Author / hawkinsam

by hawkinsam

#Feminism

While significant battles in the fight for gender equality have been triumphant, the war has not yet been won. Our society as a whole needs an attitude adjustment when it comes to the treatment and perception of women. One radical tactic implemented by the feminist movement that is serving this agenda is spreading awareness via social media. The most buzz-worthy example of this approach is the viral #MeToo movement in which millions of people have shared their personal experiences with sexual harassment and assault online. The #MeToo movement is shedding light on the magnitude of this problem and is illustrating that sexual assault can and does happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime, thus proving that society is in desperate need of reformation. In addition, this campaign is showing women that they are not alone. The hashtag is empowering many to contribute their voices and experiences and is serving as an instrument for enacting social change.

#MeToo isn’t the only social media campaign to shed light on the scope of sexual assault. A few other examples include the Instagram account Cheer Up Luv, which is a photojournalism project that retells women’s stories of sexual harassment, and the #NotGuilty campaign against sexual violence and misdirected victim blaming founded by Ione Wells. In her TedTalk, “How We Talk About Sexual Assault Online,” Ione Wells (2016) explains that #NotGuilty was “giving airtime to the issue of sexual assault, opening up discussions amongst friends, amongst families, in the media that had been closed for too long, and stressing that victims shouldn’t feel to blame for what happened to them” She stresses that “we can begin to use social media as an active tool for social justice, as a tool to educate, to stimulate dialogues, to make those in positions of authority aware of an issue by listening to those directly affected by it” (para. 28). While it must have been exceptionally difficult for these women to broadcast their stories, it has resulted in a watershed moment.

For instance, Time Magazine named their 2017 Person of the Year “The Silence Breakers,” in reference to the people, mostly women, who came forward to report sexual harassment and assault and launched this viral movement. In 2016, Donald Trump was selected as Time’s Person of the Year. Over the course of his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump received allegations from over a dozen women accusing him of sexual misconduct and assault. Despite this, he went on to win the presidential race and was deemed person of the year. This stark juxtaposition between the 2016 and 2017 recipients serves as affirmation that radical action via social media can produce change.

It is imperative that we keep fighting via social media and keep the topic of sexual assault and gender inequality alive and relevant until we see a lasting change and dismantlement of the patriarchal system.

 

By Abby Hawkins

by hawkinsam

Is Streaming Shifting the Structure of Songs?

When shuffling through Spotify how quick are you to skip to the next song? Do you usually make it through the first thirty seconds of a song? Well the artist sure hopes you do. On Spotify, a song needs to be streamed for at least thirty seconds in order for it to earn royalty payouts and count toward chart tallies. If you skip the song before thirty seconds have passed, it is as though it never came on in the first place. If you’re someone who’s finger tends to tentatively hovers over the “next” button, you’re not alone. In Tom Barnes’ 2014 article for Mic, Science Has Some Comforting News for People Who Skip Tracks Constantly, he references the research of Paul Lamere, the man behind Spotify map tracking. Lamere found that “there’s a 25% chance listeners will hit skip within 5 seconds. The likelihood listeners will skip climbs steadily as a song progresses. There’s only a 48.6% chance they’ll make it to the final cadence.” Streaming offers listeners a seemingly endless supply of music at their fingertips. Thus, artists need to craft songs that standout right off the bat or they risk losing the attention of their listeners and the potential for profit.

Maybe listeners are desperate to find the perfect song for the moment. Maybe they are just trying to experience as much music as they possibly can. Or maybe our attention spans have decreased, and we no longer have the patience to finish a song or listen to it for longer than thirty seconds. With the internet and today’s technologies, we have access to an infinite amount of knowledge and stimulation. Likewise, streaming offers us infinite access to music.

As a result, musicians and producers are realizing that the beginning of a song is crucial. In the past, artists have had the luxury of easing into a song, creating suspense, and building it at their own pace. Now, the listener expects the hook to arrive almost immediately. Streaming has altered the expectations of listeners which has in turn resulted in a new formulaic approach to writing and producing music. The introduction and structures of songs is not the only thing that is being adapted to fit our streaming preferences. Additionally, songs are also getting shorter and more focus is being put on singles rather than full albums.

Streaming music appears to have both positives and negatives effects. It gives listeners the ability to listen to any type of music, anytime and anywhere. It also provides artists at all levels the opportunity to be heard. Yet, we need to question whether or not it is dwindling our appreciation for the music they are producing.

By Abby Hawkins