I am so glad that I finally have an excuse for having no rhythm. My whole life I have been clapping off beat but now I have a reason for it. Maybe now that I know the root of this very serious problem I can work to fix it and finally be able to fully enjoy concerts and parties.

On another, more serious note, though the space and time displacement experienced in the 19^th and early 20^th century seems extreme. To suddenly have standardized time, more efficient transportation, and recording abilities must have been surreal. I can understand how it could have been somewhat off-putting but I imagine it connected and unified people in a way never thought possible. In my opinion something similar is happening now, granted to a lesser degree. With the invention and popularization of the Internet people became connected in a whole new way. It is now possible to video chat and instant message with people all over the world. In addition to that a lot of modern “smart” technology communicates with the user. For example: you talk to Siri and Siri talks back. There are people now though who do not particularly like a lot of new innovations. They believe it hinders communication in a way. I do wonder if there were a lot of similar reactions during the displacement of the 19^th century; if there were people who thought audio recordings and trains were actually hindering society.

The advancements of audio recording in particular seem to have happened in very quick succession. Things were invented and soon after improved and replaced. Did people get attached to certain audio recording techniques? I mean to say: did some people prefer acoustic recording over electrical recording the same way some people today prefer records over digital music?

It would seem that the societal and cultural displacement people experienced led to displacement and experimentation in music. The beat of the Habanera can be heard in early jazz. It’s as though, because America is neither African nor European, we strive to find something different and a bit neutral.