This new topic actually has presence in my life since both my older brother and younger brother are avid gamers. This idea didn’t really come to me until I was in the Office of Financial Services at the College of Charleston. The article was talking about how famous men are avid gamers and how they receive ridicule from mainstream culture because video games are a “boys” activity. This to me was of great importance because I realized just how important video games are to American culture, and more importantly, how great their influence is on “boys” my age. I can remember back to the age of about six years and watching my older brother playing on Atari and associated games with that system. Following a time line from six years of age to my age now, I am seeing the importance of video games and the culture associated thereof. Keeping up the neighbor mentality set in and my brothers and I had to keep up with the gaming system and associated games with those systems that were most popular. But this is no separate incident. Boys, and their parents, all over America and abroad had to keep up with the most popular game and gaming system. Thus the great “race for the moon” of the gaming systems began and it has never been the same since.

Gaining entrée to the gaming community shouldn’t be that hard of a task since I have been in and out of it since childhood. However I do not own any gaming systems and have not played video games in quite sometime. This does not hinder me from gaining entrance however because the gaming community is very open and friendly. This research can begin as of right now because I know a great number of video gamers and getting into the culture of video gaming only requires you to buy the respective gaming system and game. Also although the gaming community is rather splintered, that does not mean one can not gain access to a particular niche of gaming community. An example would be if you are an X-box 360^tm owner or a Sony Play-Station^tm owner and do not own the other that does not mean that you can not gain access to the gaming community. All you must do is have a gaming system and a game.

The physicality of my research site will not change because my site will be the gaming community and associated gaming equipment. If it does change it wouldn’t be the community itself, but rather the means to join the community through a different gaming system. This site will allow me to do a great deal of participant observation of varying degrees, unobtrusive observation, and interviews using both audio and written.

I truly think I have found a topic that will not only shine light on the gaming community, but also give an insight to a culture that is not fully understood. To be a gamer is to be a “boy” or a “girl” in a grown up world. Through this research however, I hope to show that even “grown” and “responsible” people play video games and lead a mainstream American life.

Some sample questions:

How long have you been playing video games? What was it like to play video games growing up? Did your parents buy you your system and games b/c it was what you wanted or did you tell your parents thats what you wanted b/c your friends had it? What games did you play growing up and which one was your favorite? least favorite? How often do you play? What kind of games do you play? What system do you use? Which system do you find superior? Which system has the best games?  Do you play with friends? if so, how often?

Second Set of questions will focus on just this semester thus far.

What games if any have you purchased this semester? How many hours on average this semester have you spent playing video games? Do you think that playing video games effects any aspect of your daily life? Has playing video games changed how you view the world? Do you as a person think that playing video games helps or hinders you? If either, both, or neither why so? do you think you will continue to play video games when you finish college? How about when you get married? Have Kids?

Set 3 questions will be a follow up of remainding questions from Set 2.

All Interviews will be done in both audio and written “fast” note style.

-Byron_

I am not sure yet whether my project is going to concentrate more on the facial expressions during storytelling or on what it is like growing up hearing in a deaf family.  Here are some questions for both topics:

1.  What was it like for you growing up hearing in a deaf family?

2. How do you think your experiences growing up in two separate cultures has affected you?

3.  What kind or role does storytelling play in deaf culture?

-Do you find deaf storytelling or hearing storytelling more expressive?

4.  What misconceptions about the deaf would you like to clarify for those who do not know very much about deaf culture.

****If anyone can think of any more questions let me know.  What kind of questions would YOU, personally, want to ask a hearing person who grew up in a deaf household?

Background

When you listen to music, especially jazz, you become emerged in a complex and layered communication. My primary focus is going to decipher the language of jazz. I may go about this in a few ways. First, I’m going to compare learning to play jazz to language acquisition. This involves interviewing musicians about their experiences in learning, exploring questions like innate vs. learned ability, proficiency, and fluency. I’m also going to look at the different styles of jazz (there are many being played in Charleston) as different dialects or accents within the language. Jazz is an inherently eclectic music, and it would be interesting to sift out some of the cultural underpinnings of jazz performers and their preferred style of jazz. Also, what are the musicians expressing or attempting to express through their music? What does this say about the jazz culture and spirit, and do they feel their communication is effective or that their language is adequate?

Additionally, I’d at the language and of jazz on a more tangible level. This includes analyzing communication of jazz musicians, both amongst each other and between the audience, examining proxemics, inaudible communication, and the influence of the jam space.

Lastly, it would be interesting to see how the jazz language has coped with technological change. The creation of new ‘words’ aka new musical concepts, techniques, and abilities could be examined. Has jazz lost its heritage or has it redefined itself to stay relevant in a world of unthinkable technological advancement?

Some sample interview questions

• Was learning to play jazz a conscious experience?
• When did you first see yourself as a jazz musician?
• How much of playing jazz is do you feel is imitation/emulation and how much is original?
• To what extent is learning to play jazz a developmental process?
• How important is the audience to your performance?
• What is your ideal venue? Audience?
• What are you trying to achieve through your music?
• Who are you trying to reach?

(I’m open to ideas and suggestions)

Fieldsite Selection

My participant-observation field site for the semester is a bar and music venue called Voodoo in West Ashley. Although it is known for hosting a variety of music, it is known for its unique atmosphere and is a good spot to experience a more raw and improvisational style of jazz.

The setting is ideal for my research. It is only a short drive away, and I have reliable transportation so it should not be a problem. Jazz is played on the weekends, which are open for me this semester. The venue is comfortable and has good ambiance. From my first few visits, I can tell it is a popular spot and draws a diverse crowd. Anyone from college students, young professionals, and older people pack in to hear the tunes. The venue is interesting in that it is divided in two, with an area for the music and the bar on the other side. The contrast is funny, as atmosphere is so much different on either side of the wall.

The demographic mixture of the people to me is a good sign. I’m looking at this as an opportunity to get different viewpoints, perspectives, and opinions in my interviews. At the same time it is slightly intimidating approaching people I across racial or generational gaps especially if I do not know them. However, I’m sure this will get easier as time goes on and I get more comfortable in the field. I don’t think I will have any problem psychologically accessing the venue and its people. Jazz is played on Saturday nights, which seems to be a well known fact to even casual observers of the Charleston music scene. Like many venues around the city, they have their designated night for jazz, featuring different bands and styles from week to week.

Conducting field work should be pretty viable in this setting. There is a good amount of seating, open space, and room to move about and set up and relocate if necessary. I think this is definitely possible to carry out in an unobtrusive manner. Conducting interviews with the musicians may initially difficult, as they have their priorities. Nonetheless, video, picture taking, and interviews should be fine. Participant observation is one thing I would absolutely love to engage in. Just being in attendance and listening and reacting to the music is participant observation in a sense. However, I would actually like to play or simply jam with some jazz musicians. I have been playing guitar and bass guitar for the better part of a decade, and I think it would be a learning experience to engage in jazz culture. This too can be intimidating because these musicians are so skilled and talented.

In terms of gaining entrée and special access to the music world, I have spoke with several people. A few students in our class have been kind enough to hook me up with their friends through the college that play throughout the city. I’ve also talked with half a dozen or so owners of restaurants/bars that host jazz. I’ve explained my project and they seem interested and willing to help. I’ve also met a few avid jazz fans at Voodoo, who gave me some great insight into the Charleston jazz scene and just jazz as a whole. These folks may prove to be my most valuable and reliable source of information.

Note: there are literally dozens of venues in Charleston and surrounding areas that host jazz. Astoundingly, I have yet to find one place dedicated to exclusively playing jazz. Also, due to the number of places and scheduling of the music, I have not made it to every venue. This should be accomplished in about a week’s time. I’ve heard people raving about this club or that club, so it should be interesting to if I can find that one amazing place that is even better than Voodoo in terms of music, vibe, and accommodation.

If anyone knows of any cool venues or has connections in the Charleston jazz world please let me know, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone has any suggestions or ideas regarding my project I’m welcoming any and all feedback