It went through the process of subculture evolution, as detailed in this very insightful piece: https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths
Before there is a subculture, there is a scene. A scene is a small group of creators who invent an exciting New Thing—a musical genre, a religious sect, a film animation technique, a political theory. Riffing off each other, they produce examples and variants, and share them for mutual enjoyment, generating positive energy.
The new scene draws fanatics. Fanatics don’t create, but they contribute energy (time, money, adulation, organization, analysis) to support the creators.
If the scene is unusually exciting, and the New Thing can be appreciated without having to get utterly geeky about details, it draws mops. (members of the public) Mops are fans, but not rabid fans like the fanatics. They show up to have a good time, and contribute as little as they reasonably can in exchange.
Interesting answer. to add to this Adorno's description of the evolution of Jazz: “even yesterday’s music must first be rendered harmless by jazz, must be released from its historical element, before it is ready for the market. Jazz may have its roots in African music, but any forms of authentic African expression must be attenuated or removed so that the music can be a mass-produced. "
any forms of authentic African expression must be attenuated or removed so that the music can be a mass-produced.
Yup. Fits the theory perfectly. The fanatics are being invaded by the mops, and the mops don't like the fanatics version of The Thing, so they demand it be watered down. Enter the sociopaths, who do exactly that and make a ton of money, leaving the fanatics high and dry.
It went through the process of subculture evolution, as detailed in this very insightful piece: https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths
Interesting answer. to add to this Adorno's description of the evolution of Jazz: “even yesterday’s music must first be rendered harmless by jazz, must be released from its historical element, before it is ready for the market. Jazz may have its roots in African music, but any forms of authentic African expression must be attenuated or removed so that the music can be a mass-produced. "
Yup. Fits the theory perfectly. The fanatics are being invaded by the mops, and the mops don't like the fanatics version of The Thing, so they demand it be watered down. Enter the sociopaths, who do exactly that and make a ton of money, leaving the fanatics high and dry.