The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma Ep 162: Caste, Gender, Karnatik Music
Mar 1, 2020
TM Krishna, an expert in Karnatik music and a commentator on Indian society, joins host Amit Varma to explore the development of Karnatik music and its reflection of Indian society. They discuss barriers of identity, normalization of patriarchy and casteism in music, the connection between casteism and racism in Indian society, contradictions and rationalizations in Carnatic music, and the intersection of geographical and social location. They also delve into the intricate science of constructing musical instrument skins, the role of art forms in society, and reflections on the potential for change in the younger generation.
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Music As A Social Construction
- TM Krishna discovered that questioning performance and history led him to see Carnatic music as socially constructed, not a pristine inheritance.
- That realization shifted his aesthetics and opened political questions about who creates and consumes the art.
Invisible Screens Shape Cultural Access
- Entry barriers to Carnatic music operate as invisible cultural screens enforcing upper-caste, patriarchal norms.
- These screens dictate who participates, where art is produced, and who is deemed 'sophisticated'.
Classical Status Reflects Power
- Harold Powers' idea stuck: as art climbs society's ladder it moves from folk to classical.
- 'Classical' status reflects who defines cultural prestige, not intrinsic superiority.