The aesthetics of dissent - cultural opposition and the independent musician

• Main Author: Kean, Robert Wilfred, 1977-
• Other Authors: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of Sociology
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Musicians > Newfoundland and Labrador > St. John's; Dissenters; Artistic > Newfoundland and Labrador > St. John' s; Alternative rock music > Newfoundland and Labrador > St. John's; Canada; Newfoundland; Newfoundland studies; University of Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses3/id/159580

Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. Sociology Bibliography: leaves 149-150 The aim of this research is to explore the possibility that independent musicianship constitutes a form of cultural opposition to capitalist hegemony. The analysis which follows attempts to chart a course between two competing theoretical perspectives on modern popular culture: critical theory, according to which popular culture is a medium of capitalist manipulation of credulous masses, and the Birmingham School of cultural studies, which emphasizes the creative potential inherent in cultural consumption. Twenty-four local musicians took part in semi-structured interviews focusing on their evaluations of different kinds of music, the creative and business- related choices they make in bringing their songs to listening audiences, and the values they hold as musicians working outside the creative parameters set by the major-label record industry. The interview data supply compelling evidence that respondents’ artistic sensibilities, and indeed their entire self-understanding as independent musicians, is informed by a critical awareness of the commodity production of culture, and as well a clear desire to resist the aesthetic standardization of music.