Detroit's rhythmic resistance: Electronic music and community pride.

Abstract

This ethnography focuses on the electronic music community in Detroit describing a vibrant example of the pride Detroiters hold for their city. It is an inquiry into the actualities of an urban place that, like many around the United States, is thought to be devoid of vitality. This dissertation is based on long term participant observation as well as formal and informal interviews. Examining the fact that the Detroit region is the most segregated metropolitan area in the country with sometimes fierce borders between city and suburb, this study questions how residential segregation affects urban cultural production; is this the reason that few people in the United States know that techno music was originated in Detroit by African American musicians? This dissertation describes the electronic music community in Detroit, including both techno and house musicians, as well as event promoters and fans, as an example of an organic community that offers a possible foundation upon which to build urban revitalization. The chapters contain examples from the daily experiences of the community, including descriptions of music events as well as the inner workings of Detroit techno's most successful independent distribution business, in order to let the participants of the scene demonstrate their civic commitment and community pride. After first locating techno firmly in Detroit by establishing its historical connections to the city, this dissertation discusses the international reach of Detroit techno and house musicians. I suspect that citizens of Detroit and other marginalized places have this in common: some part of their intense artistic creativity, as well as their reasons for using new media for international distribution, is because of their marginalization within their local context. My work will add a piece to the collective history of Detroit's electronic music community, while tying its importance to the city of Detroit's struggles and successes. This dissertation offers a glimpse of Detroit as a presence, including its challenges and struggles, rather than as simply an absence, highlighting only its problems. My research brings recognition to a community characterized by globally recognized talent, deep civic commitment, and independent business practices.