I like folk music for lots of reasons. I added another reason this week when I realised folk music is the only working example of an alternative to capitalism.
It's appealing to have some politics behind music.
This perhaps needs a little explanation.
Inequality in capitalism arises because of private property
If you can own property you can own more than someone else. If you own it you control one of the means of production (labour and capital being the others) so you are ahead in the stakes of the have and have nots.
This inequality and its associated poverty led Marx to his ideas of common ownership. This ideology led to the state controlled states that crumbled in 1989.
And that was that. A sea of Trabants voted with their wheels, headed west to through the Brandenburg gate and the world settled for the one system which lets us all own our own iPads and access a variety of maize based snacks. The end of history. Which suits most people it seems.
Some grumbled but the alternatives reminded them too much of their parent's excruciating commune stories. Apart from folk music.
Lau not Lenin
Folk isn't owned. It doesn't have intellectual copyright. Fairport Convention are more likely to sing She Moved Through The Fair because it's free. Everyone brings something new to traditional tunes, the songs live on and people with tankards clipped to belts love it.
It works better because no-one owns it.
This is an enormous insight. You crisp collection (crisp collection?) enjoys market competition driving deeper ridges and lobster flavours in search of your coin. Most things do. The innovation in folk however comes directly from the opportunity to use music that isn't private (nor come to that, state owned) property.
Not much else can boast that. But don't tell Radio 2 or they'll witch hunt Mike Harding.
So have real ale and sandals triumphed where vodka and snow boots failed?
