Implications of Extremity: the Digital Nexus between Black Metal Subculture and Right-Wing Extremism
Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0002-8376-0867
Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Frankie Mastrangelo
Second Advisor
Volkan Aytar
Third Advisor
Rohan Kalyan
Abstract
This study seeks to examine and offer potential explanatory frameworks for the apparent phenomenon of right-wing and similar extreme ideologies in the context of the musical subgenre of black metal and its corresponding subculture. Using Robinson’s (2007) analysis of classical symbolic interactionist theorists (Goffman, Cooley, Mead) in the context of digital spaces, this study conducted digital ethnography and discourse analysis of various online forums dealing with black metal and its subculture. In addition to this qualitative work, descriptive quantitative analysis of frequencies and proportions of thematic variables coded for extremity indicate that black metal does appear to have high instances of far-right-wing and similar ideologies. Future comparative study will help confirm this. Finally, this study establishes a typology of thematically dubious bands in the vein of Arnett’s (1993) typography of metal fans that will be useful in future analysis across genres and subcultures.
Rights
© Samuel G. Crawford
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
4-29-2024