disco: the music, the movement

DISCO: THE MUSIC,
THE MOVEMENT
fourth year terri cunningham
On July 12, 1979, thousands of disgruntled Rock fans and
music theorists gathered in Comiskey Park in Chicago,
anxiously looking on as the White Sox played the Detroit
Tigers. What was supposed to be a nice night at the
baseball park escalated into a riot, as one fan rushed the
field, followed by a couple thousand eager rebels, a sign
boasting, “DISCO SUCKS,” serving as the backdrop. Fiftythousand fans,
motivated by a
bitter resentment
for the growing
popularity of
Disco music. What
became known as
Disco Demolition
Night resulted in
several injuries,
a destroyed
baseball field and
the death of
an era.
Disco found
mainstream
popularity in
the mid-1970s,
heating up the
underground
dance clubs of
New York and Philadelphia. It made its way to the big
screen in films like “Saturday Night Fever” and to the
radio by such artists as the Bee Gees, the Jacksons and
Gloria Gaynor. Theoretically, a steady, unchanging beat
characterizes the rhythm section of disco music, as well
as some elements of soul, funk and a prominent string
section that carries the listener away like the wind. Disco
was dance music, and unlike rock music, the guitar served
as a complement, not a prominent solo instrument.
So, why the anti-Disco sentiment? Some claim racism
and homophobia as Disco was popularized by minority
communities. Others claim the music was just terrible.
What follows mainstream success of a genre of music is
the subsequent
homogenization
of that genre,
and Disco, with a
few exceptions,
lacked complexity.
But Disco was
more than
music: it was a
resolute rebellion
against racism,
homophobia and
the anti-equality
sentiment, a
joyful reclamation
of identity and
uniqueness,
paradoxically
aided by the
music’s lack
of complexity.
It’s timely rise followed the divisive era of the 60s, and
represented an attempt at resolution. On the surface,
Disco was music, but at its core, Disco was a movement.
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DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ANIMAL
photos by third year madison bledsoe (cat) and second year rachel owart (fish)
This photo essay is about a day in the life of a Oti
the cat. I think it’s best summarized by this haiku:
soaking up the sun’s rays
absorbing its energies
cats-solar powered
I spent my spring break in Hawaii (humble brag) and visited an
extravagantly decorated resort that had luscious gardens with paths
to amenities, pools, etc. These beautiful koi fish were basically
decorations… and it felt a little weird? Needless to say, I gave these
graceful fish the attention they deserve and thought about their lives
there, radiating beauty for tourists to hopefully notice and appreciate.
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TCB: A POSITIVE PRESS PUBLICATION: VOL. VI, ISSUE 9
FIVE QUESTIONS
WITH SWEATER MAN
second year ariana parsa
photo by ellie barnard
Jesse Kenney is a father, husband and friend with a big
heart; but once he steps inside Stegeman Coliseum on
game day, he takes on his persona: Sweater Man. Known
for his iconic sweater and jumping jacks throughout
the game, Kenney encapsulates what it means to be
committed to the G.
Where did you get your famous sweater?
13 years ago, my wife and I went to Las Vegas where we
found this sweater on a mannequin. We walked passed it
three days in a row. The sweater was $200 and at first, she
[my wife] didn’t want to spend that kind of money for the
sweater, but later while I was at a casino, she bought it for
me!
After 13 years, how have you managed to keep the
sweater in such good condition?
I never wear it out other than to Georgia basketball games.
I don’t eat or drink when I wear it, and right after the
games I go home, immediately take it off, throw it in the
laundry, fold it up and put it in the closet!
Do you ever get recognized in public?
Yeah, I have a lot of people see me and say, “Hey you’re
Sweater Man,” even though I’m not wearing my sweater.
I get a bunch of people asking me for autographs and
pictures too. It’s very humbling. I’m just a regular fan. I love
the sport, and I love my team.
Where did your love for basketball originate?
I was born and raised in Kentucky. And in Kentucky the
only thing that matters is college basketball. There are no
pro-teams in the state, so with Louisville and the University
of Kentucky, the whole state is devoured by basketball. I
didn’t go to those schools, but I played basketball in high
school and always loved it. It’s just a part of my fabric.
So would you say the $200 was well spent?
Yeah, it was. I’ll do anything to support the team and
get the crowd going. If there’s anything that has the best
satisfaction for me, it’s that I can help the team make a
basket or win a game.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
FLAWED ARTISTS, BEAUTIFUL ART
third year hamilton way
When you hear the word “art,” what do you think of?
Does your favorite book come to mind? Do you remember
a classic movie your dad watched with you when you
were a kid? Maybe you remember a painting you saw in a
museum; maybe you didn’t completely understand it, but
you certainly told your friend you did. Art is subjective;
ultimately, it is measured from where you derive personal
pleasure and understanding.
In many ways, artists are immortalized by their
creations. Before the act of creation, the artist is simply a
person; afterwards, they are the purveyor of a wide range
of emotions, someone allowing others
to feel something for the things they’ve
made. It’s for this reason many people
— especially today — idolize the
creators of their favorite pieces of art
on an exultant level. This artist worship
turns into an obsession to meet the
artist, to interact with them, to pick
their brain and discover what drives
them.
And when the fan finally meets their
idol, expecting a divine moment of realization, most of the
time, they find disappointment. Instead of a conversation
that affects them even more than their favorite song
does, they have an exchange of words with a human
being. As great as art may be, no artist can ever live up to
expectations. They aren’t the art. They’re just human.
Really, your favorite artist could be a jerk. She could
be ungenerous, or uncaring or generally seem selfish. He
could even say or do something that directly contradicts
the message you received from his music. Do artists still
stand up when measured against their own mistakes?
As humans, we are individual pieces
of art, flaws and all. And because of
that, we have the potential to make
beautiful things. If you enjoy something
but don’t respect the person who
created it, that’s just a testament to the
good all people can create. Through
art, the true intentions of humanity are
revealed.
We may not be perfect, but we have
the capacity to create beautiful things.
TCB: A POSITIVE PRESS PUBLICATION: VOL. VI, ISSUE 9
KUDOS TO JANE: A
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
ON “JANE THE VIRGIN”
second year gaby reyes
Jane Villanueva is
your average college
student—that is, until
she is accidentally,
artificially inseminated
and becomes pregnant
while maintaining her
virginity. This is the
premise of the hit
television show, Jane the
Virgin. Loosely based
on the Venezuelan
telenovela, “Juana La
Virgen,” the show is
the only one currently
on network television
with a predominantly
Latino cast. The show
really highlights the
family’s heritage with references to arepas (a cultural dish
from Venezuela), references to relatives in Venezuela, the
grandmother’s status as an undocumented immigrant and
the her exclusive use of Spanish.
As a Venezuelan, I’m constantly impressed with the
cultural nuances the show displays. Very few shows feature
Hispanic main characters, and when they do, they are very
stereotypically portrayed and ambiguous in nationality,
showing me the writers didn’t take the time to develop
their personalities.
I see my family in the Villanuevas. The interactions, both
in English and Spanish, between the three generations
of Latina women are shockingly similar to those I have
with my own mom and grandmother. The grandmother’s
constant religious
lessons resonate with
me so well that when
someone tried to hurt
the grandmother on the
show, I found myself
screaming at the TV
for them to, “leave my
abuela alone!”
The cast and crew of
Jane the Virgin outdo
themselves in creating
a Latino family that is
interesting, complex,
culturally correct and
just all around awesome.
The show beautifully
demonstrates the
tensions and harmony
that come with immigrant families of first and second
generation Americans sharing a household. This is a
storyline many Americans can relate to. Whether you
identify as Latino/Hispanic or not, you can enjoy the show
knowing you are not getting some cookie-cutter version of
a Latino family. This is truly a step in the right direction for
the television industry.
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