Heavy metal as a profession?: The Mexican heavy metal scene and its effects as an informal and non-formal learning space
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Through the far-reaching social change experienced in modern society, spaces and places of learning increasingly transform. Schools, training companies and universities remain important, albeit formal, educational institutions; however, informal and non-formal learning spaces increasingly gain attention when it comes to the acquisition of work-related knowledge and competences. Even though in recent years, youth and music cultures have focused more on learning in general and knowledge in particular, research about the educational potential of heavy metal has remained a blind spot, seldom garnering any attention. Therefore, the article illustrates, from a biographical perspective, what influence the Mexican heavy metal scene has had on the acquisition of work-related competences and how these settings can be considered spaces and places of informal and non-formal learning. The underlying educational possibilities as well as different modalities of learning are illustrated. To record the biographies of participants from the Mexican heavy metal scene, autobiographical interviews were conducted. These autobiographical-narrative interviews allowed for the analyses of certain individual cases as well as the underlying societal structures and patterns. The results are illustrated with the help of a case study. Ultimately, the study showcases the biographical development of an individual’s life and the ways in which the spaces and places connected to heavy metal in this individual’s life offered key educational moments. Thus, the educational potential of the Mexican heavy metal scene for the acquisition of work-related knowledge is determined.
Source: Metal Music Studies
DOI: 10.1386/mms_00039_1
Author: André Epp
Institution: Karlsruhe University of Education
Language: English
Topic: Music History and Culture
Subfield: Music
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3130034618