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Pop Music, Culture and Identity
Fandom, Image and Authenticity: Joy Devotion and the Second Lives of Kurt Cobain and Ian Curtis
Kurt Cobain and Ian Curtis. Their early and unexpected deaths propelled them to iconic status, as beacons for the values of individuality and authenticity. However, with each passing year, the images of the lead men become further removed from
their original humanity. From Converse to cake, this book examines how their 'brands' lend credibility to commerce, while the increasing worth placed on the singers provides a modern example of a secular belief system propelled by media, technology and the value of immediacy in the 2.0 world. Journeys to spaces and places associated with the two singers are akin to pilgrimages, sacred trips that hope to capture and connect with the very essences that the men have been stripped of in their ever-widening appeal. Within this context, Curtis and Cobain become guides and Anglicised role models in the search for personal identity and community in the modern uncertain world.
their original humanity. From Converse to cake, this book examines how their 'brands' lend credibility to commerce, while the increasing worth placed on the singers provides a modern example of a secular belief system propelled by media, technology and the value of immediacy in the 2.0 world. Journeys to spaces and places associated with the two singers are akin to pilgrimages, sacred trips that hope to capture and connect with the very essences that the men have been stripped of in their ever-widening appeal. Within this context, Curtis and Cobain become guides and Anglicised role models in the search for personal identity and community in the modern uncertain world.
212 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 4, 2017
This book wasn't what I expected, and I admit that may be partially my own fault. However, Bickerdike did seem to go off topic quite a bit, and that wouldn't be so bothersome if she didn't sound so very judgmental about... well, everything.
I chafed especially at her apparent dismissal of digital fandom. I readily admit that my own sensitivities may have colored my reading, but I do wish she had provided some justification for prioritizing physical spaces as opposed to simply working on the assumption that the reader knows and/or agrees with her.
I would readily believe that I am not the target audience for this book, but again... it simply wasn't what I expected/hoped for. (Also, while I appreciate a more casual tone as much as the next young academic, even I was rolling my eyes at some points.)
Ah, well. Take this review and my rating with a grain of salt.
I chafed especially at her apparent dismissal of digital fandom. I readily admit that my own sensitivities may have colored my reading, but I do wish she had provided some justification for prioritizing physical spaces as opposed to simply working on the assumption that the reader knows and/or agrees with her.
I would readily believe that I am not the target audience for this book, but again... it simply wasn't what I expected/hoped for. (Also, while I appreciate a more casual tone as much as the next young academic, even I was rolling my eyes at some points.)
Ah, well. Take this review and my rating with a grain of salt.
December 18, 2021
Really, really helpful for my Master thesis, well-written and full of expertise. Best scientific book about Joy Division I‘ve read during my research.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews