Planningtorock “Human Drama”

15 Nov 2013 — Evelyn Malinowski

The word “drama” confuses the message of this song: isn't drama something to be avoided in love affairs? Don't we want drama-free, stakeless exchange with our lovers these days? Perhaps the song actualizes a more general or traditional definition of the word, or utilizes an alternative connotation which allows for listeners to comtemplate the nonconventional. Basic definitions of "drama" are along the lines of a scene, a play, incident, or spectacle; yet, none of these synonyms suggest the negative social drama that comes to mind when we think of friends who are dramatic, or attracted to dramatic relationships. 

While romantic drama, that is, heavy entangling of individual boundaries and uncomfortable social spectacles, is something avoided by an outstanding amount of gender-aware individuals and activists, via polyamory, non-definitive dating cycles and sexual preferences, human drama is by contrast strongly desirable. Planningtorock wants an anthropic, fluid, perfectly erroneous and natural sexual scenario, hence, human drama, a type that is free from grinding against manmade barriers, generating discomfort and existential unease. With the lyrics “Trying to find the words to explain my sexuality/
It's liquid, it's living, a moving love defined by itself/
There's no rules, no convention,” we begin to think that letting human sexuality be what it will is the preferred gender: an undulating, unpredictable, incidental, fluent process that does not mold or follow directions well. This is conveyed by the simplistic melancholy of the song's loud melody.

We can anticipate these types of political affects and contemporary themes from the whole of PTR's All Love's Legal, out on Human Level Records February 10, 2014. For now, let us meditate on what is meant by the provocative title and phrase “human drama.”