Coventry University DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Re-Framing Music Festivals: Exploring Space, Solidarity, Spirituality and Self with Young People Buck-Matthews, Eveleigh Award date: 2018 Awarding institution: Coventry University Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of this thesis for personal non-commercial research or study • This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission from the copyright holder(s) • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 23. Sep. 2021 0 Re-Framing Music Festivals: Exploring Space, Solidarity, Spirituality and Self with Young People. By Eveleigh Buck-Matthews PhD April 2018 1 Re-Framing Music Festivals: Exploring Space, Solidarity, Spirituality and Self with Young People. By Eveleigh Buck-Matthews April 2018 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the University’s requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy /Master of Philosophy/Master of Research 4 Certificate of Ethical Approval Applicant: Eveleigh Buck-Matthews Project Title: Festivals: Spaces of Exception. This is to certify that the above named applicant has completed the Coventry University Ethical Approval process and their project has been confirmed and approved as Medium Risk Date of approval: 13 June 2015 Project Reference Number: P33576 6 Acknowledgements The undertaking and completion of this work could not have been done without the support and guidance of so many people, too numerous to mention. A village raised this PhD student, and I am extremely grateful to the peer groups, friends and kind-hearted academics that supported me along the way. To all the supervisors that have been along for the ride, your input and guidance have been invaluable. Thank you, Cat, Jess and Chris for getting me over the finishing line. A special mention to Fern who saw potential and gave this work her unwavering support, also to E.J for her thorough eye and kind words. To Dad and Steph, thank you for your unconditional love and support. I am forever grateful mum; you gave me the inspiration for this work, self-belief when I had none, unending emotional support and the loan of the cat. This work is dedicated to Grandad Bob, Coventrian and youth advocate. I have to end this with a heartfelt thanks to the Honey Badgers and all the research participants who made this eclectic PhD what it is today. 7 Abstract This thesis is concerned with the representation of young people at music festivals, it seeks to challenge common, negative and superficial perceptions of young people as they take part in these annual events. The analysis of empirical, qualitative and creative data gained at music festivals over a three-year period, has enabled a re-presentation of youth in relation to music festivals; empirical examples of youth spaces; and the potential for music festivals to offer an alternative blue print for youth society. The research offers a challenge to prevalent stereotypes and representations surrounding young people at music festivals. Furthermore, an investigation of these youth spaces, shows they are used by young people, to explore space, solidarity, spirituality and self. The research seeks to offer a counter cultural landscape created by young people. The development of immersive and participatory research methods has enabled stereotypes to be confronted. The work has advanced theory concerned with young people’s agency and enabled a new focus on the way young people construct and subvert space in music festivals in the UK. 8 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 Tables and Figures ......................................................................................................................................12 1. ....................................................................................................................................................................13 Chapter One - Introduction .........................................................................................................................13 1.1 The Research Landscape. .......................................................................................................13 1.2 Research Rationale. ..................................................................................................................21 1.3 Research Questions and Design ...........................................................................................22 1.3.1 Research Questions ...............................................................................................................22 1.3.2 Research Design......................................................................................................................25 1.4 Situating the Study....................................................................................................................26 1.4.1 Objectives ..................................................................................................................................27 1.4.2 Thesis Structure ......................................................................................................................28 1.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................35 2. ....................................................................................................................................................................37 Chapter Two – Representations of Music Festivals ...............................................................................37 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................37 2.2 Music Festival Space .....................................................................................................................38 2.2.1 Media Discourse about Music Festivals. ...........................................................................39 2.2.2 Media Framing and the Ministry of Defence. ...................................................................41 2.2.3 The Presentation of Young People at Music Festivals ..................................................44 2.2.4 Scholarly Perceptions of Young People and Festivals .................................................47 2.3 New Narratives and Theories of Space. ....................................................................................50 2.3.1 Festival Theory: Festivalesque ............................................................................................53 2.3.2 Social Production of Festival space ...................................................................................55 2.3.3 Temporal Autonomous Zone (TAZ) ....................................................................................58 2.3.4 Liminality ...................................................................................................................................59 2.4 Space and Power ............................................................................................................................62 2.5 Solidarity ...........................................................................................................................................64 2.5.1 Liquid Modernity ......................................................................................................................65 2.5.2 Resistance: Everyday Politics .............................................................................................68 2.5.3 Neo-tribal Communities .........................................................................................................73 2.5.4 Post-Subcultural Theory ........................................................................................................75 2.6 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................77 3. ....................................................................................................................................................................79 9 Chapter Three - Young People and Identity ............................................................................................79 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................79 3.2 Theorising Young People .............................................................................................................81 3.2.1 Moral