MACAELA FLANAGAN
COLUMNIST
The disease? Musical snobbery, and the virus is spreading. What used to be a title only given to the most astute indie rocker is now finding more and more victims as the general population's taste in music worsens. Where an art rocker dressed in black used to be easily identifiable, the music snob now comes in all forms of appearance and musical taste. The music snob must be defined as one with an intense love for a certain flavor of music, often to the point of borderline obsession. And it isn't always a question of appreciating music, because equally important to the music snob's identity is an intense repulsion for any genre of music that he or she sees as a scar to musical ingenuity.
Obscurity. This is perhaps the most obvious clue. If a conversation about music with someone turns into a frantic listing of bands until one of you has not heard of the named group, you very well could be at risk of being a music snob.
Classics. You must have a working knowledge of classic albums and early influences. But, because you are a music snob, this trait must surpass the big titles by any band. In other words, familiarity with Sgt. Pepper won't get you too far. Claiming you know a lot about the history of rock and then not being able to support is a sure fire way to lose all respect when in the company of fellow snobs. Don't be surprised if you are ostracized or the object of extreme ridicule from there on out.
Bragging. What makes a music snob separate from one who enjoys good music is often revealed in this step. A music snob goes out of his or her way to make everything they know about music accessible to whomever is in earshot. While one who simply enjoys good music can contribute to a musical discussion, the music snob feels it necessary to reveal everything they know about the topic. This includes battles with other music snobs, and an addiction to showing off your musical trivia knowledge (guest performers, set lists, etc.) at every chance.
Guilty Pleasures. Image is important to a music snob, so he or she must not admit to liking artists that don't fit into his or her category of acceptable music. Therefore, his or her intense attraction to the music of Hanson must not be acted upon. This can result in musical denial and closet listening, revealed when a close friend finds a very worn album hidden within the trenches of the music snob's sock drawer.
Friends. The music snob often refuses to associate with people that are more knowledgeable in the history of rock. If music snob A's area of specialty is underground hip-hop, he or she would most likely be better friends with music snob B, who enjoys indie rock in the post-punk variety, than say with music snob C, who also likes underground hip-hop. Whether A or C knows more is not important. The plain fact is that A and C's relationship would never be able to bloom, because they would constantly be competing for the underground hip-hop championship belt.
CD Collection. If you have ever gone to the living space of a new acquaintance, seen their CD collection, and ran away horrified and scarred for life, there's a very good chance that you are a music snob (unless they had a wide selection of Creed, then your bolting is completely admissible). However, chances are you would not be in that situation, because you would have already spoken with your new friend about their musical tastes prior to entering their home. If you didn't discuss their musical tastes before entering their home, you might want to question your music snob status.
Possession. One of the most tell tale signs of a music snob is possession of a certain band or album. Music snob A and music snob B may both love band C. If this is the case and this realization does not allow the two snobs to bond, chances are there will be a messy blurting out of facts and other completely unrelated musical trivia, which will probably make the two snobs appear pathetic and obsessed rather than musical appreciators.
Godliness. The inability to understand that others have a love affair with music as intense as yours is both obnoxious and the most potent music snob trait. The snob uses music to separate him/herself from others instead of using it as a bridge to meet more musically astute and intelligent people, and that's just sad. And scary. And pathetic.
What you can do to un-snobbify yourself: accept the fact it is okay to like some uncultured music; be kind to people with no taste (just don't discuss your newest album purchases with them); express your opinion but realize that an opinion, is all that it is. Just remember, it's good to love your music; it's bad to think you're a god. No one likes a music snob, not even other music snobs.
So the inevitable question is: does it matter what type of music you are snobby about?
While obscure bands used to be an integral element in finding a music snob, with the world's growing interest in pop, can a music snob now encompass those who refuse to listen to anything but the Billboard Top Ten?
I suppose I could say that anyone who relies on contemporary American pop and dislikes anything that isn't played by Clear Channel is an idiot, but then that would align me with the music snob. Musical snobbery is only the result of an opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own just don't expect me to listen to yours.
COLUMNIST
The disease? Musical snobbery, and the virus is spreading. What used to be a title only given to the most astute indie rocker is now finding more and more victims as the general population's taste in music worsens. Where an art rocker dressed in black used to be easily identifiable, the music snob now comes in all forms of appearance and musical taste. The music snob must be defined as one with an intense love for a certain flavor of music, often to the point of borderline obsession. And it isn't always a question of appreciating music, because equally important to the music snob's identity is an intense repulsion for any genre of music that he or she sees as a scar to musical ingenuity.
Obscurity. This is perhaps the most obvious clue. If a conversation about music with someone turns into a frantic listing of bands until one of you has not heard of the named group, you very well could be at risk of being a music snob.
Classics. You must have a working knowledge of classic albums and early influences. But, because you are a music snob, this trait must surpass the big titles by any band. In other words, familiarity with Sgt. Pepper won't get you too far. Claiming you know a lot about the history of rock and then not being able to support is a sure fire way to lose all respect when in the company of fellow snobs. Don't be surprised if you are ostracized or the object of extreme ridicule from there on out.
Bragging. What makes a music snob separate from one who enjoys good music is often revealed in this step. A music snob goes out of his or her way to make everything they know about music accessible to whomever is in earshot. While one who simply enjoys good music can contribute to a musical discussion, the music snob feels it necessary to reveal everything they know about the topic. This includes battles with other music snobs, and an addiction to showing off your musical trivia knowledge (guest performers, set lists, etc.) at every chance.
Guilty Pleasures. Image is important to a music snob, so he or she must not admit to liking artists that don't fit into his or her category of acceptable music. Therefore, his or her intense attraction to the music of Hanson must not be acted upon. This can result in musical denial and closet listening, revealed when a close friend finds a very worn album hidden within the trenches of the music snob's sock drawer.
Friends. The music snob often refuses to associate with people that are more knowledgeable in the history of rock. If music snob A's area of specialty is underground hip-hop, he or she would most likely be better friends with music snob B, who enjoys indie rock in the post-punk variety, than say with music snob C, who also likes underground hip-hop. Whether A or C knows more is not important. The plain fact is that A and C's relationship would never be able to bloom, because they would constantly be competing for the underground hip-hop championship belt.
CD Collection. If you have ever gone to the living space of a new acquaintance, seen their CD collection, and ran away horrified and scarred for life, there's a very good chance that you are a music snob (unless they had a wide selection of Creed, then your bolting is completely admissible). However, chances are you would not be in that situation, because you would have already spoken with your new friend about their musical tastes prior to entering their home. If you didn't discuss their musical tastes before entering their home, you might want to question your music snob status.
Possession. One of the most tell tale signs of a music snob is possession of a certain band or album. Music snob A and music snob B may both love band C. If this is the case and this realization does not allow the two snobs to bond, chances are there will be a messy blurting out of facts and other completely unrelated musical trivia, which will probably make the two snobs appear pathetic and obsessed rather than musical appreciators.
Godliness. The inability to understand that others have a love affair with music as intense as yours is both obnoxious and the most potent music snob trait. The snob uses music to separate him/herself from others instead of using it as a bridge to meet more musically astute and intelligent people, and that's just sad. And scary. And pathetic.
What you can do to un-snobbify yourself: accept the fact it is okay to like some uncultured music; be kind to people with no taste (just don't discuss your newest album purchases with them); express your opinion but realize that an opinion, is all that it is. Just remember, it's good to love your music; it's bad to think you're a god. No one likes a music snob, not even other music snobs.
So the inevitable question is: does it matter what type of music you are snobby about?
While obscure bands used to be an integral element in finding a music snob, with the world's growing interest in pop, can a music snob now encompass those who refuse to listen to anything but the Billboard Top Ten?
I suppose I could say that anyone who relies on contemporary American pop and dislikes anything that isn't played by Clear Channel is an idiot, but then that would align me with the music snob. Musical snobbery is only the result of an opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own just don't expect me to listen to yours.
