Justin Bryant

Project 1
Enc2135
Minor
Draft 3
People make categories for everything in life. Whether its for
organizing things in order to live more efficiently or just naturally creating
categories for similar things in life. The way certain tendencies or situations
relate to one another can be grouped and says something about that person.
A genre is typically only seen as a type of artistic composure or work of
literature, but to me is much more. A genre, to me, can be depicted as any
similar situation or tendency that can be categorized and reveals something
further about someone or something. Genres are used everyday and not
always the typical types we see like forms of literature. The way I can be
categorized and broken up into genres shows more about the kind of person I
am. I am from Michigan, so Im a northerner or Yankee. I care about my
appearance and my wardrobe, so Im urban or some might even say
metrosexual. Everything I do can be related to the things others do and this
illustrates who I am.
Music is a huge part of most peoples lives. Even if there is that one
odd person who doesnt like any type of music, they are still going to be
forced to hear it in some form or another if they are a part of society. I listen
to music every single day whether its in the shower, walking to class, or just
in my bed. Its just a part of me, without music I would feel very weird and

empty in many aspects of my life. Although I do love enjoying silence as well,

for the most part I listen to music more than the normal person.
I actually listen to many different types of music, but focus mainly on
a form of electronic music called tropical house music. At least at the
moment its my favorite. Electronic music is a newer genre that has evolved
immensely recently. It drives most parents insane and many types of E.D.M
(electronic dance music) has the same effect on me.
There are many subgenres of electronic music and one includes house
music. House music originated as a very repetitive beat with a kick drum in
every song along with other characteristics. Some of these characteristics for
this specific sub-genre include a beachy vibe with steel drums and horns.
The beachy vibe refers to a style of music that many enjoy listening to with
friends at the beach or just relaxing situations. Like E.D.M music in general,
tropical house relies on synthesizers and a steady, 1-2-3-4 beat, but there
are some definite differences. Tropical house doesnt use the drop, which
refers to the moment in E.D.M when the music abruptly shifts back to a bass
line after a higher-pitched, build-up. Instead, tropical house slows things
down; it has a relaxed, Caribbean, beach-party vibe. While the genre has
vague boundaries, there are steel-drum sounds, along with marimba, horns
and flutes which define the unique sound.
The style is basically a laid-back, audience-friendly version of
electronic dance music. This style of music originating from E.D.M has gained
a lot of popularity recently and become much more mainstream and is even

played much more on pop radio stations. International DJ stars such as Diplo,
Skrillex, and Tiesto are dominating clubs and festivals with their up-beat and
intense songs hat attract a younger audience. Tropical house, also called
trop house or melodic house is a more easy-going alternative to E.D.M or
House music. It has changed a lot and the influence for each genre varies.
Recently the biggest name is Kygo. Many people including those who dont
generally affiliate themselves with this specific genre still know of Kygo or
have at least heard one of his songs or remixes of popular songs. Some other
big Tropical house artists include Thomas Jack, who actually created the
name for the genre, Felix Jaehn, and Robin Schulz. Even Justin Bieber has
dabbled in the genre with his newest album and many recent songs have
some similar characteristics of this genre.
The tropical house attracts me because I enjoy calming music that I
can relax to. My favorite music is the types I can relax to. My personality is
one that is not angered by much. Ive always said that my sister and I are the
complete opposite people, she basis decisions on a more emotional and
sometime irrational view. I on the flip side am one of the most logical people,
at least in my opinion. My friends know me as this cool collected person and
would definitely back me up on this. Characteristic traits that go with this
calm logical minded persona involve relaxed, peaceful, and positive. Tropical
house music has exactly this vibe. It flows perfectly with my personality.
When listening to this music I feel like myself and truly enjoy the melody and
the beat.

Some people love clothing and spend an unnecessary amount of

money on their clothes, while others just could not care any less about brand
names or style. I like to think I have a unique style that portrays my
personality, but obviously I recognize that I wear very similar clothing to
others and follow trends in fashion. I like to think I always wear stuff that are
new and in style, but also have my own style that is different. I can wear an
old throwback shirt and fit it into an outfit.
I will see trends and if it is something that attracts me and I think I will
look good wearing it then I will basically conform to society and wear it. Now,
along with that, I pick certain pieces. Just because Kanye West or Justin
Bieber wear an outrageous new outfit and I like it doesnt mean I will go out
and recreate that outfit. But, maybe Ill go buy a shirt that looks similar, or
pants, or whatever. My point is, I have my influences, but I stay true to
myself and wear what I like and am comfortable in. I take from many
different styles in fashion and my style does change often. I dress preppy
sometimes with the Sperry Topsiders and Ralph Lauren, but sometimes I
have a much more urban and somewhat edgy style. And then of course I
have my casual days as well as sporty. Who doesnt have their days with
some sweats, a comfy shirt, and a beanie?
My clothing choice can be very situational, but mostly has a certain
feel to it that is unique to my personality. Coming from a different state and
different part of the country also has had an impact on my image that people
have noticed. Honestly, I love when my friends tell me I look like such a

northerner or notice my Michigan influence in clothing. In a way it is a

different culture. The extreme cold conditions made me adapt and wear
clothing that you would never see on someone from Miami. Specifically, this
includes Timberland boots, which was a huge trend in Michigan because of
the look and that they actually help when walking through a couple feet of
snow. Flannels also go along with this type of clothing and I barely ever see
people in Florida wear these clothing styles. Certain brands even are popular
in my hometown, but not here. A major one is Burton which is actually a
snowboarding company which also makes clothing popular to many of my
friends and others in the more Northern states. There are many similarities
within the more preppy styles and summer type clothing with tank tops and
other clothing types that vary amongst certain people. Yet, there is an
obvious influence from the place I come from which makes me unique in a
way and defines who I am.
My clothing choice shows something about me. A lot of times, I wear
shirts that represent things about me. I like to wear shirts with Michigan
written on them, or Alpha Tau Omega, the fraternity Im apart of, or
something about my life. I want people to know just a little bit about me
based off the things I wear. At first glance, people automatically judge others
on their style. When they look at me, my hope is they see a guy who first of
all looks good, but also doesnt care too much and does his own thing.
Lastly, is one that has always been important to me, my hair. I mess
with my hair a lot. My hairstyle has definitely changed a lot and is still

constantly changing, but one thing is for sure that my hair is important to me
and good looking hair is crucial to my life.
When I was younger, along with countless other guys, I had the long
hair, Bieber flow going on. One time, I got a terrible haircut and shed some
tears because I was that upset that my hair didnt look the way I wanted it
to. I grew out of that phase and stared trying other styles. Short hair was
easy and you just style it up, long hair was more difficult, but I sported the
long golden locks sometimes too.
I even cut and trim my own hair because I trust myself to do it exactly
the way I want more than I trust others. My routine for a long time has been
to grow out my hair fairly long and wear it with a slicked back look. During
this phase I wear beanies and snapbacks often with my hair styled back.
After a certain amount of time I will cut it to a very short crew cut. Using
products to style it up and back. I wear this style and start over the cycle.
In the middle awkward stages is where I try various others styles and
still to this day my style changes constantly along with trends that are
popular. But, my genre of hair still remains consistent and I try to make sure
it just always looks good, hopefully.
My small obsession with my hair is one aspect of my life that
demonstrated how I can be anxious and self conscious as well. Although I
always seem like this calm guy who doesnt care or has no worries. Many
times in my life I do care, maybe even too much. And that Im not someone
who never is self conscious. My head of hair matters and I honestly cant

stand bad hair days. I believe that my styling of my hair and changing and
making sure it looks good shows something about me. Sure I just like to look
good and presentable but it has a deeper meaning as well. It shows my
nervous side. Im worried about how I look and how others think I look. When
Im standing in the mirror making sure my hair looks good, in a way Im
making sure that the rest of society agrees and notices how good it looks.
Genres can be as normal as music type or as unique as the way
someone showers, but what remains constant is that the genre someone
uses tells others something about this person. Although many times genres
can be negative including such cases that involve racial stereotypes or most
other stereotypes, for the most part they are good and crucial to the
individuality of people. Without these different genres it would be very
difficult for people to see the kind of person I am.