Dubstep as a Postmodern Music Genre

Dubstep music, in my opinion, is probably one of the most “postmodern” music genres in contemporary music culture. The genre uses only electronic means to create its sound and is heavily dependent on the use of sampling. The music itself has its roots in Jamaican dub and reggae and relies heavily on the use of reverberating bass frequencies with a slower, darker tone. Some dubstep music is described as having a sci-fi quality, because of its heavy reliance on computer technology, which would only be possible in the postmodern era. Some artists even use old-school video game sounds in their music, which would be characteristic of a nostalgia for older technology, that is then reused to make something new. The genre also makes no distinction between high and low art because artists will remix any song, whether it’s a classic like the Beatles or Pink Floyd or a contemporary commercial artist like Lady Gaga or Kanye West. The genre takes influences from many different genres; anything from classic rock, techno, punk, new wave, to hip hop is incorporated into the music and then fragmented to the point where it becomes a completely new sound in itself.

Here are some examples:

(You might recognize this one from the end of Fight Club)