| dc.description.abstract | This thesis explores the role of music and media in contemporary conflict. In contemporary conflict, interstate war has given way to intrastate war, in which a state combats a group within its own territory. Because of the widespread accessibility of media such as the internet, and their undeniable role in contemporary conflict this thesis explores the role of music in media in contemporary conflict. First, this thesis dissects the nature of contemporary conflict and its main actors: the state, the international organisation and the armed group. Following this, I have given an analytical framework based on processes of framing, naming and identification, and the concept of propaganda. These processes are explained from the perspective of conflict studies. This framework has then been applied to two case studies that focus on the state level, leaving the other remaining actors for further study. In these case studies, the Dutch state and its videos concerning the armed forces are the main subject. In these case studies, two videos have been analysed using the analytical framework given, combined with a musical analysis. Through this, I have been able to determine that the role and functions of music in the media produced by the Dutch state rely on the use of musical tropes from western music history and film music and the audience’s connotations with these musical genres to strengthen the message found in the videos. With the analytical framework given, this paper is meant to serve as a start for further research onto the topic of music in media in contemporary conflict. | |
