American Rock Journalism

Organizers: PD Dr. Ulf Schulenberg (Universität Siegen), Dr. Marcel Hartwig (Universität Siegen)

The worlds of rock journalism and academia have so far often seemed incompatible. Even at the beginning of the 21st century, it still seems easier to imagine an academic elaborating on Adorno’s interpretation of Schönberg than on the multilayered complexity of the term “pop”. Undoubtedly, a lot has changed with the establishment of cultural studies in the 1970s and 1980s. However, one also has to see that rock journalism has so far played only a minor role for the field of American Studies. This is deplorable insofar as rock journalism can teach one much about America. Would it seem too frivolous to advance the idea that after the much-debated demise of the hipster it is the American rock journalist who is capable of elucidating the complexities of style, form, and myth? The American rock journalist, it seems, is also an Americanist seeking to appreciate his homeland. As makers of meaning, rock journalists are institutionalized among others in music journals, fansites, and blogs. There they define and circulate criteria of individualism, authenticity, independence (as opposed to mainstream), and originality – this practice results in a fluid body of manifestations of distinct American myths. Moreover, American Rock Journalism is also dependent on corporate structures due to its strong connection with the music industries. As such this practice renders a field of post-industrial struggle in providing services that can be regarded both as branded and corporate but – with regard to the locus of fan communities – by the same token also as autonomous. As a cultural practice, American Rock Journalism further establishes and circulates tropes of youth cultures that determine criteria for the respective politics and styles. What this boils down to is that American Studies can learn a lot from rock journalism, while the latter at least to a certain degree can be regarded as a variation of the former. The conference will thus focus on the practices and institutions of American Rock Journalism.

Keynote Speakers:

Richard Goldstein (Hunter College, NY, USA; executive editor Village Voice)
Devon Powers, Ph.D. (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA)

Supported by

Fakultät I Universität Siegen
Seminar für Anglistik

 

Contact

PD Dr. Ulf Schulenberg
schulenberg@anglistik.uni-siegen.de

Dr. Marcel Hartwig
hartwig@anglistik.uni-siegen.de
Phone +49. 271. 740 39 87
Fax +49. 271. 740 26 92