At the beginning of Stuart Hall’s speech titled “Ethnicity: Identity and Difference,” Stuart introduces his audience to the concept of how people interpret identity. He elaborates this point by stating that most people believe that identity is a factor that is constant in our ever-changing world, but the truth is that identity is dynamic. He goes on to discuss the complex ideas of identity and the factors that contribute to the disruption of identity. These factors of disruption include our surroundings, the model of language, and the unconscious mind.
In a way, the ideas that disrupt our identities also influence the music we hear or sing. It can be inferred that like identity music is complex and influenced by many of our surroundings, which causes it to be fluid. For instance, some artists in the past have sung about political movements and other controversial issues because surrounding issues have influenced them. Therefore, as Stuart stated, “ There are always conditions to identity which the subject cannot construct. Men and women make history but not under conditions of their own making.” Basically, music like identity is influenced by everyday events and how we react to them. Another idea that can influence music is the thought of the unconscious mind and its ability to develop our social, cultural, and political life. This idea allows us to reflect on who we think we are and what we stand for. The model of language is also an important factor to music because we communicate based on prior thoughts and beliefs. For example, “To say something new is first of all to reaffirm the traces of the past that are inscribed in the words we use.” Hence, the way artists use words to express their thoughts is a confirmation of their identity.
Ultimately, music is complex and does not have any sort of confinement; therefore, artists have the ability to develop and change based on their own personal disruptions in identity. Music in itself is the expression of identity.
Mariella Alvarado
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