McDonaldization of Indian Classical Music

McDonald’s… almost every English-speaking person has had one burger or some fries over here on their way home from their workplace or maybe for dinner, but how is it even relevant to society?

Well, George Ritzer tells us that this word actually means: “The process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant—efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control—come to dominate more and more sectors of the world.” And this phenomenon is definitely relevant to India, her culture, and, to be precise, her music.

The Past of Indian Classical Music

Music has always been a huge component of cultural expression and identity. Since the very dawn of human evolution, music has been interlaced with people and their way of life, and India’s rich culture and heritage bring with it, the beautiful art form of Indian classical vocal, or Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet. But the question that arises with the existence of this age-old art form is: is it still relevant in today’s society and culture, and what is the significance of it still existing? Does it still triumph the way it used to? 

Colonisation of India

Being governed by foreigners came out to be a much-loved hobby for India in the past, but we fought our way to freedom, and now we are obviously independent in every aspect of our lives, right? It would not come as a surprise if it was claimed that our music and artistic choices are still being governed by the West, particularly by the place that invented our beloved fast food chain: McDonald’s, the one and only USA, and we can definitely not believe the fact that we have a major inferiority complex with euro-centric countries and the Caucasians.

From Past to Present

Since ancient times, the art form of Indian Classical Music has woven itself into an important part of Indian lifestyles. From using Raagas as a way to cure headaches and heart diseases to enjoying it as a form of entertainment to chasing freedom and starting revolutions to singing them in functions and integrating music into traditions. The musical phenomenon of India has ranged from small melodies to highly developed systems of classical music in the world. Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet has served as a focal point of truth and has been passed down from sages to the current generation, popularly known as the Gen-Z. 

The Present Of Indian Classical Music

By observing the current generation from a layman’s perspective, we see most of the Gen-Z kids are obsessively living in virtual reality, a reality that consists of millions of people from all around the globe connecting and relating to music and visuals that are easy to understand, basically things one’s brain doesn’t need to make many efforts to comprehend, things that require no patience to delve into our brains to give us unnecessary dopamine, which leads us to observe the fact that slowly, the very last remains of our music are fading away into these so-called “modern” or “global” art forms.

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Fusions of musical cultures

Apart from that, the Indian Gen-Z, claiming that their own music is “boring” have even found ways to make their culture’s music more “interesting” by mixing excerpts from classical bandish with rap verses, English lyrics, or EDM track beats to make it faster or “upbeat”. Indian Classical Vocal’s very beauty is the transcending pace of the rhythm from slow-fast to fast-slow. The art form requires fortitude, calmness, and an open mind to come into the grasp of the human mind, hence training it and providing many benefits to it. 

This cohort is so used to their fast food or their fast 5G data plan that they can’t tolerate the music they are supposed to preserve and cherish, taking a little bit of their time and patience. 

The problem with ‘McDonaldization’

In this huge and diverse world, it’s our culture that brings us together and makes us feel united. But the Indian youth, instead of being proud of their own rich and beautiful roots, is seen running away from it to fit in with the ‘McDonaldized’ world and be ‘trendy,’ seeking the comfort and ease of the brain with ‘easy-to-register music’. 

The influence of the American culture is seen in the music taste of the youth of our country on another level these days thanks to the ‘reels’ and ‘shorts’ that the kids of today keep scrolling on.

Significance of Shastriya Sangeet

Art forms like music and literature can start and end revolutions.

Just like the way Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana made India stand on her feet to fight for her freedom and made the people realize that they all belong to one nation, and that is their motherland. 

In Indian tradition, activities such as music and dance were not merely forms of entertainment, but they also played a significant role in spiritual growth. The use of sound in Indian classical music, including ragas and melodies, was designed in a way that deep involvement can lead to a meditative state. 

Indian classical music accurately identifies, with mathematical precision, the various impacts specific sounds can have on the mind, body, and soul. Understanding and organizing these sounds in a particular manner can have profound effects on individuals and the environment. Some skilled musicians have direct experiential knowledge of this.

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Indian Music today

Now the scenario of Indian classical music has taken a different turn. 

The story goes from once an art form known to all, and enjoyed by all, turned into an alien term for most of the young people and children of today. An art form with depth and meaning, once taught to all, in this day and age only known to a few kids today.

When one asks a child of this generation a question about their culture, they should not expect a prompt answer, but if they were asked what songs are trending in the USA, they would have their minds blown.

 

About the author: The seventeen-year-old emerging writer is a diploma holder in Indian Classical Vocal and Kathak. Embarking upon her academic journey to London this fall, she is to pursue her bachelors degree in liberal arts. The Head Girl of her school, DPS, RK Puram (2022-2023), Oorja has been a National Scholarship holder in Indian Classical Vocal from Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme under the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India since her childhood. Having a strong flare for music and culture with a deep interest in psychology, sociology and criminology, she follows her instinct with dreams unlimited for the next destinations awaiting the arrival of the prodigy.