7 votes

Misteramazing doesn't understand music theory

7 comments

  1. wirelyre
    Link
    I was ready to roll my eyes a lot at this, but honestly I'm relatively impressed. There's a lot of, uh, suspicious music theory "analysis" videos out there. This is all pretty fair criticism, kept...

    I was ready to roll my eyes a lot at this, but honestly I'm relatively impressed.

    There's a lot of, uh, suspicious music theory "analysis" videos out there. This is all pretty fair criticism, kept in a reasonable context of the limits and strengths of music theory as textual analysis. I wasn't on board with how long they talked about the chords being wrong, but that did make more sense later on when they concluded that the video was both wrong and pointless.

    I'm not a huge fan of "takedown"-style videos that criticise anonymous and ultimately harmless content, but I'm very sympathetic to the exasperation. And to the poor viewers who are piecing together their own understanding of music theory, who haven't learned anything after watching.

    7 votes
  2. krg
    Link
    I think this person is a little too sure of themselves. Also, had a chuckle at "I've been producing music for 4 years, and I've never heard this term."

    I think this person is a little too sure of themselves.

    Also, had a chuckle at "I've been producing music for 4 years, and I've never heard this term."

    4 votes
  3. [3]
    an_angry_tiger
    Link
    Who actually does understand music theory though? It's a patchwork of complicated concepts with confusing terminology developed over centuries.

    Who actually does understand music theory though? It's a patchwork of complicated concepts with confusing terminology developed over centuries.

    3 votes
    1. rkcr
      Link Parent
      That's pretty dismissive of an entire area of academic study. I didn't major in music theory, but I know enough to know that it's got some real academic rigor to it.

      That's pretty dismissive of an entire area of academic study. I didn't major in music theory, but I know enough to know that it's got some real academic rigor to it.

      9 votes
    2. wirelyre
      Link Parent
      Right, music theory isn't one thing, it's a whole field of study. Like literary criticism or mathematics. So if you want to contribute to discussion you should have a grasp on a few fundamental...

      Right, music theory isn't one thing, it's a whole field of study. Like literary criticism or mathematics.

      So if you want to contribute to discussion you should have a grasp on a few fundamental concepts and terminology as they are used throughout the field.

      The stuff in the first half of the video isn't particularly obscure. You'd be well equipped for this kind of music theory after a semester-long class.

      5 votes
  4. [2]
    sleepydave
    Link
    Doesn't seem to be much more than a "look how dumb this guy is/how smart I am" kind of internet drama video - yeah the original video kinda smacked of amateur but the response video had some weird...

    Doesn't seem to be much more than a "look how dumb this guy is/how smart I am" kind of internet drama video - yeah the original video kinda smacked of amateur but the response video had some weird misconceptions as well. This guy also seems to hold his music production skills in high regard, I checked out his Bandcamp page and it just looks like a hotbed of copyright infringement. Most of his stuff from what I've seen is sampled from 'top 40'-type pop records with some of his own instrumentation layered on and redistributed as 'post-nightcore'.

    3 votes
    1. Edgeworth
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I have to agree here. Really classless to "take down" an amateur like this. There's a strong tone of aggression in the response video that felt misplaced to me, as if it were pulling the mask off...

      I have to agree here. Really classless to "take down" an amateur like this. There's a strong tone of aggression in the response video that felt misplaced to me, as if it were pulling the mask off of a grand con, when it may have been just a well-intentioned musician incorrectly transcribing some chords. However, considering the original video's audience of 1.8 million views, the tone may be justified to some, since the volume of misinformation is pretty severe. I can't totally agree with that because well, the video being criticized is two years old, and probably wasn't getting any more views. Considering it's totally possible to develop serious musical skill in that time, "Misteramazing Doesn't Understand Music Theory" is a somewhat presumptive title.

      So I'm in two minds really. Things like calling "rate" an effect instead of a parameter of an effect1, among many other errors, betrays a serious lack of theoretical experience and knowledge, to the point that I don't think someone making such a basic mistake should speak so authoritatively. It's worrying that this level of inexpertise can be spread so much. I assume with that many views, there was a perception by unfamiliar users that clicked from reddit or wherever, that he was reliable. The slick production value also lends it ostensible authority, making it all the more dangerous.

      On the other hand, if I had it my way, the rhetoric and tone of the response video could be done away with, and the response would prioritize the principle of charity and neutrality of tone. Like another thread discussed, music theory is an academic discipline, so if you're so eager to flaunt your knowledge, the more effective way for the response to establish authority is by addressing points in that academic framework. I do have a specific aversion to the way humans love this chest-beating "PWNED" thing, especially in topics that are serious or academic. I found it an interesting coincidence that misteramazing has a video criticizing clickbait criticism videos.

      1. While seemingly a small and inconsequential error, it is the type nevertheless reveals a lot, it's not something an otherwise knowledgeable music producer might just slip up on.

      3 votes