The Music Never Stopped: Shifting Notions of Authenticity Amongst Deadheads

The purpose of this study is to explore the concept of subculture and its meanings in today's discourse. I will also examine the post-subculture concept of neo-tribe and the differences between the two concepts. It is also my intention to show how subcultural groups undergo crises of authenticity in membership. By analyzing the Deadheads, the group of loyal fans surrounding the band the Grateful Dead, as a case study I will explore several factors contributing to a crisis of authenticity in membership within the subculture: the internet, the death of Jerry Garcia, and commercialization. I will also examine how the concept of subculture has evolved over time and been replaced with concepts such as the neo-tribe.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Department dc:contributor.department

Sociology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Chapman, Nathaniel Gray

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Ryan, John W.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hughes, Michael D.
• Harrison, Anthony Kwame
• Precoda, Karl R.

• subculture
• neo-tribe
• authenticity
• Jamband
• Deadhead

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-11292011-103517

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35849