Lit+Review

Lucas Paul Gerard Marchifrazier Thursday, March 4th, 2010 E Block Senior Year Project __Lit Review__ Ever since there has been speech, there has been music. Music affects everyone with the ability to hear, not only as a form of art, but as a multi-billion dollar industry. For generations mankind has contrived simple rhythmic patterns and clever phrases into songs that not only out live their creator, but impact the lives of millions. How is it, that one persons idea can be manipulated into a billboard top one hundred, a top grossing song, or that tune that no matter what you do you cannot seem to get out of your head? Many have sought out the solution to this predicament. The answer lies with a vast and complex combination of the music industry and the creative process that takes place in the minds of all who think and breath. To keep it concise, the idea of one person can be come an extremely popular song by completing their own creative process and having the consumers approve. When it comes to sources about the creation of music, there are several flaws. One major wrong doing created by authors writing about the subject is the fact that the creative process cannot be extremely simplified. The book //Affect And Creativity: The Role Of Affect and Play In The Creative Process// by Sandra Walker Russ accurately explores the creative process of man kind and a few select. This allows Her book to act as a research tool, not as a guide to try and teach people how to create art. Then there are others, such as Gail Mcmeekin who have assembled what they believe to be the creative process as a list. Her web page entitled "Creative Catalysts" is a list that is designed to teach anyone how to become creative and develop a peace of art. This does not work, something as vast and complex as a song cannot be molded out, the creative process is different for everyone. One author with the correct opinion on that aspect is Ann McCutchan. In her book //The Muse That Sings: Composers Speak About The Creative Process// she interviews multiple composers and asks them how their own creative processes take place. Another challenge facing anyone researching music production and the creative process is finding a source that is applicable to today's complex music industry. Luckily, Keith Negus and his book //Music Genres And Corporate Cultures// portrays the music industry and creation of songs very realistically. Not only is song formation explained in detail, but the business aspect (pertaining to making money and what not) is explained simply, but not dimmed down one bit. One book that fails to express the complexity and prosperity of the music business is //Inside The Music Business// by Tony Barrow and Julian Newby. This book, while very informative, is written more as an expose than a source for research. Even if the creative process goes off without a hitch, there is still the complex music industry. One the song is submitted it's success becomes or failure is i the hands of the consumers, and that my friend is a system that only few have the slightest idea how it operates. Bibliography Barrow, Tony, and Julian Newby. //Inside the Music Business//. London: Blueprint, 1995. Print.McCutchan, Ann. //The Muse That Sings Composers Speak about the Creative Process//. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.Mcmeekin, Gail. "Creative Success - Articles: Creativity Catalysts, Creative Process, Inspirational Powers, Achieve Maximum Potential, Expand Your Imagination, Creative Life Choices Consultant." //Career and Creative Success Planning, Coaching and Consulting for Individuals, Executives, Professionals, and Business Owners.// Web. 08 Mar. 2010. .Negus, Keith. //Music Genres and Corporate Cultures//. London: Routledge, 1999. Print. Russ, Sandra Walker. //Affect and Creativity: the Role of Affect and Play in the Creative Process//. Hillsdale, N.J.: L. Erlbaum Associates, 1993. Print.