Good and Bad Taste in Music: Cultural Capital and Subjective Judgment
Overview
This essay examines the distinction between good and bad musical taste through the comparative analysis of Mariah Carey's 'Hero' and Black Eyed Peas' 'My Humps'. The paper argues that taste in music is influenced by cultural capital and social class, drawing on Bourdieu's theory while considering alternative perspectives from Carl Wilson on subjective versus objective judgment.
What this essay covers
- Introduction and selection of songs representing good and bad taste with justification
- Analysis of 'Hero' by Mariah Carey as exemplifying good taste through composition, messaging, and cultural reception
- Analysis of 'My Humps' by Black Eyed Peas as exemplifying bad taste through simplicity, ethical concerns, and controversial content
- Application of Bourdieu's cultural capital theory to explain taste differentiation based on social class
- Discussion of Carl Wilson's perspective on subjective preferences versus objective judgment in music criticism
Preview
“Good” and “Bad” Taste in Music
Name
Institution
“Good” and “Bad” Taste in Music
“Hero” by Mariah Carey is my pick for a song considered to be in good taste. While my choice of music considered to be in bad taste is “My Humps” by Black Eyed Peas. Mariah Carey’s song Hero is deemed good taste my money since it contains bravery and strength messages. Furthermore, the artist is adored by many people owing to her previous impressive songs. Most people are attracted to Mariah Carey’s voice and consider any of her songs in good taste. Due to her influence as a brand, her music could be given a more positive listening approach than other musicians. However, I perceive the piece as good taste since the instrumental is soothing, and the song serves motivational purposes. Moreover, the work of music is accompanied by an organized composition full of rhythm and diction. The words used in the song are relatable to several societies worldwide and evoke emotions of strength and power. According to Songfacts, Mariah Carey’s song, “Hero,” received several accolades, and she also received letters from fans acknowledging that the music touched their lives (“Hero by Mariah Carey - Songfacts,” 2020).
On the other hand, My Humps by Black Eyed Peas gain traction due to its bad taste. This song’s content is objectively misled, and the lyrics are annoying for their simplicity and predictability. Because of the song’s theme, it was meant to target the mature adult population.