‘Wigging people out’: youth music practice and mediated communities

Abstract

AbstractThis paper explores the use of integrated media in the cultural practices of young people, not only as a manifestation of the new economy ‘on the ground’ but also for its vitally important function of developing a stronger sense of social identity and social cohesion, and for self‐making (Battaglia, 1995) and community building in the contemporary world of blended work and leisure. I argue that young people's use of convergent media forms—music, mobile phones, blogging, websites, the Internet, desktop publishing, digital cameras—can also bring to the fore new forms of agency, networking, collaboration and trust; aspects that make the risky creation and representation of the self and a sense of belonging in a shifting world seem more manageable and worthwhile. Drawing on Playing for Life (www.playingforlife.org.au), a longitudinal, ethnographic and cross‐cultural research project studying marginalized young people's media practices, I argue that youth involvement with such practices frequently serves as valuable pathways for identity work, training and social inclusion. This engagement not only facilitates a greater sense of belonging to existing social and familial networks, but also provides opportunities to create new experiential communities based on music, the arts and other leisure activities. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.