The me you see: The creative identity as constructed in music documentaries

Abstract

Stereotypically, creative people are considered intelligent, immature, demanding, aware, receptive, autonomous, flexible, introverted, self-confident, unconventional and asocial. They are driven by a desire to create, peer acceptance and, to an extent, commercial gain. They negotiate their creative persona by seeking validation from others. Accordingly, creative people are active agents in the negotiation of their identities, and they can communicate their attitudes and feelings towards their work through the stories depicted in documentaries. Netflix has released several documentaries capturing the creative process and projects of musicians and singers, which offer a ‘behind the scenes’ account of what it is like working in the music industry. These same documentaries offer insights into what it means to be a creative navigating the trappings of project-based work, questions of authenticity, audience and management demands, and the pressures of making successful music. The purpose of this research is to use thematic analysis to explore the documentaries of Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande and Queen + Adam Lambert for how they conceptualize the creative identity and whether they maintain or challenge the stereotypes that continue to be perpetuated in the media.