"Listen to these Speakers": Swedish Hi-fi Enthusiasts, Gender, and Listening <br> doi:10.5429/2079-3871(2010)v1i2.5en

Authors

  • Sara Jansson University of Gothenburg, Department of Cultural Sciences, Musicology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5429/332

Keywords:

music technology, gender, high fidelity, listening, subcultural capital

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore the practices of Swedish hi-fi enthusiasts from a gender perspective. It builds on the assumption that hi-fi enthusiasts may be understood as participants in a subculture, the structure of which provides a possible explanation to its masculine gender coding. The empirical material is based on interviews with hi-fi enthusiasts, with questions centering on aspects such as music technology, gender, and listening. Two primary aspects of the subculture are discussed: a) the acquisition of subcultural capital (Thornton 1995), and b) ways of listening.

Author Biography

Sara Jansson, University of Gothenburg, Department of Cultural Sciences, Musicology

University of Gothenburg, Department of Cultural Sciences, Musicology PhD Student Idioms: English and Swedish Sara Jansson is currently writing her PhD thesis on music technology and gender in Sweden from the early 20th century until today. It examines the use of as well as the collecting of artefacts of music technology, and has as its main focus the reception of, rather than the production of, music. Her previous works have centered around popular music, music technology, and gender as well as the No Wave scene.

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Published

20-01-2011

Issue

Section

Articles – Open Section