An Ethnographic and Technological Study of Breakbeat Creativity
📜 Abstract
This paper explores the creativity involved with breakbeat music by investigating DJs’ uses of new computer technologies. These tools facilitate traditional disc jockeying practices while enabling novel styles of interaction between disk jockeys, production equipment, and audiences. This paper is an exploration into the ramifications of such practices for our understanding of communication technology. Further, we ask what lessons ethnographic studies of urban youth music subculture might contribute to our understanding of technological creativity, and insights into how digital systems may evolve to facilitate creative musical expression.
✨ Summary
Michael Gurevich’s paper, “An Ethnographic and Technological Study of Breakbeat Creativity,” published in 2000, investigates the role of new computer technologies in modern breakbeat DJ culture. By employing ethnographic methodologies, it examines how DJs use these technologies to not only replicate traditional DJing practices but also to create innovative interactions between DJs, equipment, and audiences. The study challenges the conventional understanding of communication technology and suggests that urban youth music subcultures offer valuable insights into technological creativity and the evolution of digital systems in supporting creative musical expressions.
In terms of impact, there haven’t been specific references or citations available online linking this paper to further research or industrial application. However, the subject matter aligns with broader cultural and musicology research areas, indicating its potential relevance in studies related to electronic music and cultural technology interactions. No direct references or subsequent works citing this paper could be found in well-known academic databases or search engines.