De Nora Music in Everyday Life Chapter 5 excerpt

Music in Everyday Life

• Author: Tia DeNora

• Published by Cambridge University Press

Chapter Overview

• Examines the role of music in social settings and everyday life.

Music and Gender Dynamics

• Women's Involvement with Music:

  • Interviews revealed that women often take charge of music selection in domestic settings, despite men's general disinterest.

  • Examples from interviews:

    • Women described their musical preferences as dominant in their households, even if their partners were less engaged with music.

    • The dynamic of musical decisions as a reflection of personal agency within relationships.

• Discusses concepts related to gender power dynamics via music:

  • References interaction styles and cultural scripts during interviews that illustrate the performance of "female power."

Music as a Social Device

• Role of Music in Social Occasions:

  • Music shapes the atmosphere at events, influencing the types of interactions and behaviors that occur.

  • Example from an interview:

    • A party defined by music choices, emphasizing aesthetic preferences to create a specific ambiance.

• Temporal Structure in Social Gatherings:

  • Music helps outline the flow of an event, signaling appropriate conduct and emotional engagement.

  • Example: A party transitioned from quiet conversations to danceable music to engage guests socially.

Music as a Tool for Emotional Agency

• Discusses how music articulates emotional, social, and embodied agency.

• Music's influence on:

  • Conduct Styles: Music's tempo and genre shape how individuals engage in social activities, influencing their emotional and physical response.

  • Consumer Behavior in Retail Settings: Retail environments use music to influence shopping experiences.

  • Studies show music direct consumer decisions, highlighting the impact of background music on purchasing behavior.

Music and Collective Identity

• Cultural Significance of Music:

  • Music serves as a cultural touchstone, shaping personal and collective identities.

  • Different types of music correspond to various social roles and relationships.

• Example from interviews:

  • People aligned their music choices with personal identity, using music as a form of self-expression and social positioning.

Music in Retail Environments

• Background music functions to create specific store identities and shopping experiences.

• Empirical studies show:

  • Music can influence purchasing decisions by evoking specific emotions or memories that reshape consumer interactions.

  • Retail settings vary in how they utilize music, either as an ambient background or a more integrated aspect of consumer engagement.

The Sounds of Silence

• Highlights generational differences in music appreciation.

  • Older individuals may prefer silence in social spaces, contrasting with younger generations who expect background music.

• The impact of a musical presence (or absence) as defining community space and personal agency.

Conclusion

• Music operates on both a macro (societal) and micro (individual) level, facilitating social organization, identity creation, and agency.

• The interplay of music within various social contexts unveils deeper layers of human interaction, expression, and cultural experience.