Stuart Hall Response

In his speech “Ethnicity: Identity and Difference” Stuart Hall makes the argument that identity is complex and that it is based upon many aspects of one’s life such as class, race, gender and nation. Hall jointly calls these aspects “the great stable collectivities.” From this, one can relate the notion of self-identity to the idea of music because both concepts depend greatly upon influence from the past and present, as far as societal standards are concerned.

Stuart Hall reveals a relationship between personal identity and ethnicity in that history and politics play a large role in the development of one’s character and goes on to explain how these two factors, as well as a narrative aspect, “is an act of cultural recovery.” As far as history, one’s past experiences always perpetrate onto one’s present thoughts. Politics and societal pressures influence many individuals’ ideals and practices because of a need to fit in and be accepted by peers. From a narrative perspective, personal identity tells the story of a person’s life. The ways in which someone reacts to certain situations, as well as that individual’s view of themselves, is indicative of their past experiences, good or bad.

Music, just like self-identity, can also be seen as a cultural outlet. Musicians express their thoughts, feelings and dreams through their work, just as an individual expresses their beliefs and opinions through their actions. In theory, music has no color or religion. However, it is apparent that the type of music one listens to often reflects the interests of parents and friends as well as what society has deemed “popular” or “acceptable.” Both personal identity and music rely on outer influences; however, how the two are embraced by individuals is up to said individual.