2 HN users recommended this commentary1 month2021–2022score 1.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
Recommended as a sharp piece of media criticism by a well-liked music YouTuber, and cited for the concept of reification.
Tantacrul analyzes how stock music in reality TV uses blunt, repeated tropes to manipulate viewers, comparing it to nature documentaries. He ties it to ideas of reification and cultural homogenization.
“His video Stock Music & Reality TV - How to Misrepresent the World [1] is also really good.” (HN, 2021)
Not related as such, but worth pointing out. The author of this discussion - and the project manager of Audacity - is Tantacrul, who is, in my opinion, one of the best music youtubers around. His video[0] on corporate music was fantastic, and his video on Shostakovich[1] made me totally reconsider his music. Plus, he's funny! So there's that. Highly recommend! [0]: [this video] [1]: [link]
Tantacrul's video on corporate music, from a favorite music YouTuber
His reviews of the various scorewriters (Sibelius, Musescore, Dorico) are also fantastic, even if you are not into music. His review of Musescore lead him to become the project manager of Musescore, and probably of Audacity as a consequence. His video Stock Music & Reality TV - How to Misrepresent the World [1] is also really good. [1] [this video]
How stock music misrepresents the world in reality TV
The problem is it's a race to the bottom with these kinds of things, comparable to the over-salt-&-sugar-ing of American foods: [this video] "..until eventually, they’re shipping hamburger buns with exactly three sesame seeds artfully arranged in a triangle, and nobody buys their hamburgers any more." -- [link]
Illustrates over-optimization of mass-market products
Your comment reminds me of the idea of reification explained here - [this video] Film grain doesn't mean anything, except what the public have been conditioned for it to mean back when it was a natural chemical process.
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