked — songs I fell in love with the first moment I heard them. Those tracks transcend my feelings toward country music. I try not to listen to that playlist often, because I want it to be my “take flowers to his grave” kind of vibe. I know he’d find the idea of flowers by his grave amusing. But nonetheless, the playlist serves as my occasional one-on-one time with him. They say that as you age, you'll find yourself enjoying songs you disliked in your younger years. I've found that to be somewhat true for me. Still jamming to my father’s favorite rock bands. But the same can't be said for sports. I'd rather play soccer than watch it, but I'm not particularly keen on playing any sport. I recall a friend once telling me in my early 20s that I'd eventually become a devout fan of a specific sport. I haven't seen that happen yet, and I'm genuinely curious to see if he was right, rather than resisting the idea just to prove him wrong.
Sadly, I have stricter criteria for genres I don’t particularly enjoy. I either have to like a song upon first listen, or it must catch my attention in such a way that I have no choice but to admit it’s good. I don’t set such a high bar for genres I do like. In those cases, I’m more likely to tell myself to give the song or album another listen. This mirrors human relations in a way: People often set hoops for those less like them to jump through, while removing barriers for those with whom they share similarities. I am more “open-minded” with people but I know there are many unconscious biases lurking somewhere in the shadows. There are house songs that I liked the first time I heard them. But they somehow don’t manage to stick in my head or heart. I am often mystified by the subtle details that inform our preferences. While it's impossible to totally figure out, I sometimes wonder why I prefer one thing over another. My excuse for not liking house music is that it's repetitive, but I can counter that by pointing out that there are other genres I like which are also somewhat repetitive. When we dislike something or someone, we often focus on all the flaws, whether real or imagined, to justify our feelings. Have you tried washing your hands with soap and hard water? Good luck because the soap won’t produce much foam. I can't figure out my resistance to this genre. What is it about the genre that makes my heart harden? Besides food, I'm generally open to trying new things. Sadly enough, my sensitive stomach puts me at a disadvantage. No matter how fond I am of someone, I heed a Nigerian proverb. It says, ‘don't eat/drink poison out of shame.’ I'm not implying that their food is harmful. But if it's something unfamiliar to my tummy, I might end up frequenting the restroom. My well-being takes precedence over politeness. It also doesn’t end there, I am irrationally paranoid. It didn’t help much that when I was little my mom always said, ‘once it passes the throat, you’re dead.’ Is there something about house music that I think my interest in it would bring about a negative outcome? But that could also be said of punk, rock and heavy metal.
I am a contextual thinker in a way. I need more background information about things. Context adds depth, making things more interesting and meaningful. For a twist: I've recently begun music production classes, and the first genre we are focusing on is house music. So, there I was in class, grappling with my own resistance. Isn’t life funny? Just last Friday, I was given an assignment due for Wednesday. It's now Monday, and I haven't even started. I'm procrastinating, clearly avoiding it. My learning style is somewhat different. For me to understand something, I either have to see its real-world utility or how it connects with other things. When I want to trick my brain into learning something, regardless of its difficulty, I often take a narrative approach. Take a musical genre, for instance: To truly appreciate it, I will have to delve into the history of the genre, its evolution, the cultural or political context in which it emerged, the key figures instrumental in its growth, and its most influential albums. This technique can be time-intensive, but it's rewarding because it reveals gaps that can be explored or exploited. I dislike the term ‘exploit,’ and I hope the music industry finds an alternative. In this context, ‘exploit’ refers to the monetisation of an artist’s music. In the music industry, unscrupulous individuals often exploit musicians. That’s why every other month there’s a musician lamenting in the news. This dual meaning of ‘exploit’ in the industry highlights the underlying issues and skewed incentives. That aside, I am beginning to suspect that some people struggle in school not because they are dull or stupid, but because they want things deeply explained to them. People also learn at different speeds. Also some people are not interested in words but in the things the words signify. It's like explaining birch trees to someone who has neither seen them in person nor in a picture. Goodluck with that! Schools in some ways do this. They have disconnected the signifier (word) from the signified (the thing in the world). Let's put a pin in that — we'll revisit it next week. That's enough rambling for today. In other news, I have taken a break from my instagram project, Broccoli Daily. I’m pausing to determine its next direction. The project — in its current state — has achieved its initial purpose.
I started that project to post daily quotes that would inspire or delight others. But it wasn’t really for people. It was mostly for me. I wanted a daily ritual I could look forward to, regardless of how I felt emotionally. A small task that could give a sense of accomplishment and could motivate me to take on other tasks. That little decision helped quite a lot, and I am grateful for that. However, Broccoli Daily has since become routine and no longer enjoyable. I believe it needs to evolve to reflect my growth. As usual, I am in no rush. Patience and experimentation are my go-to strategies. What have I discovered? Every purpose or vision has a shelf life. You either define it from the outset or recognise when it’s near.
Thanks for reading. If there's anything you'd like to chat about, or if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you. :)