Defining Authenticity in Music

Technology is everywhere today. There is hardly any part of our society that remains untouched by it. The purpose of it is to make tasks easier. With implementations of technology into anything really, there many people cry out that it is taking the authenticity out of it. Electronic Dance Music has been under constant scrutiny from day one because it has no real instruments, and does not fallow the traditional method of making music. The people who produce it often only need a laptop with some software, not physical instruments. The truth of the matter is that there really is not an airtight definition for what makes music authentic. Those who disapprove of EDM would say that because there are no real instruments involved the music is not real. Stewart Oksenhorn wrote an article for the Aspen Times Weekly that addressed the history of EDM, and argued why it is in fact authentic. EDM has caused a huge amount of anxiety and concern for social critics and music fans because of it technological side. EDM can be produced on any modern computer with some software. It requires no actual instruments. This is upsetting those who would condemn EDM. The fact that anyone can do it is disturbing. The Paris Hilton video on YouTube leads those who do not understand or appreciate the genre that it takes no skill. If Paris Hilton, the famous, over privileged, ditsy blonde can do it, it takes no skill. What these critics do not understand is that she did an awful job. The drops were wrong and everything she did butchered the music. The critics however do not notice this because they do not listen to the music. From the outside looking in it is easy to become confused. Merrium- Webster.com defines authenticity as “real or genuine”, or “made to be, or look just like the original”. Using these definitions there are no grounds to call EDM not authentic. Oksenhorn quotes many advocates for EDM. They talk about how in concert many EDM producers are doing more than meets the eye. They even go as far as to put down “real” musicians by saying “’He only plays one guitar’”. This brings the amount of skill it requires to create the music into the debate surrounding authenticity. The advocates are saying that EDM may require more skill to create than your conventional music. The complexity of the live show is also used as an example. EDM shows require more stage props and induce more of a dance atmosphere. More people actually dance at EDM shows than any other genres show. Rarely would you find a show where eighty percent of the crowd is actually engaged in the music. Usually it’s about the other way around. Twenty percent of the people at a rock concert are actually participating in the mosh pit or dancing.
Another point brought up about EDM is how similar peoples responses were to music that they are basing their definition of authentic music on. “Jazz was like that, Punk, Rock’n’Roll. It’s got the same history.” When Jazz came out, as well as most of the genres of music, they fell under scrutiny the same way EDM did. The older generation was condemning the genre claiming that the music had no depth or heart. Rock was