Thursday, October 8, 2015

Final Proposal--- Oge Gbanite

Oge Gbanite
Convergence
10/8/2015
Proposal for Final Project

The phrase “you are what you eat” has been used as a way to encourage people to eat healthy and refrain from foods filled with saturated fats, sugar, and sodium because these foods cause medical issues.  The phrase “you are what you listen to” is foreign to many ears, when music glorifying “a$$” drugs, money, and narcissism do not cause happiness, joy and, peace; and instead the pollution of the mind is accepted and sought after. People enjoy listening to crap that is not conducive to sustaining a positive mindset, or living a lifestyle of joy, happiness and peace.
Music has been in existence since the beginning of human contact. We see it as a way to communicate with ourselves, one another, and oftentimes a higher being. Music is a form of entertainment and usually made for our enjoyment, but it also can take people to a deeper level, a level deeper than the shallow waters that are the attainment of worldly possessions. In this world of fruitless and frugal entertainment, so shallow that the lyrics often resemble nursery rhymes and the videos resemble strip shows, why haven’t people gone back to the enlightening music of their forefathers?
            Before music transformed from worship to the secular music we hear today, the majority worshipped to get closer to the God they believed created them, they worshipped to give glory to something higher, and although imperfections existed, why has that music suddenly become such a pariah? Why is it only people consider Jesus freaks are deemed the only ones weird enough to enjoy such music?
            Worship music has transformed into something that is not only wholesome, and family friendly, but also upbeat and uplifting.  It is not the boring, “ooooh’s” sung by male opera singers, and older ladies, and played on the organ. It is not only the gospel music that is only for black people and resembles old slave songs filled freedom from oppression and going home. It is freedom, and it speaks life to all ages and all generations. Is there enough representation in the media of Christian musicians who choose to represent Jesus rather than their lusts, and choose to refrain from cursing rather than saying ‘Nigga’ in every sentence? Why is it more appealing to shake your butt and dress scandalously, rather than jump and dance and remain morally sound in appearance and beliefs?

            My project will be a serious of blog posts documenting the reason for this shift from worship to secular, and why the shift has remained intact for so long. I want to incorporate music into the blog, and possibly travel to different worship concerts where the people are not trying to cater to the older generations, but instead are people who love God, and still have fun. I will use video, and camera, and words to express the shift that worship music has used to converge into something that everyone can listen to. There is a Worship movement on YouTube. Christians are not the old-school people of the past, the people that dubbed everything ‘demonic’, they are using social media to assimilate themselves into everyday people and reach all lives. I believe that if people were more aware of this type of music- the kind of music meant to help you overcome difficult trials, and instead find your calling in this world where the spectacle rules- then they might choose to listen to their music differently.

2 comments:

  1. I like this idea but I also think it'd be a good idea to explore the other side, and talk to people who only listen to secular music or people who listen to a combination of both because for them, the music they listen to might seem uplifting to them and speak to them in a different way that worship music may not.

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  2. Yeah, I agree with Brittney. I like the idea, especially how you plan to do a series of videos, photos, and blog posts about worship music. But I definitely think it'll add more dimension to your project if you get the opinions of people who only listen to secular music and why they choose to listen to it.

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