De Nora Music In Everyday Life Chapter 3

Music in Everyday Life

• Author: Tia DeNora

• Published by: Cambridge University Press

Music as a Technology of Self

• Quote by Mireille: "I think everybody should listen to music. It helps you to be calm, relaxed, to see your life differently."

The Concept of Self

• The self, as a unitary individual, is integral to modern social organization.

• Emerging focus on the "reflexive project" of the self, which is shaped through social, material, and discourse practices (Harré 1998; Giddens 1991).

• Music plays a critical yet underexplored role in shaping the individual self.

• Shepherd and Wicke (1997) argue for more attention to the internal awareness of existence and self in sub-cultural music theory.

Music in Daily Practices

• Emphasis on intimate musical practices and one-to-one interactions with music, which reveal music's role in constructing the self as an aesthetic agent.

• Music psychologists focus on music's use in naturalistic settings and its social influence on individual behavior (Crozier 1997).

• Research methodology at Keele University involved diary studies and interviews focusing on music's use in daily life.

Key Investigations of Music Usage

• Various studies highlighted the use of music in personal spaces and daily routines, exploring connections to mood, memory, and identity.

• Respondents categorized music use into six themes:

  • Memory

  • Spiritual matters

  • Sensorial matters

  • Mood change

  • Mood enhancement

  • Activities (e.g., exercising, cooking, studying, etc.)

Self-Regulatory Strategies

• Music serves as a resource for emotional management and self-regulation, acting as a "change agent" in lives (Sloboda, 1992).

• Women's interviews revealed conscious choices about music's mood-affecting properties and how they personalize their auditory environment.

Music's Role in Self-Expression

• Music consumption is pivotal in producing and regulating self-identity, particularly among women aged 18-77.

• Women exhibit awareness of how various genres and tracks correspond with their emotional states or activities (e.g., relaxation, motivation).

Emotional Work and Music

• Emotional work is a key theme; music is not merely background but engages listeners in a transformative experience.

• Respondents describe using music to shift their mood, enhance feelings of joy or calm, or energize themselves before social events.

Aesthetic Reflexivity

• Reflexivity in modernity necessitates managing identity and social boundaries through cultural forms (Lash and Urry 1994; Giddens 1991).

• Individuals display a degree of flexibility in navigating diverse social contexts, using personal music choices to regulate emotional responses.

Music as a Tool for Focus

• Many respondents use music to establish mental concentration and improve focus when engaging in tasks.

• Preference for instrumental or less emotionally charged music (e.g., classical) helps to block distractions and enhance cognitive flow (Karen, Diana).

Music and Memory Construction

• Musical memories serve as associative cues, helping individuals recall significant life events, relationships, and stages of personal identity.

• Connections drawn between music and personal narratives reveal how individuals utilize music to construct a coherent life story.

Conclusion

• Music is seen as a dynamic medium for expressing identity, navigating social relationships, and engaging in emotional self-regulation.

• Future explorations may consider music's physiological effects and influence in public spaces, further investigating its socio-cultural significance.