Elitism in Prog?

So many many people on the interwebs have stated prog fans are Elitest (I would say that an elitest comment but whatev) but from the looks of it after being on the forums for a bit it seems to me that most of us are more open minded and listen to alot of different genres

It depends on the individual, surely? Some of us are more open-minded than others, but that's true of fans of any genre.

Well, the thing that makes prog more compelling to us is that it's more complex and has higher technical abilities. I for one can enjoy simple indie tunes just as equally if they are well produced.

But when you tell someone that you mainly listen to prog because it is more complex than most musical styles and demonstrates better techniques then you can easily sound like a snob even if you aren't one.
And of course this perception of the style can easily elevate elitism in people who are already prone to such behaviors.

So yes, I'd definitely say that prog fans as a whole are quite elitists, but as individuals I think plenty of us are alright.

Also elitism doesn't necessarily mean that you're not open minded. But just the definition of prog makes it so that in the comparison between bands you'd sound like an elitist prick if you're not careful.
"I prefer Dream Theater over Metallica because of the complexity and higher technical level." Could really be the same as saying "I like Panthera more because they are more brutal and have more intensity to their atmosphere." but guess which one sounds like you're saying that you're better?

I don't think it is all that elitist to believe we are better than the rest of them....

Well, it's rather difficult to generalise the answer to the question because I'm not sure how many of us have met at least a prog fan in real life, and from a forum full of us it is even harder to tell how one acts outside this circle. And I agree with the above 'it depends on the individual'. Most of us here can speak for ourselves.
If by elitist we mean snobbish and arrogant then, yes! I am one! (but getting treatment). But if we are talking about living in a prog shell and ignoring other genres, then the answer's no! I like to discover what others see for example in mainstream music and understand their preference for that, and their reluctance when it comes to prog. I can put myself in their shoes and analyse things from their point of view. And most of the time their reasoning has a fairly strong basis.

elder08 wrote: So many many people on the interwebs have stated prog fans are Elitest

What! Who? Where?
Let's smoke 'm out and kick some sense into them!
We may be elitist but we won't shy away from a good man to man fight!

I think prog fans are sometimes elitist, but I think that people who are anti-prog are often certainly just as snobby, if not more so.  As long as prog fans don't talk about nonsense like the objective superiority of prog rock to other rock forms, or say things that imply prog rock is just a couple of steps below classical music in complexity and sophistication, or that rock music should be judged by how complex it is and how hard to play it is, they're just fine by me.

Edited by tarkus1980 - May 03 2010 at 19:00

Yep, I'm an elitist...

I only listen to good music, and prog just happens to be a genre full of a lot of good music!

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: HTCF wrote: Prog fans are the most elitist bunch I know, and I can legitimately say that because I'm a prog fan and nobody I know is more elitist than I am   Have you ever visited another genre site?   Rap sites say they play the best music ever, Madonna, Micheael Jackson, etc have been proclaimed the best artist ever, even greatest than The Beatles.   Some other sites even insult other genres as crap and they are the saviours like Punk (Read Punk77)   On the other hand, you can come to Prog Archives and say Dream Theater,ELP and even Genesis are crap and nothing will happen, but if you dare to say you don't like Hip Hop or Rap, before ten minutes,somebody will call you close minded.   So who is the elitist?   We know what we like, but we talk about almost every genre, try going to a gangsta Rap site  saying Prog is great...hey will hunt you as a dog.   Iván

There are other forms of elitism than musical elitism

Hi,

Edited by moshkito - May 03 2010 at 19:58