I Woke Up Dreaming: Cultural And Musical Responses To Urban Space

Mozzetta, Fiamma

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I Woke Up Dreaming: Cultural And Musical Responses To Urban Space

Mozzetta, Fiamma

Abstract

Drawing from the fields of Urban Sociology and Popular Music Studies, the aim of the thesis is to analyze the dynamics between artists and an urban environment, by taking into consideration the economic, social, political and cultural context in which musical texts grow. The methodological framework guides the argument towards an understanding of the city as a complex environment in which the physical structuring and cultural dimension of urban spaces are able to influence artists. The interaction of multiple and diverse conditions of the city shapes the ways in which local-based scenes develop, the ways in which artists and audience think about music and the ways subcultural identity are constructed. The ultimate goal of the thesis is to reflect on the relationship between artistic expression, identity and the opportunities offered by the city. The first case study focuses on Downtown New York City during the seventies and early eighties and explores how the conditions of the city influenced the ‘underground’ scene around CBGB and the later ‘No Wave’ movement. The second case study draws attention to the influence of the social and economic circumstances of Coventry, during the same period, to understand the aesthetics and politics of the ska revival.