I am currently reading The Art of Literature entry in the 15th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica (published in 1974). The article explores what makes something “literary,” as opposed to simply popular or sentimental. This concept has been on my mind over the past year, especially in relation to my own record store and brand, Glitter Records.
Can a Record Store Be Avant-Garde?
One thought that struck me after reading a subsection of The Art of Literature on the avant-garde novel. Just as we have an avant-garde novel, can we have an avant-garde record store? I see strong parallels. An avant-garde novel often emerges when an author feels dissatisfied with the models of the past. Similarly, an avant-garde record store owner might feel that people are conditioned to approach record stores in predefined, stereotypical ways—ways that no longer reflect the world as it truly is.
Challenges of the Avant-Garde
There are many techniques within the avant-garde used to challenge these conventions. Many, as The Art of Literature notes, are not commercially viable. As the owner of a record store, I feel this challenge deeply. I strive to embrace new ideas and areas of music. Sometimes, this resonates with others. However, it can also provoke confusion or even aggression. This is a challenge for me, as I am committed to providing excellent customer care.
Rethinking Our Approach to Music
Despite these challenges, I believe we need to rethink how we experience and understand music. I find inspiration in Always Already New, where the author Lisa Gitelman talks about C. R. Licklider, a computer scientist who had forward-thinking ideas about technology. Licklider was active in the 1960s and 1970s. This was well before the modern computers we use today. He believed that old ways of organizing information, like in libraries or early computers, were too rigid.
These systems forced you to follow strict bureaucratic categories and labels, making it hard to explore and connect ideas in a natural way. Licklider’s writing convinced others that technology should be more like how our brains work. Flexible, creative, and open to new connections. Instead of forcing information into boxes, digital systems could let people explore ideas in easier, more natural ways. His ideas were ahead of their time and helped shape how modern computers work, allowing us more freedom in how we find and use information online.
A Human-Centered Model for Record Stores
This brings me to a question. Can a record store be a more human-centric model that reflects the interconnectedness of ideas and emotions? I don’t yet have a new model to offer. Instead, I invite reconsideration and disruption. Does our current mindset limit the potential for how we approach and discover music?
Final Thoughts
I admit these are loose musings, irregular thoughts. The kind philosopher John Locke once described these as, “floating in our minds, without any reflection or regard for the understanding.” I regret I cannot give you a utopian record store ready-made. Rather, I again extend my invitation to rethink the current possibilities of the modern record store and thank you for joining me in this exploration.
