Perspectives on Music, the Environment, and Sustainability Education from Recording Artists Featured on the David Suzuki Foundation Playlist for the Planet, 2011
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PERSPECTIVES ON MUSIC, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION FROM RECORDING ARTISTS FEATURED ON THE DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION PLAYLIST FOR THE PLANET, 2011 by Jennifer Leigh Publicover Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia June 2016 © Copyright by Jennifer Leigh Publicover, 2016 For Alistair and Lydia ~ Music can help you survive your troubles, Music can help distract you from your troubles. Some music can help you understand your troubles. And some music can help you do something about your troubles. -Pete Seeger (1919-2014) ii Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. ix List of Abbreviations Used ................................................................................................. x Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ xi Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Prelude ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Context and Motivations ........................................................................................... 1 1.3 Study Overview and Research Questions ................................................................. 5 1.4 Thesis Structure ........................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2: Literature Review and Placement of Research ................................................. 8 2.1 Literature Search Parameters .................................................................................... 8 2.2 Environmental Education (EE) ................................................................................. 9 2.2.1 General Overview / History ............................................................................... 9 2.2.2 Types of EE ...................................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 The Role of the Arts in EE ............................................................................... 16 2.3 Music and EE .......................................................................................................... 25 2.3.1 The Communicative Power of Music .............................................................. 25 2.3.1.1. “Meaning” in Music ................................................................................. 25 2.3.1.2 Music and Messages ................................................................................. 29 2.3.1.3 Authenticity in Music ............................................................................... 31 2.3.2 Music and Education: Diverse Learning Styles ............................................... 34 2.3.3 Making the Case for Music and EE ................................................................. 35 2.3.3.1 Approaches and Strengths ......................................................................... 35 iii 2.3.3.2 Challenges of Evaluation .......................................................................... 39 2.3.4 The Role of Music in EE Initiatives in Modern Environmentalism ................ 43 2.3.4.1 Popular Music, EE, and Environmental Advocacy................................... 43 2.3.4.2 Examples of Ecocritical Music in Other Genres ....................................... 48 2.3.4.3 Examples of Programming for Youth / Children ...................................... 49 2.3.4.4 Examples of Pro-environmental Music Industry Initiatives ..................... 52 2.4 The David Suzuki Foundation Playlist for the Planet, 2011 .................................. 55 2.4.1 The David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) .............................................................. 55 2.4.2 DSF Engagement with Music and the Playlist for the Planet ......................... 56 2.4.3 Aims of the Playlist ......................................................................................... 57 2.5 Summary of Knowledge and New Areas to Explore .............................................. 58 2.5.1 Synthesis of Known and Unknown .................................................................. 58 2.5.2 Questions in the Field and Place of Study ....................................................... 59 Chapter 3: Methods ........................................................................................................... 61 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 61 3.2 Population and Appropriateness ............................................................................. 61 3.3 Invitation and Consent ............................................................................................ 64 3.4 Ethics ....................................................................................................................... 65 3.5 Interview Processes, Conditions, Impartiality, and Consistency ............................ 67 3.6 Transcription, Coding, Analysis, Saturation, and Reliability ................................. 68 Chapter 4, Embedded Paper 1: “Music as a Tool for Environmental Education and Advocacy: Artistic Perspectives from Musicians of the Playlist for the Planet” ............ 71 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 71 4.2 Background ............................................................................................................. 72 4.2.1 The Arts and Environmental Education ........................................................... 72 iv 4.2.2 The “Language” of Music ................................................................................ 74 4.2.3 Music and Types of Learning .......................................................................... 75 4.2.4 Authenticity ...................................................................................................... 76 4.3 Methods ................................................................................................................... 76 4.4 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................... 78 4.4.1 Inspiration ........................................................................................................ 78 4.4.2 Composition ..................................................................................................... 82 4.4.3 Performance/Dissemination Techniques, Contexts, and Audiences ................ 86 4.4.4 Authenticity and the Art of Music ................................................................... 92 4.4.5 Music and Environmental Education ............................................................... 93 4.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 96 4.6 Embedded Paper 1: Works Cited ............................................................................ 97 Chapter 5, Embedded Paper 2: “Engaging with Environmental Issues as a Musician: Career Perspectives from the Musicians of the Playlist for the Planet” ........................ 103 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 103 5.2 Notes on Authenticity ........................................................................................... 105 5.3 Methods ................................................................................................................. 109 5.4 Results and Discussion ......................................................................................... 111 5.4.1 Towards Authenticity ..................................................................................... 112 5.4.2.Challenges, Risks, and Rewards of Engagement ........................................... 117 5.4.3 Passing the Torch ........................................................................................... 126 5.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 129 5.6 Embedded Paper 2: Works Cited .......................................................................... 130 Chapter 6: Conclusions ................................................................................................... 137 6.1 Significant Findings and Support .......................................................................... 137 v 6.2 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 145 6.3 Recommendations for Further Research ............................................................... 146 6.4 Practical Applications and Implications ............................................................... 148 6.5 Coda .....................................................................................................................