Music and Homelessness in Austin, Texas

Homelessness is a critical problem in America today. In Austin, some homeless people attempt to earn income by busking, playing music for monetary donations. In this thesis I will present findings based on field research among homeless buskers in Austin taking care to include many of my own experiences as a former homeless busker. Using a phenomenological framework, I will present case studies of three key informants that illustrate their subjective lifeworld experiences as they have been explained to me. In addition to reflecting upon these individuals’ life stories, I will place their narratives in the context of American homelessness. This thesis will add an account of the life experiences of these three homeless buskers to the ethnographic record.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Anthropology

Grantor

Texas State University-San Marcos

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Dees, Eric

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Warms, Richard L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• McGee, R. Jon
• Brunson, Emily K.

• music
• homelessness
• busking
• phenomenology

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/4242

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/4242