Event Title

Session 3: Community and Metal

Location

Kennedy Union Ballroom

Start Date

6-11-2014 2:45 PM

End Date

6-11-2014 4:00 PM

Description

Christopher Thompson:"‘True’ Norwegian Identity: Norwegian Black Metal’s Uses of History"

Norwegian black metal is a style of music synonymous with violent action and crime while it is at the same one of Norway’s most widely known cultural products. Over the genre’s two decades long existence, Norwegian black metal has gone from a dangerous pariah to becoming coopted as an important part of Norwegian culture. In a place that is probably best known for its idyllic nature, high levels of democracy and equality, and high standards of living it is a paradox that a genre as extreme as Norwegian black metal could flourish and become an accepted part of Norwegian culture. Therefore, the question that needs to be answered is: how has Norwegian black metal become integrated as an important part of national culture in Norway?

To answer this question one requires both a knowledge of Norwegian history and the formation of its identity, as well as an understanding of how these elements have persisted in the modern construction of Norwegian identity. Nearly from the beginning, Norwegian black metal bands have been using popular conceptions of Norwegian history and romanticized identity in their music. While it can be seen in lyrics and the music, the most prominent uses of history and romanticized identity can be found in the visual aspects of the music. Most often this comes in the form of album artwork, however, it can also in be seen in merchandise and promotional material. From the analysis of this source material it can be seen that Norwegian black metal bands use romanticized notions of Norwegian history in order to express a ‘true’ Norwegian identity.

The presentation will cover black metal, its presence in Norway, and an overview of Norwegian national identity and its formation during the nineteenth century. Visual components will accompany the presentation as required.

Nelson Varas-Diaz: "Communal Formation in Small Metal Scenes: Methodological Implications and Challenges."

Heavy Metal music has faced constant scrutiny due to its perceived negative effects on its listeners. Some research has focused on Heavy Metal music as a risk factor for mental health problems and antisocial behavior. This research agenda has neglected to explore and document how the music can foster positive outcomes among its listeners, in particular a strong sense of community. For example, research has shown that feeling part of a community has a significant positive impact on a range of outcomes for both, individuals and groups. Some of these include: social engagement, lower levels of depressive symptoms and suicide ideation, protective factors against violence, traumatic experiences and general mental health problems, just to name a few. Fans and producers of Heavy Metal music constantly reference community as an important aspect of the sonic experience. Still, few studies have addressed the communal experience in Heavy Metal music from a multi-method perspective focusing on its positive implications. Metal Music Studies, as an emerging field of inquiry, needs to engage in methodological discussions related to its subjects of interest. Therefore, the main objective of our presentation is to reflect on the challenges and facilitating factors of research on community within small metal scenes. We will present data from a larger study of the metal scene in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, which used a multi-method approach including ethnographic observations, qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys and documentary film making as techniques to document the communal experience among members of the local metal scene. These techniques were embedded in a Community based Participatory Research Model, stressing the role of communal participation in the research design and implementation. We will discuss the implications of each technique, including its benefits and limitations, in documenting the communal experience.

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Nov 6th, 2:45 PM Nov 6th, 4:00 PM

Session 3: Community and Metal

Kennedy Union Ballroom

Christopher Thompson:"‘True’ Norwegian Identity: Norwegian Black Metal’s Uses of History"

Norwegian black metal is a style of music synonymous with violent action and crime while it is at the same one of Norway’s most widely known cultural products. Over the genre’s two decades long existence, Norwegian black metal has gone from a dangerous pariah to becoming coopted as an important part of Norwegian culture. In a place that is probably best known for its idyllic nature, high levels of democracy and equality, and high standards of living it is a paradox that a genre as extreme as Norwegian black metal could flourish and become an accepted part of Norwegian culture. Therefore, the question that needs to be answered is: how has Norwegian black metal become integrated as an important part of national culture in Norway?

To answer this question one requires both a knowledge of Norwegian history and the formation of its identity, as well as an understanding of how these elements have persisted in the modern construction of Norwegian identity. Nearly from the beginning, Norwegian black metal bands have been using popular conceptions of Norwegian history and romanticized identity in their music. While it can be seen in lyrics and the music, the most prominent uses of history and romanticized identity can be found in the visual aspects of the music. Most often this comes in the form of album artwork, however, it can also in be seen in merchandise and promotional material. From the analysis of this source material it can be seen that Norwegian black metal bands use romanticized notions of Norwegian history in order to express a ‘true’ Norwegian identity.

The presentation will cover black metal, its presence in Norway, and an overview of Norwegian national identity and its formation during the nineteenth century. Visual components will accompany the presentation as required.

Nelson Varas-Diaz: "Communal Formation in Small Metal Scenes: Methodological Implications and Challenges."

Heavy Metal music has faced constant scrutiny due to its perceived negative effects on its listeners. Some research has focused on Heavy Metal music as a risk factor for mental health problems and antisocial behavior. This research agenda has neglected to explore and document how the music can foster positive outcomes among its listeners, in particular a strong sense of community. For example, research has shown that feeling part of a community has a significant positive impact on a range of outcomes for both, individuals and groups. Some of these include: social engagement, lower levels of depressive symptoms and suicide ideation, protective factors against violence, traumatic experiences and general mental health problems, just to name a few. Fans and producers of Heavy Metal music constantly reference community as an important aspect of the sonic experience. Still, few studies have addressed the communal experience in Heavy Metal music from a multi-method perspective focusing on its positive implications. Metal Music Studies, as an emerging field of inquiry, needs to engage in methodological discussions related to its subjects of interest. Therefore, the main objective of our presentation is to reflect on the challenges and facilitating factors of research on community within small metal scenes. We will present data from a larger study of the metal scene in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, which used a multi-method approach including ethnographic observations, qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys and documentary film making as techniques to document the communal experience among members of the local metal scene. These techniques were embedded in a Community based Participatory Research Model, stressing the role of communal participation in the research design and implementation. We will discuss the implications of each technique, including its benefits and limitations, in documenting the communal experience.