Tag: Revolution

Trade makes war: A social theory of violence

War and violence are words that denote extreme forms of social behaviour, even referred to as asocial or antisocial behaviour, in keeping with the immoral and dehumanising acts they accompany. But this was not always the case. War and violence were once seen as far more normal parts of the human conditions than they are … Continue reading Trade makes war: A social theory of violence →

Donda, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, and the sonic revolution of the 2020s

Music since the year 2000 has gone through three phases, which can be bracketed by the most prominent popular song at the turn of each decade. 1. … Baby One More Time by Britney Spears (1999) 2. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga (2009) 3. bad guy by Billie Eilish (2019) While the first and second … Continue reading Donda, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, and the sonic revolution of the 2020s →

The tyrant and the totality: Which would win? And how can both lose, and freedom reign?

I would like to consider a paradox. If a tyrant goes to war against a totalitarian regime, in order to destroy it and create a new balanced order, which would win: the temporary tyranny, or the semi-permanent totality? Which would endure — cleansing fire, or watery deluge? The fire is the tyrant’s weapon of choice; … Continue reading The tyrant and the totality: Which would win? And how can both lose, and freedom reign? →

Blackpink in Dallas Day 2: Brilliance redefined from the greatest show on Earth

Blackpink has returned to Dallas, Texas, for a second day of its magnificent American leg of the Born Pink world tour. To skip songs one to seven, ‘Playing With Fire’ is predictably fantastic, and the crowd is surprisingly enthusiastic compared with night one of the tour. The instrumental prelude to ‘Tally’ is beautifully underlaid to … Continue reading Blackpink in Dallas Day 2: Brilliance redefined from the greatest show on Earth →

The counterrevolution to Blackpink is here, and it’s a little bit awful

So, Blackpink is the revolution. Why? Because the counterrevolution is already here. After Blackpink followed the trailblazing artistry of Kanye West, now K-Pop bands are taking after Jacob Collier’s neo-jazz counterrevolution to the romantic excesses of hip hop in Drake. But alas, the course correction is tired and the jazz/romantic era is over. Blackpink is … Continue reading The counterrevolution to Blackpink is here, and it’s a little bit awful →

Time of Terra: The medieval foundations of modern politics

In my previous writings about modernity, theory, philosophy, art, and evolution, I have somewhat obscured the key to the world in which we live: its origins in medieval Europe. This idea occurred to me, paradoxically, in reflecting on science fiction, such as the tabletop game Warhammer 40,000, which follows influences both from high fantasy (notably, … Continue reading Time of Terra: The medieval foundations of modern politics →

How Billie Eilish turned popular music upside down

Several recent biopics have shown how much popular music owes to rock influences, from Elvis Presley to Freddie Mercury. But popular music also emerges from the genres of jazz, soul, and, more recently, hip hop. According to actress Elizabeth Taylor, the ‘King of Pop, Rock and Soul’ was Michael Jackson. As Forbes recently noted: ‘Perhaps … Continue reading How Billie Eilish turned popular music upside down →

The evolution of music and the importance of balance

Music, as I’ve recently argued on this blog, swings from one extreme to another. On the one hand, there are the technicians, who think music can be learned through meticulous practice. The chief virtue of technicians is the demand for perfection. On the other hand, there are the artists, who think music comes from innate … Continue reading The evolution of music and the importance of balance →