"Music in Diaspora" Slobin

Slobin's "Music in Diaspora: The View from Euro-America" explores the complexity of observing diaspora cultures within the superculture. In considering this idea, it's crucial to understand that while there are consistencies within diasporic cultures, there are also powerful differences, that could sometimes be characterized as strong, even divisive disagreements within the communities. Slobin also discusses the idea of "taste" as an important identifying factor, and the tiniest changes variations that are easily recognized by those within that community.

One important conclusion in this reading: feeling ethnically/culturally linked to "someplace else" while being fully incorporated into the dominant culture of where one actually lives is a confusing, complicated, and very rich experience. There are a lot of interactions here that are important to delve into when studying the subject, and the individual as a factor cannot be left out. Slobin discusses affinity as one "powerful form of interculture," highlighting an interesting aspect of the diasporic subculture, that one is not necessarily drawn to a specific style of music because of past experiences with music. Rather, the attraction can be more related to the other past experiences of the individual, then reflected in the music.

The interaction between diasporic subculture and the superculture is one of Slobin's main points here. He discusses the logistical powers of the dominant culture, sometimes accepting, sometimes resisting. However, he draws similarities, through their intent on "integration," between artists who have been accepted largely and those who remain somewhat under the radar. His conclusion makes me think about the difficult choices those living in a melting-pot -type culture must often make about identity.

Discussion question:
Slobin gives Seceda as an example, identifying as both Cuban-American and African American. How do you think the idea of the diasporic subculture will continue to evolve as our cultures, ethnicities, and races become increasingly integrated? How deeply can a diasporic subculture be accepted into the dominant superculture (which is also becoming increasingly mixed), while still being considered a subculture?