The last day of section started with the mention of music and class. We were asked to what extent is music particularly salient to class distinction? Bryson said, "Music is one type of cue that can be used to construct symbolic boundaries between groups and individuals" (886).
Ironically later that night was Leverett House Formal at the Top of the Hub and I was forced to face my personal taste of music that directly related to my own class status. After hearing the exciting news of having our winter dance at one of the best places in Boston with the beautiful view skyline of this place I now call home, I could not wait to dress up with all my friends and dance the night away. I had envisioned a night of endless fun that would be forever etched in my memories. Indeed, I will probably never forget this night.
The second we stepped into the second to the top floor of the Prudential Center, we could hear a live band playing all types of jazz music. I started talking to my friends and told them how I could not dance to this type of music, that I did not know how to dance to this type of music. Oakland is a place known for the start of the hyphy movement and this was definitely not the type of music I was accustomed to. Growing up, I listened predominately to hip hop and r&b music, jazz was something that was never well-liked within my own group of friends and something I generally try to avoid when possible. Upon finding out that this was the only music playing for the entire night, with no stop in it, my initial great mood for the formal was ruined. My inability to enjoy myself because of this music bothered me. Some of the closest friends I came to the formal with had similar complaints, "I can't dance to this type of music!" After staying for an hour, we all finally decided to leave. As the section slide mentioned: "It turns out that it is not high status people, but low status people has the least level of musical tolerance," boy was that true.
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