Music on Reality TV is Insanely Manipulative
Tantacrul2 HN recommenders · recommended in 1 month, 2021–2022
commentary · general · evergreen · 2021–2022 on HN
Tantacrul analyzes how stock music in reality TV uses blunt, repeated tropes to manipulate viewers, comparing it to nature documentaries. He ties it to ideas of reification and cultural homogenization.
Recommended as a sharp piece of media criticism by a well-liked music YouTuber, and cited for the concept of reification.
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4 comments from Hacker News
Not related as such, but worth pointing out. The author of this discussion - and the project manager of Audacity - is Tantacrul, who is, in my opinion, one of the best music youtubers around. His video[0] on corporate music was fantastic, and his video on Shostakovich[1] made me totally reconsider his music. Plus, he's funny! So there's that. Highly recommend! [0]: ▶ this video [1]: link
His reviews of the various scorewriters (Sibelius, Musescore, Dorico) are also fantastic, even if you are not into music. His review of Musescore lead him to become the project manager of Musescore, and probably of Audacity as a consequence. His video Stock Music & Reality TV - How to Misrepresent the World [1] is also really good. [1] ▶ this video
Your comment reminds me of the idea of reification explained here - ▶ this video Film grain doesn't mean anything, except what the public have been conditioned for it to mean back when it was a natural chemical process.
The problem is it's a race to the bottom with these kinds of things, comparable to the over-salt-&-sugar-ing of American foods: ▶ this video "..until eventually, they’re shipping hamburger buns with exactly three sesame seeds artfully arranged in a triangle, and nobody buys their hamburgers any more." -- link