Yeah I've been having trouble maintaining a single line of thought lately, maybe a more direct reply would have been saying "take a look at Mumford & Sons and the rise and obliteration of folk music and/or look through peoples reactions whenever anybody signs to a major label." Actually about a month ago now I brought somebody to a DIY show who had never been to one before, and generally hasn't exhibited much interest in those kind of shows. Throughout the night this person asked "where are people getting the beer from" "is everyone smoking because they think it's cool?" "oh so I don't have to donate?" and things along those lines. That's why people don't open these things up to the general public.
Resentment over capitalism taking your culture and selling it back to you has been a thing since the 70s at least, but I think it's novel that everyone else gets pissy about "hipsters" appropriating their thing. I see a lot of hate for industrial, noise and metal bands that get reviewed in Pitchfork and don't have much connection to the communities they're borrowing from (getting reviewed in Pitchfork but having that connection gets a pass), and the communities they're borrowing from are mostly outsiders too.
Mumford and Sons is to music what going to an Indian restaurant and asking for a chicken tandori with a "1" on the hotness scale is to food. People enjoy it because it's something new, something a bit off the beaten path, but still accessible. Someone enjoying Mumford and Sons does not in any way take away from your ability to enjoy music by The Pogues or Tallest Man on Earth. If anything, it gives you the opportunity to share further with people. "Oh, you just discovered Mumford and Sons and like them? Maybe you should check out some of these guys. They might be right up your alley." Everything out there has something that is more appealing to "mainstream" people. Cars have Honda Civics. Folk music has Mumford and Sons. Coffee has Starbucks. On and on. The purists and the eclectics though? The people who have a true passion for their hobby? They still know how to find what they want.
rubs eyes This is where I disagree. This is what I attempted to outline. "I like folk music" "I like all kinds of music except country" "insert whatever else here" that effectively communicates "I like this but I have no nuance in what I like about it and haven't put forth the effort to delve beyond what's being given to me". I can recommend music to people and I have many, many times in the past, but the people in the above, the general, average person, does not, in my experiences take it upon themselves to take a deeper dive into these kinds even after providing some recommendations.Hipsters arguably have good taste. I think that if they opened up a bit more, I think they'd discover that more regular people can appreciate what they appreciate to nearly the same degree.
So? That means they just don't care as much about music as you do. If you feel compelled to recommend something, because you think they'll enjoy it, do so, then let go. If they explore it, great. If not, once again their dispassion on the subject doesn't diminish your passion unless you let it. Besides, your suggestion might stick with them, compounding on top of suggestions from others. Know how long it took me to watch Pulp Fiction from when I first heard it until I actually sat down and watched it? About a decade. Know how many times it was suggested to me in that time span? Probably 50. Eventually though, I sat down and watched it. Sometimes, even if you don't think you're reaching someone, you probably are.I can recommend music to people and I have many, many times in the past, but the people in the above, the general, average person, does not, in my experiences take it upon themselves to take a deeper dive into these kinds even after providing some recommendations.
We clearly have very, very different levels of cynicism towards others.
I'm very cynical. Towards massive corporations, towards corrupt governments, towards people of power in general who abuse their positions. The average person though? Whether they are better or worse off than us in terms of privilege, wealth, influence, or what have you, they're still human, trying to get by like you and me. They're not being wilfully malicious or even wilfully neglectful. They're just being human. The best we can do is encourage them when they're doing right and speak up when we feel they are doing wrong. Sometimes though, you'll catch yourself calling someone an "asshole" under your breath. It happens. I do it all the time, whether I mean to or not.