Metal in Utrecht: The metal scene and the issues of identity in a cosmopolitan city

Abstract

This thesis proposes the concept of the ‘scene’ as the most convenient framework to investigate the metal musical collectivity according to the issues of globalization and identity in order to provide an actual research on the field of popular music studies and the field of the metal music as well. Thus, it will be detailed the reasons why the concept of ‘scene’ is pertinent as a social formation and activity in comparison with other concepts often used on similar studies and how it will be presented in the metal musical collectivity. Furthermore, following the framework of the scene concept, the issues of globalization such as the recognition of an urban ethos, the global cultural flows and the presence of the music industry on heavy metal music will be displayed to grasp what the scene actually encompasses and how they are being developing until now. In addition, the stereotypes around the metal music and community will be investigated to establish an overview of what to expect on the heavy metal scene nowadays in comparison with older approaches to metal music. Finally, the theoretical analysis will be contrasted with ethnographic research focused on the city of Utrecht as our case study, with a brief scope of the Dutch metal scene previously, in order to examine the development of the metal scene in Utrecht encompassing the elements mentioned throughout the study.