Vinyl Junkies: An Investigation involving Record Collecting in the 21st Century.
详细信息
文摘
Research has shown that record collecting involves elements related to identity, materialism, nostalgia, and cultural capital (Farrugia &； Swiss, 2005； Hayes, 2006； Moist, 2008； Plasketes, 1992； Shuker, 2004). Research has also shown that subcultures display characteristics related to opposition, ritual, social structure, and ideology (Hall &； Jefferson, 1993； Hebdige, 1979； Morley, 1992； Schouten &； McAlexander, 1995). Given the physical form of the record in relation to the non-physical form of digital music, and the continuation of the phenomenon of record collecting in the digital age, the current study was designed to achieve two goals: First, to investigate why individuals chose to collect records in the 21st century； Second, to investigate the presence of subcultural characteristics within the phenomenon of 21st century record collecting. A review of the relevant literature concerning record collecting, oppositional subcultures, materialism and identity, nostalgia, and cultural capital is conducted. A neo-Marxist theoretical approach to subcultures, aesthetics, and cultural meaning, was also utilized. This study included a qualitative ethnographic methodology that involved semi-structured interviews with self-identified record-collectors, participant observations at a record collecting convention, interactions with self-identified record collectors in domestic settings, and my own perspectives as a record collector. The results of this study revealed that record collecting in the 21st century displays characteristics indicative of an oppositional subculture and includes elements related to nostalgia, physicality, cultural meaning, commodity fetishism, and cultural capital. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.