The Music Festival as an arena for learning

262 Pages·2007·1.45 MB·English

2007:60
DOCTORA L T H E S IS
The Music Festival as an
Arena for Learning
Festspel i Pite Älvdal and Matters of Identity
Sidsel Karlsen
Luleå University of Technology
Department of Music and Media
2007:60|: 02-5|: - -- 07⁄60 -- 

The Music Festival as an
Arena for Learning
Festspel i Pite Älvdal and Matters of Identity
SidselKarlsen
LuleåUniversityofTechnology
DepartmentofMusicandMedia
Distribution:
LuleåUniversityofTechnology
Departmentofmusicandmedia
Box744
94128Piteå
Sweden
Telephone:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
Electronicallypublishedat
http://epubl.ltu.se
SidselKarlsen
Themusicfestivalasanarenaforlearning:FestspeliPiteÄlvdalandmattersofidentity
ISSN:1402-1544
ISRN:LTU-DT--07/60--SE
©SidselKarlsen2007
Coverlayout:GunnarTuisku
Printedat:Universitypress,LuleåUniversityofTechnology,November2007
ii
CONTENTS
Tables..................................................................................................................................vii
Figures...............................................................................................................................viii
Abstract................................................................................................................................ix
Norwegianabstract...............................................................................................................xi
Preface................................................................................................................................xiii
Chapter1:Introduction.......................................................................................................1
Focusofthestudy–aimandresearchquestions.................................................................2
Thestudy’srelationtothefieldofmusiceducation............................................................4
Theresearcher’sownbackground......................................................................................7
Thestructureofthethesis...................................................................................................9
Chapter2:Theprojectinrelationtoearlierresearch......................................................11
Thefestivalphenomenon–theory,researchandevaluations............................................11
Festivals–sometheoreticalaspects..............................................................................12
Mega-events–researchandevaluations.......................................................................16
Festivals’economicimpactonhostsocieties................................................................17
Festivals’socialandculturalimpactonhostsocieties...................................................18
Festivalsandmattersoflearningandeducation............................................................21
Relevancetothisstudy.................................................................................................21
Researchwithinmusiceducationandrelatedfields..........................................................23
Communitymusic........................................................................................................23
Musicteachingandlearningpracticesoutsideformalschooling...................................24
Researchregardingmusicandidentity..........................................................................28
Relevancetothisstudy.................................................................................................29
Summingupontheproject’srelationtoearlierresearch...................................................30
Chapter3:Theoreticalframework....................................................................................33
Identity.............................................................................................................................33
Modernityandlatemodernity–anintroduction............................................................33
Aspectsofidentityinthelatemodernera.....................................................................35
Consumption,shoppingandidentity.............................................................................37
Themusicfestivalasanarenaforlifestylechoices.......................................................38
Musicandidentity........................................................................................................40
Learning...........................................................................................................................43
Aspectsofmusicallearningandmusiceducationinlatemodernity..............................43
Themusicfestivalunderstoodasacommunityofpractice............................................44
Howfestivalattendancemightleadtolearning.............................................................47
Learningandidentity....................................................................................................49
Music,identityandlearning–betweenselfandsociety....................................................50
Cross-patternedrooms–themusicfestivalasasourceofmultiplesettings..................50
Howpeoplenavigatebetweenstructureandagency......................................................51
Identitydevelopmentondifferentlevels–individualandsociety.................................52
TheMusical-Eventparadigm........................................................................................53
Chapter4:Methodology....................................................................................................55
Usingcasestudyasresearchapproach..............................................................................55
Thepilotstudy.................................................................................................................58
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Methodologicalaspects................................................................................................58
Pilotstudyfindings.......................................................................................................59
Changesmadetothebackgroundofthepilotstudy......................................................60
Planningandexecutionoffieldwork...............................................................................60
Observations................................................................................................................60
Planningofobservations...........................................................................................61
Observationprocedures............................................................................................62
Survey..........................................................................................................................63
Developmentofthequestionnaire.............................................................................64
Practicalplanningofsurveyfieldwork......................................................................65
Surveyprocedures....................................................................................................66
Generalfeaturesofsurveyparticipants.....................................................................69
Interviews.....................................................................................................................69
Interviewpreparations..............................................................................................69
Samplingofinterviewees..........................................................................................71
Systematicvariables.................................................................................................72
‘Unsystematic’variables...........................................................................................74
Finalintervieweesample..........................................................................................74
Interviewprocedures................................................................................................75
Interviewtranscription..............................................................................................77
Documentationandarchivalrecords.............................................................................78
Analyticalapproaches......................................................................................................79
Approach1–affectingaudience’sconstructionofmusicalself-narratives....................79
Approach2–contributingtoaudience’smaintenanceanddevelopmentofparallel
musicalidentities..........................................................................................................82
Approach3–contributingtothedevelopmentoflocalidentity....................................85
Casestudyandtheactofinterpretation.........................................................................87
Methodologicalreflections...............................................................................................89
Thematteroftrustworthiness.......................................................................................89
Somemethodologicalafterthoughts..............................................................................91
Chapter5:Affectingconstructionofmusicalself-narratives...........................................95
Theoverallpicture–howmanypeopledoesthefestivalaffectandhow?.........................95
Statementsconcerningstrongemotionalexperienceswithmusic....................................100
Contextualfactors......................................................................................................102
Framefactors..........................................................................................................102
Mediativefactors....................................................................................................103
Intrapersonalfactors...................................................................................................103
Rangeofemotions......................................................................................................104
Privacy,difficultiesandnegativeexperiences.............................................................105
Summingupstrong,emotionalexperienceswithmusic..............................................106
Theaudience’smusicalself-narrativesandthefestival’splacewithinthem....................107
Betty–thefestivalasagasstation.............................................................................107
Laura–thefestivalascounterculture..........................................................................110
Mark–thefestivalasacontinuationofmusicalexperiences......................................113
Chris–thefestivalasperiphery..................................................................................116
Leo–thefestivalaspartofattendingtheculturalactivitiesavailable.........................119
Maureen–thefestivalasacomplement.....................................................................122
Affectingconstructionofmusicalself-narratives–summingup.....................................124
Storiesofimportantandstrong,emotionalmusicalexperiences..................................125
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Learningexperiences..................................................................................................126
Thefestival’spositioninrelationtothemusicallifestories........................................127
Chapter6:Contributionstowardsaudience’smaintenanceanddevelopmentof
parallelmusicalidentities................................................................................................131
Possibilitiesofferedbythefestivalasseenthroughobservation.....................................131
Samiballadandjojkevening,Arjeplog......................................................................132
Lunchtimeconcert,Piteå............................................................................................133
Openingconcert,Piteå................................................................................................134
Lunchtimeconcert,Arvidsjaur...................................................................................135
Trolltagen,Älvsbyn....................................................................................................136
Euskefeurat/CostoRico,Piteå.....................................................................................137
Closingconcert,Piteå.................................................................................................138
Festivalconditionsasperceivedbytheobserver.........................................................139
Thefestivalasadeviceformaintenanceanddevelopment–respondents’
understanding.................................................................................................................139
Theconditionscreatedbythefestival.........................................................................140
Festivaluseandbehaviour..........................................................................................141
Thefestivalasadeviceformaintenanceanddevelopment–interviewees’
understanding.................................................................................................................147
Choicesofconcertsandgroundsforchoosing............................................................147
Contentandformandhowitaffectschoicesofconcerts.............................................150
Concertchoices’impactonmusicaltaste....................................................................152
Reasonstoattendthefestivalandtheuniquekindsofexperiencesitprovides............153
Contributionstothemaintenanceanddevelopmentofparallelmusical
identities–summingup..................................................................................................155
Chapter7:Contributionstothedevelopmentoflocalidentity......................................159
Storiesaboutthefestivalanditshostmunicipalities.......................................................159
Arjeplog.....................................................................................................................160
Arvidsjaur..................................................................................................................163
Älvsbyn......................................................................................................................166
Piteå...........................................................................................................................169
Pointsofconnectionbetweenthefestivalandthemunicipality.......................................174
Localconditions,localhabitsandthewillingnesstoadjustthereto.............................177
Socialfunctionandtogetherness.................................................................................178
Anchoringinlocalmunicipality..................................................................................179
Outwardvisibilityfunction.........................................................................................180
Developmentalfunctionwithinthemunicipality.........................................................181
Festivalandmunicipalityconnectionsasseenthroughobservation................................181
Theuseofphysicalplaces..........................................................................................182
Thestoriestoldthroughthefestivalaboutwhoweare................................................183
Contributionstothedevelopmentoflocalidentity–surveyfindings..............................184
Contributionstothedevelopmentoflocalidentity–summingup...................................186
Chapter8:Discussion......................................................................................................189
TheFestspeliPiteÄlvdalandidentity...........................................................................189
Musicalidentity–generalfeatures.............................................................................190
TheFestspeliPiteÄlvdalasanarenaforlifestylechoices.........................................191
TheFestspeliPiteÄlvdalasabasisforself-regulatorystrategies...............................194
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Generalfeaturesofthefestival’srelationstothehostmunicipalities...........................196
TheFestspeliPiteÄlvdalasanoutwardmanifestationofcommunityidentity...........198
TheFestspeliPiteÄlvdalasanoccasionforreinforcingsocialandcultural
communityidentity.....................................................................................................198
Thefouridentitydimensionsofmusicfestivals..........................................................199
Theco-productionofmusicalidentity:selfandsociety...............................................200
TheFestspeliPiteÄlvdalandlearning...........................................................................201
Festivallearninginasituatedperspective...................................................................201
Relationsbetweenfestivalaudience’slearningoutcomeandtheoriesofmusical
knowledge..................................................................................................................204
Additionalaspectsoffestivallearning........................................................................206
TheFestspeliPiteÄlvdal–TheMusicalEvent..............................................................207
Fruitfulpreconditions.................................................................................................208
Outcome.....................................................................................................................209
Concludingremarks.......................................................................................................210
The‘endless’freedomoflatemodernity.....................................................................210
Thepossessionofmusicalagency..............................................................................211
Thelimitationsofwords.............................................................................................212
Thoughtsconcerninggeneralisation............................................................................212
Lookingahead................................................................................................................213
References.........................................................................................................................215
Appendix..........................................................................................................................227
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TABLES
Table1.Socialcostsandbenefitsofcommunityfestivals.....................................................19
Table2.Perceivedimpactoffestivalsandspecialevents.....................................................19
Table3.Overviewofquestionnairessentandreceived.........................................................68
Table4.Exampleshowinghowmaincategoriesweredividedintosubcategories.................84
Table5.Numberoffestivaleventsandaudience..................................................................96
Table6.Totalnumberofaudienceinrelationtopopulation.................................................97
Table7.Festivalattendancerelatedtogroupattachmentandage.........................................98
Table8.Audienceattendingothermusicfestivals................................................................98
Table9.Statedfestivalimportanceinlife.Percent...............................................................99
Table10.Occurrenceofstrongemotionalexperiencesamongfestivalaudience...................99
Table11.Factorshavingimpactonoccurrenceofstrongemotional
experienceswithmusic......................................................................................................101
Table12.Targetgroupdirectionanddegreeofsuitingvariousmusicaltastes....................141
Table13.Reasonsforattendingfestivalconcerts...............................................................142
Table14.Festivalconcertscontributingtomusicaltaste....................................................144
Table15.Attendingconcertsknowninadvancetobeenjoyable.........................................144
Table16.Audienceconsciouslyattendingconcerts/accidentallyhearing
anewgenreorstyle............................................................................................................145
Table17.Intentionaldiscoveryofnewgenresandstylesleadingtovisiting
similarconcertsorbuyingCDs..........................................................................................145
Table18.Accidentallydiscoveringnewgenresandstylesleadingtovisiting
similarconcertsorbuyingCDs..........................................................................................145
Table19.Intentionaldiscoveryofnewgenresandstylesleadingtoplayingor
singingsuchmusic.............................................................................................................145
Table20.Accidentallydiscoveringnewgenresandstylesleadingtoplayingor
singingsuchmusic.............................................................................................................146
Table21.Pointsofconnectionbetweenthefestivalanditshostmunicipalities..................175
Table22.Thefestival’sfunctionasa‘publicface’.............................................................184
Table23.Festivalcontributiontorivervalleycohesion......................................................185
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FIGURES
Figure1.Theresearchprojectdisplayedasanembeddedsingle-casedesign........................56
Figure2.Originalintervieweesamplingscheme..................................................................74
Figure3.Finalintervieweesamplingscheme.......................................................................75
Figure4.Thefouridentitydimensionsofmusicfestivals...................................................199
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