--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We now have cultural machines so powerful…" description: "\"We now have cultural machines so powerful that one singer can reach everybody in the world, and make all the other singers feel inferior because they'r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/alan-lomax-39375_cash_we-now-have-cultural-machines-so-powerfu_1049287.png" --- # We now have cultural machines so powerful that one singer… ![“We now have cultural machines so powerful that one singer can reach everybody in the world, and make all the other singers feel inferior because they're not like him. Once that gets started, he gets backed by so much cash and so much power that he becomes a monstrous invader from outer space…” quote by Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/alan-lomax-39375_cash_we-now-have-cultural-machines-so-powerfu_1049287.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/alan-lomax-39375_cash_we-now-have-cultural-machines-so-powerfu_1049287.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/alan-lomax-39375_cash_we-now-have-cultural-machines-so-powerfu_1049287.png) > “We now have cultural machines so powerful that one singer can reach everybody in the world, and make all the other singers feel inferior because they're not like him. Once that gets started, he gets backed by so much cash and so much power that he becomes a monstrous invader from outer space, crushing the life out of all the other human possibilities. My life has been devoted to opposing that tendency.” [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful cultural platforms let a single dominant voice suppress diverse others, creating a monopolistic cultural force. **In simple terms:** Dominant media can drown out others. Key Takeaway Promote diverse voices actively. Themes media culture power dynamics Mood concerned critical reflective Type analytical advocacy When to use this quote - music streaming - social media - broadcasting - publishing - film distribution Key Concepts cultural hegemony media concentration Questions to Reflect On - How can you support under‑represented creators? - What regulations could curb cultural monopolies? A Different Perspective Monopolies can stifle creativity and representation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Outer space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outer-space/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Whitney Houston was a powerful singer, she inspired people to be all that they can be. She was born a star and she died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-s/whitney-houston-was-a-powerful-singer-she-inspired-people-to-be-all/) [Leon S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-s/) > [I make singers sing every note fully and wait till they hit the right note.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himesh-reshammiya/i-make-singers-sing-every-note-fully-and-wait-till-they-hit-the-right/) [Himesh Reshammiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himesh-reshammiya/) > [In vocal choreography you had to give a lot of consideration to the fact that you were working with singers and not dancers. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cholly-atkins/in-vocal-choreography-you-had-to-give-a-lot-of-consideration-to-the/) [Cholly Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cholly-atkins/) > [The more I listened and became obsessed with singers, I feel like the more I realized that I had my own little thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-mclorin-salvant/the-more-i-listened-and-became-obsessed-with-singers-i-feel-like-the/) [Cecile McLorin Salvant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-mclorin-salvant/) > [I don't know what other singers feel when they articulate lyrics, but being an 18-karat manic-depressive and having lived a life of violent emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/i-don-t-know-what-other-singers-feel-when-they-articulate-lyrics-but-2/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [I don't know what singers feel like when they make a song and people clap along and love it, but when people walk up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-don-t-know-what-singers-feel-like-when-they-make-a-song-and-people/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [I don't know what other singers feel when they articulate lyrics, but being an 18-karat manic-depressive and having lived a life of violent emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/i-don-t-know-what-other-singers-feel-when-they-articulate-lyrics-but/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [There is a fundamental principle. People have the right to defend their country from foreign occupiers, and people have the right to defend their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/there-is-a-fundamental-principle-people-have-the-right-to-defend/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/the-mind-is-not-a-book-to-be-opened-at-will-and-examined-at-leisure/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I like pacifists and people who have a heavy emotional identification with deathism and war would probably call me a pacifist, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/i-like-pacifists-and-people-who-have-a-heavy-emotional-identification/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“Right now, is not the time to strike at the Romans, but it will come, and we will all rise and wipe out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-kramer/right-now-is-not-the-time-to-strike-at-the-romans-but-it-will-come/) [Michael G. Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-kramer/) > [We pledge to you in our name... that we will resist the invaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/we-pledge-to-you-in-our-name-that-we-will-resist-the-invaders/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [The late proceedings of those daring invaders to establish a national religion have opened the eyes of all lovers of liberty and religion... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-royall/the-late-proceedings-of-those-daring-invaders-to-establish-a-national/) [Anne Royall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-royall/) > [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. That goes across all genres: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-fan-of-any-genre-but-am-a-fan-of-movies-that-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alan Lomax > [The dimension of cultural equity needs to be added to the humane continuum of liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and social justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/the-dimension-of-cultural-equity-needs-to-be-added-to-the-humane/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [People were saying that Southern folk song was dead, that the land that had produced American jazz, the blues, the spirituals, the mountain ballads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/people-were-saying-that-southern-folk-song-was-dead-that-the-land/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [I knew Bobby Dylan back in the days when he lived in the village. He used to come and see me and sing songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/i-knew-bobby-dylan-back-in-the-days-when-he-lived-in-the-village-he/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [The modern computer with all its various gadgets and wonderful electronic facilities now makes it possible to preserve and reinvigorate all the cultural richness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/the-modern-computer-with-all-its-various-gadgets-and-wonderful/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [“The essence of America lies not in the headlined heroes ... but in the everyday folds who live and die unknown, yet leave their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/the-essence-of-america-lies-not-in-the-headlined-heroes-but-in-the/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [The British ballads became a new kind of form in their hand. And out of them came the blues, a new kind of song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/the-british-ballads-became-a-new-kind-of-form-in-their-hand-and-out/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [Folk Music is the map of singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/folk-music-is-the-map-of-singing/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [He learned through the way that my father and I felt about his songs, his country songs, that they were great songs. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/he-learned-through-the-way-that-my-father-and-i-felt-about-his-songs/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [You could hear him, literally, half a mile away when he opened up. He was at his peak then. He was, naturally, dying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/you-could-hear-him-literally-half-a-mile-away-when-he-opened-up-he/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [And the thing that I always tried to do with important singers when I met them was to sit down and record everything they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/and-the-thing-that-i-always-tried-to-do-with-important-singers-when-i/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) [Explore all 11 Alan Lomax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) ## More Cash quotes > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [Nothing knits man to man like the frequent passage from hand to hand of cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-sickert/nothing-knits-man-to-man-like-the-frequent-passage-from-hand-to-hand/) [Walter Sickert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-sickert/) > [“It’s me,” he says softly. “Stop listening to everything else. Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you. Don’t think with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/it-s-me-he-says-softly-stop-listening-to-everything-else-remember-the/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [After I graduated, I carried on with my academic work, via grants but I often had a market stall on Camden Market selling hand-painted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/after-i-graduated-i-carried-on-with-my-academic-work-via-grants-but-i/) [Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/) > [You might be a redneck if you have a picture of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, or Elvis over your fireplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-have-a-picture-of-johnny-cash-willie/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I feel a lot better when I've got a bit of cash on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/i-feel-a-lot-better-when-i-ve-got-a-bit-of-cash-on-me/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [If our financial industry regarded security the way the health-care sector does, I would stuff my cash in a mattress under my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-rubin/if-our-financial-industry-regarded-security-the-way-the-health-care/) [Avi Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-rubin/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [It's funny about men and women. Men pay in cash to get them and pay in cash to get rid of them. Women pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/it-s-funny-about-men-and-women-men-pay-in-cash-to-get-them-and-pay-in/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [ I mean, you take a look at this, it's one way. \[Mexicans\] get the jobs, they get the factories, they get the cash, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-mean-you-take-a-look-at-this-it-s-one-way-mexicans-get-the-jobs/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It was really starting to get pathetic, everyday they would come in looking for one thing or another. 'Zach, can you give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/it-was-really-starting-to-get-pathetic-everyday-they-would-come-in/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [One of my officers said to me that Trinidad and Tobago is seen like an ATM card... you come in with the card and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamla-persad-bissessar/one-of-my-officers-said-to-me-that-trinidad-and-tobago-is-seen-like/) [Kamla Persad-Bissessar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamla-persad-bissessar/) Browse all 1,141 Cash quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We now have cultural machines so powerful that one singer can reach everybody in the world, and make all the other singers feel inferior because they're not like him. Once that gets started, he gets backed by so much cash and so much power that he becomes a monstrous invader from outer space, crushing the life out of all the other human possibilities. 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