#Detroit Music City: Analyzing Detroit’s Musical Urban Imaginary Through a Cultural Justice Lens

Abstract

In this article, the ways murals can become symbols of both heritage and divisive gentrification processes are analyzed in the context of the contemporary media city. Taking the case of Detroit, USA, how is the urban imaginary of the “music city” mediated through street art, and its meaning reconstituted and reframed in the contemporary networked mediasphere? Applying a cultural justice perspective, a selection of Detroit music murals, their Instagram lives, and the public debates surrounding three specific street art projects are analyzed along (1) the symbologies of place the murals represent, (2) the historiographies of space attached to the murals, (3) the social ties and community networks that keep the murals in place or protest their presence. This study shows that the proposed cultural justice framework offers an opportunity to more fully understand how cultural materialities such as murals shape mediated public space in areas of gentrification.

Exploring the Multidimensional Construction of Cultural Identity through Music Elements of Chinese Suzhou Pingtan

“…They found that music plays a crucial role in conveying identity, especially by creating emotional bonds that impact how listeners identify with it. Moreover, how music evolves and spreads across different cultures reveals its societal impact on shaping and redefining cultural identity (Savage, 2019;Lewis et al, 2021;Bolderman, 2022). This viewpoint deepens our understanding of how the cultural significance of traditional music changes in modern contexts.…”

“…It offers enjoyment as a focused representation and vehicle for cultural identity. Different musical styles symbolically embody particular cultures through their unique tunes, rhythms, and lyrics, mirroring their historical roots and societal nuances (Bolderman, 2022;Neiger et al, 2011). This study explores how music functions as a representation of cultural identity from the perspectives of Semiotics, ethnomusicology, and music history.…”

“…Cultural identity involves a deep understanding and intense feeling of connection to a specific culture by individuals or groups. It provides the basis for personal development and societal progress (Savage, 2019;Bolderman, 2022). As a highly impactful cultural medium, music plays a vital role in shaping and expressing cultural identity (Lewis et al, 2021).…”

Loss and change: Culture narratives in old industrial regions in East Germany

“…Furthermore, the paper shifts the perspective from metropolitan culture narratives and strategies to small town actors’ strategies to include culture in regional development. Shadowed by research on such ‘paradigmatic’ cases as Bilbao (e.g., Ortega Nuere & Bayon, 2015) or Detroit (e.g., Bolderman, 2022), smaller, peripheral places are less visible, and research on the role of culture and narratives in their development strategies is still in an early stage (Lorentzen & van Heur, 2012; Lysgård, 2016).…”