Music and Subjectivity

Paedantic Basterd · 06-28-2013, 11:06 PM

Oh, then you can skip like, the first third of the book.

Arya Stark · 06-28-2013, 11:19 PM

Lmao. Thanks for the heads up!

I'm really bad at keeping up with my reading, so I'll let you know when I start!

Astronomer · 07-01-2013, 04:32 AM

If I listen to a happy song when I am really depressed, it will just make me more depressed. Don't ask me why.

Arya Stark · 07-01-2013, 08:09 AM

Everyone is different!

How is it when you listen to depressing songs when you're depressed?

Mojo · 07-01-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

If I listen to a happy song when I am really depressed, it will just make me more depressed. Don't ask me why.

I completely understand this.

I often listen to music based on mood. I listen to a lot of music where all I want out of it is to be relaxed, and perhaps to put me in some kind of reflective mood. I listen to a lot of music many would consider sad, depressing etc. I listen to a lot of angry music, and a lot of music that I would class as more gloomy and perhaps dark. What I find though is I can respond to all of those types of music differently, depending on my current state of mind and any kind of personal or emotional connections I may have with the music.

I can relax to black metal, be uplifted by thrash metal and energised by space-rock. Theres not really a guaranteed emotional response to most albums I listen to. I wouldn't say I have a particularly extensive collection of typically "happy music" but I do have a few records I would use if thats what I wanted. However they may have the desired effect, but they may not. If I'm attempting to counter a bad, negative or angry mood with happy music, it could just irritate me.

I have also found myself listening to a lot of bands, albums, and mostly tracks that remind me of a friend of mine, over the last year since he passed away. I do this a lot now, whereas I didn't do it anywhere near as much before he died. These songs don't just remind me of him but of certain circles of friends, from school all the way through to adulthood, and so I have a lot of memories attached to these. One day I could find myself listening to these tracks and these artists and it may just depress me and make me sad, the next it could have me laughing hysterically (not that I have ever done this, especially not by myself and on public transport....cough) because it triggers a particularly funny memory or story that I had forgotten about or not thought of in a long time.

So, for me personally there are just so many factors. I don't think the music itself can guarantee a response from you, or the same response from you each time you listen to it.

galt54 · 07-07-2024, 02:43 AM

On the "cerebral", "theoretical" level I am certain that music is *not* subjective. There *are* objectively valid standards of quality in music.

But in practice music sure *seems* to be subjective. There are people out there who adore music (or "music") which I despise. And it goes without saying that I cannot prove that my taste is superior.

07-01-2013, 04:32 AM	#23 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	If I listen to a happy song when I am really depressed, it will just make me more depressed. Don't ask me why. __________________

06-28-2013, 11:06 PM	#21 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Oh, then you can skip like, the first third of the book.

07-07-2024, 02:43 AM	#26 (permalink)
galt54 Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: A suburb of Stockholm, Sweden. Posts: 191	On the "cerebral", "theoretical" level I am certain that music is not subjective. There are objectively valid standards of quality in music. But in practice music sure seems to be subjective. There are people out there who adore music (or "music") which I despise. And it goes without saying that I cannot prove that my taste is superior.