Making a scene: an ethnography of participation in the St. John's independent rock music scene, circa 1985-1995

Abstract

This thesis is about participation and the memory culture of the live independent rock music scene in St. John's, Newfoundland, as it existed from the mid-1980s underground to a period of increased interest and popularity in the mid-1990s. Chapter One discusses my fieldwork methodology and applies some key terms used in the study of youth and music culture: subculture, scene, punk, indie, and alternative. Chapter Two places the scene in the context of Newfoundland music and culture, as well as examining its relationship to the culture and landscape of the downtown St. John's core. Chapter Three considers how the scene emerged under global and local influences and how its members participated at the gigs, while Chapter Four considers how musicians and fans participated in the scene in everyday life. Chapter Five presents the life and death of Fred Gamberg as a case study in scene participation and constructed memory. Chapter Six concentrates on various scene members' reflections on a recent past.