Reaching deeper into Reggae

Topic:
Cultural Text

 Source:
My observations of a reggae concert that occurred on campus on September sixth.

Relation:
As discussed in lecture and found in our class readings, a situation can be read as a cultural text. you can take the ideas and symbols and representative actions from a situation and learn  a lot about a given culture.

description:
I walked into the Kate Buchanan room, it was crowded with people ranging from college students to community members, like the guy from ancient arts that had pierced my bellybutton the week before and the girl that plays cello outside every night. i could feel the anticipation of the music from the crowd. they were ready to dance. when the music began there was loud cheering and nearly everyone's shoes were kicked off. slowly the crowd began to move together. heads bobbed up and down to the music; just feeling the rhythm. then individuals began to really dance; picking up their feet and moving their arms through the air. couples swayed together, connecting.  as I was dancing, i started to think about my experience at reggae concerts. i felt that no matter where i was in the world, a reggae concert made me feel at home. Then i began to wonder what it was that made me feel comfortable and safe; i felt spiritual. when i looked around at the crowd, it seemed to me that many people were feeling spiritually connected and moved. The crowd was moving together, following the same rhythm, and bowing our heads to the music, as if we were 'praising the lord'. I looked around and i realized that a lot of the movements that the crowd was engaging in, seemed to be praising the music. everyone was bowing or marching; they were raising their hands into the air and shaking their heads. they were free. At a reggae concert there is no judgement. everyone can worship the music in their one way; with their own dance. reggae brings such positive messages to its listeners, and the crowd embodies these positive "vibes". when the crowd sings in unison: don't worry about a  thing, cause every little thing is gonna be alright", that message is felt, and you can see the smiles on all the bowing heads and the power in the raised arms (swaying together). i told my friend after the concert was over, "reggae concerts are my kind of church".


Commentary:
I was able to "read" the reggae concert as a cultural text and go deeper into the meaning of the dances and movements of the crowd. reggae has come to symbolize a religion, and be part of people's culture. The dances symbolize the importance of music in culture. the singing together symbolizes the values of community and "being one".

this link leads you to an NPR story about bob marley and the culture of reggae:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4473734