March 1999 (Volume 27, Number 3)
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VOLUME 27 MARCH 1999 NUMBER 3 Council Offers Guidelines on 1999 Annual Meeting Policymaking; Seeks Input Chicago Music A Message from Council Resolution Third in a series of articles in anticipation of the To support new guidelines for the scope of 1999 ASA Annual Meeting in Chicago the President ASA policymaking and for resolutions by Deena Weinstein, Depaul University corresponds well to the picture painted At its meeting of February from the membership as set forth in its subcommittee report, to call for a broad by Georg Simmel of urban modernity in 6-7, 1999, the Council of the comment period from the membership Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town. “The Metropolis and Mental Life,” where American Sociological Asso- through September 1999, and to reserve a Someone once saw a man there dance with radically individualized people have the ciation endorsed the follow- final determination and formal adoption of his wife. In Chicago today you can peek at a freedom to “do their own thing” because ing motion on future resolu- any new guidelines until Council’s winter woman headbanging with her husband and of the supportive form of the metropolis. see people whose relationships are not tions on a tentative basis. 2000 meeting when member comments can Chicago is especially well endowed with be fully discussed and considered. known skanking, swinging, pogoing, boot- an enduring and world-class infrastruc- Recognizing the existence of scooting, performing any number of ture that can serve any number of different positions on this Editor’s Note: Footnotes readers are urged nameless musically-timed body movements. musical styles. issue, Council postponed a to read “The Open Window” column on page Chicago’s aesthetic claim to fame may be its There are, for example, dozens of 2 and the excerpted Council Subcommittee final vote on the motion to architecture (or is it the deep-dish pizza?), commercial recording studios, ranging report on page 11 of this issue. ❑ but its richest art form is music. give sufficient time for mem- from the no-frills to the luxurious, where Chicago is one of the most “fertile music all manner of electronics, odd instru- bers of the Association to cities in the country – a city without a ments, acoustically-designed spaces and express themselves. Given the New Editors for unified music scene,” writes Greg Kot, long- trained staff aid musicians to make importance of the matter, I time music critic for the Chicago Tribune. The records. Some are owned and run by urge you to consider the text ASA Journals city does sport a rich diversity jazz offer- musicians; the studies are places where of the motion carefully and to ings, running the gamut from experimental they and their friends can inexpensively The ASA Council appointed new and acid jazz to neo-retro big bands and and comfortably record, bringing in other let Council know your opin- editors for three ASA journals at its intimate piano jazz singers. Then there’s the local musicians to work with them. ions, whether for or against. February 1999 meeting. The new editors, blues, which was, in the post-WWII era, the There are probably more independent This motion and its support- and terms of editorship, are: city’s pride and joy. The various North-side record labels today than there are ing rationale was the work of • American Sociological Review: blues-focused venues now cater to a large studios. Chicago’s past musical glory a Subcommittee of Council Charles Camic and Franklin D. Wilson, “Sweet Home Chicago” tourist population was tied to indies, especially in the 1950s, and have reduced the music to a when labels like Chess crucially changed members who labored for University of Wisconsin-Madison (2000-2002) Disneyesque simulacrum of its former glory. the course of popular music. Located at several months to examine all • Sociological Theory: Jonathan H. It is the city’s amazingly eclectic and 2120 S. Michigan Avenue (the building is aspects of this question. The Turner, University of California- incredibly vital rock scenes that have put now a small blues museum), Chess had work of this body deserves Riverside (2000-2003) Chicago on the world’s musical map in the put out work by seminal blues artists like serious attention by those • Teaching Sociology: Helen Moore, ’90s. The music industry’s mouthpiece, Muddy Waters, gospel-flavored R&B Billboard, proclaimed Chicago to be the new “doo wop” groups like the Flamingos interested in the future well- University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2000- 2003) capital of the cutting edge in a front page and Moonglows, and the great architect being of the Association. Forthcoming issues of Footnotes will piece in August, 1993. Consider the diver- of rock’n’roll Chuck Berry. And much Alejandro Portes publish biographies of each editor, along sity of just the nationally known acts that more. Current indie-label owners tend to with new editorial office addresses and have emerged from and remain based in be highly knowledgeable fans and are ASA President manuscript transition dates. ❑ Chicago: Smashing Pumpkins, R.Kelly, definitely and defiantly not the major Ministry, the Waco Brothers, Liz Phair, labels’ “suits” who are only interested in Tortoise, the Jesus Lizard, and Poi Dog what will sell to a mass audience. Most Pondering. The layers of lesser known local have Chicago-based musicians on their Last Call musicians are as multifarious, playing, rosters, like Koko Taylor and Lonnie among other styles, hardcore punk, ska, Brooks on the blues-based Alligator, the Sociologists Urged to Comment by house, death metal, and hip-hop. Waco Brothers on Bloodshot’s insurgent This variety and abundance of music country label, and Greenhouse on ska- April 5 on Proposed FOIA Revision provides much pleasure for audiences but centered Jump Up!, among many others. The Fiscal 1999 Omnibus Spending Law passed last November included a demands a bit of explanation. From the Underground rock labels are the most provision requiring that Federal awarding agencies “ensure that all date pro- viewpoint of cultural sociology, a cultural numerous, including Touch and Go, duced under an award will be made available to the public through procedures form like music does not exist apart from Minty Fresh, Thrill Jockey and Drag City. established under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).” The Office of social structures that sustain it. Two primary Music’s inherent quality is never Management and Budget (OMB) was charged with revising Circular A-110 to social factors that account for Chicago’s enough to get people to listen to it. The interpret the implications for scientific data. See February 1999 Footnotes (p. 2-3) wealth of musical culture are active and meager publicity resources of the indie or the ASA’s home page (www.asanet.org) for the wording of the provision and committed audiences and a highly devel- labels are strongly augmented by an some of the possible concerns and implications of the proposed Circular. oped infrastructure. extensive local music press. Pick up any Chicago’s audiences for all types of number of free music publications at How to Comment on Proposed Revision to OMB Circular A-110 music have increased, mainly because of a record stores for reviews of new albums series of recent demographic changes. and stories about local artists. The city’s Dates: Comments must be received by OMB by April 5, 1999. Going out to hear live music is mainly a two dailies, the Tribune and Sun-Times, Addresses: Comments on this proposed revision should be addressed to: F. James young man’s (and woman’s) game. Youth’s employ a raft of music journalists. Their Charney, Policy Analyst, Office of Management and Budget, Room 6025, New Ex- age limit has been pushed back in recent major rock critics, Greg Kot and Jim ecutive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. If possible, please include a word years, with the age of marriage and child- DeRogatis, respectively, also write for processing version of comments on a computer disk. Comments may also be sub- birth getting later or never coming to pass at national rock magazines and give wider mitted via e-mail to: [email protected]. Please include the full body of e-mail all. The local colleges have seen large prominence to local acts. comments in the text of the message and not as an attachment. Please include the increases in enrollments. In addition, the Record stores abound, especially in name, title, organization, postal address, and e-mail address in the text of the mes- city has witnessed, due to job growth and the Lincoln Park area. They provide fans sage. Charney may be contacted at (202) 395-3993 for further information. the construction of new residences, a vast and musicians with sounds from all eras influx of young middle-management and and all styles. The used stores (try Dr. Other Comments: Those wishing to submit comments directly to Congress can send professional workers who had in the past Wax, HiFi and Reckless) are recipients of letters to the Senate and House leadership and to their own representatives. opted for the suburban life. rock critic castoffs (you can often find Please send copies of all e-mails or other correspondence to ASA: Felice J. Levine, Executive Beyond an audience, popular music CDs at these places before they are Officer, American Sociological Association,1307 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Wash- needs a complex support system, among officially released). ington, DC 20005-4701, or via e-mail ([email protected]). other things, to record and promote it. This See Chicago, page 10 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2 MARCH 1999 FOOTNOTES The Executive Officer’s Column In This Issue .