Geography 490c The Country and the City Fall 2009

Global Country Music

Discussion Questions

How do the Country Music scenes in Japan, the Netherlands, and Germany differ from each other? How are they similar? How do they differ from Australia?
Why did country music take off in Japan?
Why was country music popular among the middle and upper classes in Japan?
Why hasn't country music been popular in the Netherlands?
To what degree is country music symbolic of America?
To what degree is German, Japanese, and Dutch country music authentic?
What role does language play in the diffusion of country music?
Who is involved in popularizing country music in each of these countries? Is support for it grassroots? To what extent is it a function of economic globalization? What other factors are involved in the diffusion of country music both historically and today?
How important is similarity of cultural experience in the diffusion of country music?
To what extent might be conclude that country music is the music of economic restructuring?
In what contexts is country music seen as symbolic of the establishment or as symbolic of rebellion? How does where the music is heard affect how it is received?
How accurate is the description of country music as being socially conservative but economically liberal?
To what degree is country music an example of "fabricated authenticity" in which authenticity is not inherent in the music itself but where a constructed nostalgic authenticity serves contemporary needs?

Geo 490c The Country & the City Spring 2009 Department of Geography and Meteorology Valparaiso University
Today's Readings Furmanovsky, Michael. 2008. American Country Music in Japan: Lost Piece in the Popular Music History Puzzle. Popular Music & Society 31, no. 3 (July): 357-372. Erlanger, Steven. 2002. Berlin Journal; Germany's Cowpokes, Longing for the Big Sky - New York Times. New York Times, February 20. van Elteren, Mel. 1996. Country music in the Netherlands: Why it is still marginal? Popular Music & Society 20, no. 3 (Fall96): 53. Key Terms: fabricated authenticity	Global Country Music Discussion Questions How do the Country Music scenes in Japan, the Netherlands, and Germany differ from each other? How are they similar? How do they differ from Australia? Why did country music take off in Japan? Why was country music popular among the middle and upper classes in Japan? Why hasn't country music been popular in the Netherlands? To what degree is country music symbolic of America? To what degree is German, Japanese, and Dutch country music authentic? What role does language play in the diffusion of country music? Who is involved in popularizing country music in each of these countries? Is support for it grassroots? To what extent is it a function of economic globalization? What other factors are involved in the diffusion of country music both historically and today? How important is similarity of cultural experience in the diffusion of country music? To what extent might be conclude that country music is the music of economic restructuring? In what contexts is country music seen as symbolic of the establishment or as symbolic of rebellion? How does where the music is heard affect how it is received? How accurate is the description of country music as being socially conservative but economically liberal? To what degree is country music an example of "fabricated authenticity" in which authenticity is not inherent in the music itself but where a constructed nostalgic authenticity serves contemporary needs?

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