EU Metal vs US Metal

America is a huge country and regional differences can be quite large. Country Music doesn't permeate every corner and doesn't speak to every American. It speaks to rural America surely, but that's a very different mindset than you find in the major metropolitan areas (and each major city tends to have it's own "vibe"). The cultural differences between states can be almost as great as between countries in other parts of the world.

I think the tendency is to paint in very broad strokes when talking about what is and isn't "American" and in doing so you lose the complex detail that actually makes it a unique experience.

S.D. wrote:

America is a huge country and regional differences can be quite large. Country Music doesn't permeate every corner and doesn't speak to every American. It speaks to rural America surely, but that's a very different mindset than you find in the major metropolitan areas (and each major city tends to have it's own "vibe"). The cultural differences between states can be almost as great as between countries in other parts of the world.

I think the tendency is to paint in very broad strokes when talking about what is and isn't "American" and in doing so you lose the complex detail that actually makes it a unique experience.

Of course, but again my point was that Country Music is aimed at an American audience and European Power Metal is aimed at a European audience. Thus the relative success or failure of those genres outside of their respective cultures.

I think most here do know that though. What we're trying to do is examine beyond the basic most common denominator of culture knowledge. Treating one big issue with one big answer doesn't do a whole lot, it's why our President thinks the magic button to health is Obamacare.

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I think most here do know that though. What we're trying to do is examine beyond the basic most common denominator of culture knowledge. Treating one big issue with one big answer doesn't do a whole lot, it's why our President thinks the magic button to health is Obamacare.

Occam's Razor

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I think most here do know that though. What we're trying to do is examine beyond the basic most common denominator of culture knowledge. Treating one big issue with one big answer doesn't do a whole lot, it's why our President thinks the magic button to health is Obamacare.

Came here to say this. The idea is deconstruct the dichotomy to explore the contrasts in cultural identities. Deconstructionism and Occam's Razor are like oil and water; the two have never gotten along, especially when you consider that Occam's Razor leans towards the finite and Deconstructionism takes a more Gnostic approach, the fact that there is no fact. Exploration v problem-solving.

So far several theories have been thrown out there: irony, anger, cynicism, apathy, history, tradition...and I would say they're all part of the equation and can be isolated and broken down even more.

corplhicks wrote:

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I think most here do know that though. What we're trying to do is examine beyond the basic most common denominator of culture knowledge. Treating one big issue with one big answer doesn't do a whole lot, it's why our President thinks the magic button to health is Obamacare.

Came here to say this. The idea is deconstruct the dichotomy to explore the contrasts in cultural identities. Deconstructionism and Occam's Razor are like oil and water; the two have never gotten along, especially when you consider that Occam's Razor leans towards the finite and Deconstructionism takes a more Gnostic approach, the fact that there is no fact. Exploration v problem-solving.

So far several theories have been thrown out there: irony, anger, cynicism, apathy, history, tradition...and I would say they're all part of the equation and can be isolated and broken down even more.

I am an attorney. I prefer Occam's Razor because Deconstructionism has no place in my line of work.

Witchfinder wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I think most here do know that though. What we're trying to do is examine beyond the basic most common denominator of culture knowledge. Treating one big issue with one big answer doesn't do a whole lot, it's why our President thinks the magic button to health is Obamacare.

Came here to say this. The idea is deconstruct the dichotomy to explore the contrasts in cultural identities. Deconstructionism and Occam's Razor are like oil and water; the two have never gotten along, especially when you consider that Occam's Razor leans towards the finite and Deconstructionism takes a more Gnostic approach, the fact that there is no fact. Exploration v problem-solving.

So far several theories have been thrown out there: irony, anger, cynicism, apathy, history, tradition...and I would say they're all part of the equation and can be isolated and broken down even more.

I am an attorney. I prefer Occam's Razor because Deconstructionism has no place in my line of work.

I can appreciate this. I have a background in Lit, specifically Postmodernism/Crit Thinking, and one of my best friends is a defense attorney, so when we debate it can get pretty bizarre, but enjoyable nonetheless.

corplhicks wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I think most here do know that though. What we're trying to do is examine beyond the basic most common denominator of culture knowledge. Treating one big issue with one big answer doesn't do a whole lot, it's why our President thinks the magic button to health is Obamacare.

Came here to say this. The idea is deconstruct the dichotomy to explore the contrasts in cultural identities. Deconstructionism and Occam's Razor are like oil and water; the two have never gotten along, especially when you consider that Occam's Razor leans towards the finite and Deconstructionism takes a more Gnostic approach, the fact that there is no fact. Exploration v problem-solving.

So far several theories have been thrown out there: irony, anger, cynicism, apathy, history, tradition...and I would say they're all part of the equation and can be isolated and broken down even more.

I am an attorney. I prefer Occam's Razor because Deconstructionism has no place in my line of work.

I can appreciate this. I have a background in Lit, specifically Postmodernism/Crit Thinking, and one of my best friends is a defense attorney, so when we debate it can get pretty bizarre, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Makes sense!

This is a good thread!

I think there is a bit of truth in everythin mentioned.

That said, I'm not really sure that metalhead per inhabitant in most European countries are much higher than in the US. In Germany and Finland, yes. But not in, let's say, Portugal or France.

I am going with the time and place scenario. Anything else is speculative at best. I've never been to Europe and won't fool myself my assuming I have a clue by what is seen on media or observing any cultural aspect(s) from afar. My heritage has given me experience of how things were for my ancestors through family stories and some personal studying of the European countries my family came from. (Norway and Ireland) Still, my experience has been "americanized", not only only through time passing but the maneerisms in which my family adapted to the way of life after immigrating here.

I agree with what S.D stated about regional connotations...being that I was born and raised in one of the U.S largest populated regions (So. Calif) and now reside in one of most sparsely populated (Montana) There are alot of people here in Montana that do not even know that "Power Metal" even exists. much less what it sounds like or what lyrical content represents. That goes for alot of other styles of music as well. I have often wondered if bands like Hammerfall and such were around in the early to mid 80's, would I dig them more than now ? I have my fair share of so called "cheese" bands that I listen to still, but mostly due to them being part of a scene from past years of my life.

Some parts of Europe are also very interesting as they seem to connect with a lot of our 'folk' and/or country or country influenced artists... 16 Horsepower/Woven Hand, Molly Hatchet, Bruce Springsteen....these are all presenting music we would say is very American in a really base sense but fans in Germany for example can't get enough.


Also, just for the record I'm not a deconstructionist. That's far too big of a broadstroke.

This is why:

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

This is why:

Armored Saint blows Helloween away (IMHDO)