Libs of TikTok: Teaching classical music is a form of white supremacy

In yet another TikTok video for which it is difficult to determine whether it’s a parody/satire of wokeism or is meant to be taken literally or seriously, a woman claims that classical music is racist.

“The fact that classical music, which is really the music of 18th century Western European straight white male composers, is valued as the highest form of art music in America, is an example of white supremacy,” she declares with the familiar uptalk intonation.

The young woman who herself may be a music instructor goes on to claim that music students spend a disproportionate amount of time on classical music history, theory, and other related topics while “world music” gets short shrift.

She then seems to recommend that a revision for the standard music major curriculum is in order to make it “actively anti-racist,” citing certain task forces that are purportedly trying to address this lack of inclusivity.

“Woefully unprepared” music teachers are thus on notice, she continues.

“In the meantime, those who are music educators have to struggle and wrestle with the question ‘how can I be actively anti-racist in teaching music in a system that values white supremacy’…”

Watch the video embedded below that was shared by Twitter user @libsoftiktok and form your own conclusions:

Among other things, the TikTok user seems to exclude the possibility of free choice among people from all walks of life and backgrounds in what mode or modes of music to study (or enjoy). Or perhaps whether the music education system might be responding to the level of interest in broadly applicable training in the classical genre.

Back in April, another TikTok user claimed that eating meat is a form of racism.

As alluded to above, classical music as racism has previously popped up in far-left academia and in the race- and identity-politics-obsessed liberal media. For example, a Washington Post music critic wrote, in part, about a year ago that “The systemic racism that runs like rot through the structures of the classical music world exists somewhere between broad statistical data and intimate personal disclosure.”

Most Twitter users, including music lovers, implied that the TikTok video started and ended on a sour note. Here is a sampling of the representative response (warning for language):

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Robert Jonathan

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

Latest Articles