Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2009 Virtual Garage Bands: Collaborative Cybercommunities of Internet Musicians Trevor S. Harvey Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC VIRTUAL GARAGE BANDS: COLLABORATIVE CYBERCOMMUNITIES OF INTERNET MUSICIANS By TREVOR S. HARVEY A Dissertation submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2009 Copyright © 2009 Trevor S. Harvey All Rights Reserved The members of the committee approve the dissertation of Trevor S. Harvey, defended on Thursday, October 15, 2009. _________________________________________ Frank Gunderson Professor Directing Dissertation _________________________________________ Gary Burnett University Representative _________________________________________ Michael B. Bakan Committee Member _________________________________________ Stephen McDowell Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Like the many songs discussed within these pages, this dissertation is the result of a large collaborative effort. This research was only possible because of the kindness and warmth of the many members of iCompositions who have taken the time to respond to my many questions on chat, in email, and over Skype and who have given me permission to use their works in this research project. As with any musical collaboration, remix, or cover song, I am merely adding my voice to those that have already been expressed in text and song in hopes that I might somehow enhance what has already been said. First, I am grateful to powermac99 for his support of my research on his website over the past several years. He has been kind and supportive in answering questions and providing me with information and data about the site. There have been many iCompers who have been eager to share their music, experiences, and love of the community, and without whose help this dissertation would not be possible. I would like to specifically acknowledge the help of anDroidfrisBee, ashelybeanhead, becwil, ciheins, EvilFactman, IcePack, jlgerk, lummie, lupiroz, ponkey, PowerMatt, soulima, Trilobite2, zallaz, and 8monthmalfaction, who have taken the time to share their thoughts and experiences on iCompositions, and more importantly, their passion for music. I would also like to acknowledge the following musicians for granting me permission to include their musical creations in this dissertation: Abstractvision, alanatomic, anDroidfrisBee, artist08, ashelybeanhead, Baboon, Bebe3x, cicero19, ciheins, ckrohm, deputydoofy, dirigent, DoubleOughtJethro, Dylan, enicholsIC, etgilles, Euphoria, EvilFactman, gcooke, itiswotitis, jolofsson, j0j0, jolofsson, jtkattner, KDMan, liquid, lilichi, lupiroz, macmidiot, MrBajen, MissRedd, mkepler, pete, ponkey, PowerMatt, RAMZAR, RiGee, rfwilmut, thenownows, Trilobite2, wal4u, woodguy32, woofer3, yosL, zallaz, and 8monthmalfaction. I am honored to have a brilliant and supportive dissertation committee, including Frank Gunderson, Michael Bakan, Gary Burnett, and Stephen McDowell. Each of them have brought unique perspectives to this project and their diverse insights have served to strengthen my understanding of the social and cultural environment of Internet musicians. I am grateful to Frank Gunderson, my advisor, for his constant support, creativity, and ability to conceptualize this project with me. His expression of faith in my abilities has often helped me overcome my own lack of confidence and, thus, enabling me to write this dissertation. Michael Bakan has stood in my corner since before I arrived at Florida State University. His thoroughness and attention to details encourages me to always try harder and his unwavering commitment to my success at FSU and beyond is greatly appreciated. Gary Burnett has contributed vital insights into the social practices of online communities and his thorough understanding of the setting for my field research has been a tremendous support. Stephen McDowell has been helpful in directing me to consider connections to communication and media studies and has also provided helpful insights concerning issues of copyright and ownership. iii I would also like to express my gratitude to my other faculty advisors and student colleagues who have helped me sustain my commitment to this project over the years by offering their advice, support, and most of all, an enthusiasm for my research topic. Jeffery Kite-Powell provided wonderful warmth, support, and advice as I adjusted to graduate school and learned to balance my studies with my responsibilities as a new father. Throughout my graduate studies, Douglass Seaton has showed unfailing support and commitment to my success as a musicologist and educator, and he has provided me with a model in leadership as well. I am particularly grateful to Robbie Fry, Plamena Kourtova, Pacho Lara, and Pete Hoesing, each of whom has extended great friendship and mutual support throughout our graduate studies and research endeavors. They have devoted many, many hours to sharing ideas, reading my half-baked drafts, and commiserating in the trials and difficulties of graduate school and dissertation research. I am also grateful for the Carol Krebs Scholar Award for Dissertation Research and the Florida State University Dissertation Research Grant, both of which provided funds for computer hardware and software necessary for connecting with the many fine musicians on iCompositions and for participating in their community. In addition to these awards, my research has been supported by several unsolicited private donations. I am very mindful of the sacrifices of others who have eased my burden and thank them deeply for their generosity. I would like to offer my gratitude to my parents, Jim and Marva Harvey, who have encouraged me throughout this project and my entire graduate career. Their love and support has been consistent not just throughout this project, but throughout my life. Above all, however, I would like to extend my greatest appreciation and love to my family for all that they have been willing to sacrifice for me. My wife, Sara, has demonstrated a love so deep and a commitment so secure that the completion of this project was never a question. I have been encouraged by my son, Quinter, who built his own desk next to mine and worked on his dissertation as I worked on mine. And in the final months of writing, my daughter, Annika, became my greatest cheerleader, encouraging me toward the completion of my “concertation.” Thank you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ...............................................................................................................................ix List of Audio Examples ..............................................................................................................xiii Note on Style and Abbreviations.............................................................................................xviii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................xix OVERTURE: Stupid Wars: The Battle Against The Infinite Campus.....................................xx Intro ........................................................................................................................................xx The Jedi Left Behind..........................................................................................................xxiii Escape to the Funk Zone....................................................................................................xxiv The Skirmish.......................................................................................................................xxvi Help Us UFO......................................................................................................................xxvii The Final Battle ................................................................................................................xxviii The Great PM ...................................................................................................................xxxiii CHAPTER 1: Introduction...........................................................................................................1 Purpose .....................................................................................................................................2 Background and Significance .................................................................................................4 Web 2.0 and the Rise of User-Generated Content............................................................... 5 GarageBand and the Digital Lifestyle .................................................................................6 Review of Literature................................................................................................................7 Music and Technology.........................................................................................................8 Music, Community, and the Internet ...................................................................................9 Community and Music as Social Action............................................................................11 Mediating Social Life through