Beyond Memetic Theory: An Knowledge-Based Model of Evolutionary Success in Music

Güncel Gürsel Artıktay

Makale detayları

Beyond Memetic Theory: An Knowledge-Based Model of Evolutionary Success in Music

Yazarlar:

Güncel Gürsel Artıktay

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Müzikoloji ve Etnomüzikoloji

Dergi:

Konservatoryum Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.74-93

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354901

pISSN:

2618-5695

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This article proposes employing the concept of knowledge as a more comprehensive analytical framework, replacing the concept of memes Dawkins, 19762007 in cultural evolution theory, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the complex and multilayered nature of cultural processes. Although memetic theory fundamentally suggests that culture, akin to genetics, is based on mechanisms of variation, selection, and inheritance Dennett, 1995; Blackmore, 2011, critics of the theory Kauffman, 2019; Gould, 2020 point out that it is inadequate to explain cultures multilayered structure merely through singular copyable units. The article emphasizes that the meme-centric, copying-focused approach has limitations in explaining cultural processes shaped by human creativity, social institutions, and technological factors. In contrast, the concept of knowledge offers a multilayered framework that includes not only cognitive or textual content but also social, institutional, and technological interactions. The article argues that cultural evolution is not solely a matter of copying but also involves processes of interpretation, reproduction, and transformation within a dynamic network. This approach integrates the symbolic, emotional, embodied, and institutional dimensions of culture, holding the potential to develop a broader explanatory model. The article proposes a model adapting the concept of evolutionary success to the cultural sphere, considering indicators such as the continuity, prevalence, reproducibility of works, and critical and institutional interest. Within this context, Queens iconic 1975 song Bohemian Rhapsody is examined. The innovative structure of the song, its synthesis of various genres and styles e.g., ballad, opera, rock, and its repeated revival over different periods have allowed it to continually be reproduced as a cultural accumulation of knowledge. Furthermore, the media, music industry, and academic interest are observed to contribute significantly to the works evolutionary success. In conclusion, while the study highlights the limitations of memetic theory in explaining the multidimensional nature of culture, it advocates that the concept of knowledge, with its flexible and inclusive structure, can provide a more realistic analysis of cultural evolutionary processes. The case of Bohemian Rhapsody demonstrates that reproduction and permanence result not simply from copying but from creative adaptations, institutional support, and multilayered interactions. Thus, cultural evolution emerges as a collaborative product of individual and social creativity, technological diffusion, and critical attention, and these processes can be examined within a holistic framework through the concept of knowledge.

 This article proposes employing the concept of knowledge as a more comprehensive analytical framework, replacing the concept of memes Dawkins, 19762007 in cultural evolution theory, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the complex and multilayered nature of cultural processes. Although memetic theory fundamentally suggests that culture, akin to genetics, is based on mechanisms of variation, selection, and inheritance Dennett, 1995; Blackmore, 2011, critics of the theory Kauffman, 2019; Gould, 2020 point out that it is inadequate to explain cultures multilayered structure merely through singular copyable units. The article emphasizes that the meme-centric, copying-focused approach has limitations in explaining cultural processes shaped by human creativity, social institutions, and technological factors. In contrast, the concept of knowledge offers a multilayered framework that includes not only cognitive or textual content but also social, institutional, and technological interactions. The article argues that cultural evolution is not solely a matter of copying but also involves processes of interpretation, reproduction, and transformation within a dynamic network. This approach integrates the symbolic, emotional, embodied, and institutional dimensions of culture, holding the potential to develop a broader explanatory model. The article proposes a model adapting the concept of evolutionary success to the cultural sphere, considering indicators such as the continuity, prevalence, reproducibility of works, and critical and institutional interest. Within this context, Queens iconic 1975 song Bohemian Rhapsody is examined. The innovative structure of the song, its synthesis of various genres and styles e.g., ballad, opera, rock, and its repeated revival over different periods have allowed it to continually be reproduced as a cultural accumulation of knowledge. Furthermore, the media, music industry, and academic interest are observed to contribute significantly to the works evolutionary success. In conclusion, while the study highlights the limitations of memetic theory in explaining the multidimensional nature of culture, it advocates that the concept of knowledge, with its flexible and inclusive structure, can provide a more realistic analysis of cultural evolutionary processes. The case of Bohemian Rhapsody demonstrates that reproduction and permanence result not simply from copying but from creative adaptations, institutional support, and multilayered interactions. Thus, cultural evolution emerges as a collaborative product of individual and social creativity, technological diffusion, and critical attention, and these processes can be examined within a holistic framework through the concept of knowledge.

 This article proposes employing the concept of knowledge as a more comprehensive analytical framework, replacing the concept of memes Dawkins, 19762007 in cultural evolution theory, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the complex and multilayered nature of cultural processes. Although memetic theory fundamentally suggests that culture, akin to genetics, is based on mechanisms of variation, selection, and inheritance Dennett, 1995; Blackmore, 2011, critics of the theory Kauffman, 2019; Gould, 2020 point out that it is inadequate to explain cultures multilayered structure merely through singular copyable units. The article emphasizes that the meme-centric, copying-focused approach has limitations in explaining cultural processes shaped by human creativity, social institutions, and technological factors. In contrast, the concept of knowledge offers a multilayered framework that includes not only cognitive or textual content but also social, institutional, and technological interactions. The article argues that cultural evolution is not solely a matter of copying but also involves processes of interpretation, reproduction, and transformation within a dynamic network. This approach integrates the symbolic, emotional, embodied, and institutional dimensions of culture, holding the potential to develop a broader explanatory model. The article proposes a model adapting the concept of evolutionary success to the cultural sphere, considering indicators such as the continuity, prevalence, reproducibility of works, and critical and institutional interest. Within this context, Queens iconic 1975 song Bohemian Rhapsody is examined. The innovative structure of the song, its synthesis of various genres and styles e.g., ballad, opera, rock, and its repeated revival over different periods have allowed it to continually be reproduced as a cultural accumulation of knowledge. Furthermore, the media, music industry, and academic interest are observed to contribute significantly to the works evolutionary success. In conclusion, while the study highlights the limitations of memetic theory in explaining the multidimensional nature of culture, it advocates that the concept of knowledge, with its flexible and inclusive structure, can provide a more realistic analysis of cultural evolutionary processes. The case of Bohemian Rhapsody demonstrates that reproduction and permanence result not simply from copying but from creative adaptations, institutional support, and multilayered interactions. Thus, cultural evolution emerges as a collaborative product of individual and social creativity, technological diffusion, and critical attention, and these processes can be examined within a holistic framework through the concept of knowledge.

 Bu makale, kültürel evrim teorisinde mem kavramının Dawkins, 19762007 yerine daha kapsamlı bir analitik çerçeve olarak bilgi kavramını kullanmayı önererek, kültürel süreçlerin karmaşık ve çok katmanlı doğasını daha derinlemesine açıklamayı amaçlamaktadır. Memetik kuram, temelde genetiğe benzer biçimde kültürün de varyasyon, seçilim ve kalıtım mekanizmalarına dayandığı tezini öne sürse de Dennett, 1995; Blackmore, 2011, söz konusu kuramın eleştirmenleri Kauffman, 2019; Gould, 2020 kültürün çok katmanlı yapısının tekil kopyalanabilir birimler üzerinden açıklanmasının yetersizliğine işaret etmektedir. Makalede, memlerin kopyalama odaklı yaklaşımının, insan yaratıcılığı, toplumsal kurumlar ve teknolojik faktörlerin şekillendirdiği kültürel süreçleri açıklamakta sınırlı kaldığı vurgulanmıştır. Buna karşılık bilgi kavramı, yalnızca bilişsel veya metinsel içeriği değil, aynı zamanda toplumsal, kurumsal ve teknolojik etkileşimleri de içine alan çok katmanlı bir çerçeve sunar. Makalede, kültürel evrimin yalnızca kopyalanma değil, aynı zamanda yorumlama, yeniden üretme ve dönüştürme süreçlerini de kapsayan dinamik bir ağ olduğu öne sürülmektedir. Bu yaklaşım, kültürün sembolik, duygusal, bedensel ve kurumsal boyutlarını bir arada değerlendirerek daha geniş bir açıklama modeli geliştirme potansiyeli taşır. Makale, evrimsel başarı kavramını kültürel alana uyarlamak üzere bir model önerisinde bulunmuş ve bu modelde eserlerin sürekliliği, yaygınlığı, yeniden üretilebilirliği ile eleştirel ve kurumsal ilgi gibi göstergeler dikkate alınmıştır. Bu bağlamda Queenin 1975 tarihli ünlü eseri Bohemian Rhapsody incelenmiştir. Şarkının yenilikçi yapısı, farklı tür ve biçemleri örneğin balad, opera, rock bir araya getirmesi ve çeşitli dönemlerde tekrarlanan canlanması onun bir kültürel bilgi birikimi olarak sürekli yeniden üretilmesini mümkün kılmıştır. Ayrıca, medyanın, müzik endüstrisinin ve akademik çalışmalardaki ilginin, eserin evrimsel başarısına katkıda bulunduğu gözlenmektedir. Sonuç olarak, çalışma, memetik kuramın kültürün çok boyutlu doğasını açıklamada sınırlı kaldığına işaret ederken, bilgi kavramının esnek ve kapsayıcı yapısıyla kültürel evrim süreçlerini daha gerçekçi biçimde analiz edebileceğini savunmaktadır. Bohemian Rhapsody örneği, yeniden üretim ve kalıcılığın salt kopyalama değil, yaratıcı uyarlamalar, kurumsal destek ve çok katmanlı etkileşimlerle sağlandığını göstermektedir. Böylece kültürel evrim, bireysel ve toplumsal yaratıcılık, teknolojik yayılım ve eleştirel ilgi gibi farklı düzlemlerin ortak ürünüdür ve bu süreçler, bilgi kavramı üzerinden daha bütüncül bir çerçevede irdelenebilmektedir.

Makale detayları

Beyond Memetic Theory: An Knowledge-Based Model of Evolutionary Success in Music

Yazarlar:

Güncel Gürsel Artıktay

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Müzikoloji ve Etnomüzikoloji

Dergi:

Konservatoryum Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.74-93

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354901

pISSN:

2618-5695

Cultural Evolution

Memetic

Popular Music

Bohemian RhapsodyKültürel Evrim

Memetik

Popüler Müzik

Bohemian Rhapsody

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Güncel Gürsel Artıktay

Yayıncı: Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar: Müzikoloji ve Etnomüzikoloji

Dergi: Konservatoryum Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.74-93

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354901

pISSN: 2618-5695

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Güncel Gürsel Artıktay

Yayıncı:

Istanbul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Müzikoloji ve Etnomüzikoloji

Dergi:

Konservatoryum Vol.12 Issue 1, pp.74-93

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354901

pISSN:

2618-5695