Thesis
The Dynamic Range of Songwriter Activism: Musical Approaches to the Cultural Aspects of Climate Change
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Master of Creative Arts, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00978
Abstract
The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reconfirms unequivocally that human activities are warming the Earth with immense implications and for the first time includes the significance of social aspects of mitigation. Subsequently, scientists are calling on creative industries practitioners to increase their engagement in the cultural aspects of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and communication. Whilst significant research positions music as an essential and unifying element of cultural shifts and social movements, there is comparatively little on how songwriting can generate and influence climate change discourse. This research asks: How can prominent songwriters with experience in varying approaches to musical activism contribute valuable knowledge toward future praxis and musical engagement with the cultural aspects of climate change mitigation, adaptation and communication? This thesis views the problem through Burke’s Dramatism theory, with linkages to framing theory and social movement theory, under the umbrella of moderate social constructionism. The methods include Reflexive Thematic Analysis of semi-structured interviews with professional songwriters Jack Johnson, Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), and Holly Rankin (Jack River) contextualised with a bricolage of two song analysis models. The findings illuminate specific songwriting techniques, broader approaches, acknowledge challenges associated with musical activism, and present tools to navigate tensions. I propose the Dynamic Range of Musical Activism (DRMA) continuum to emphasise the range of strategies used by professional songwriters, including established methods of loud and quiet activism. This research aims to provide a resource to support and encourage songwriter engagement with cultural aspects of climate change mitigation, adaptation and communication with an emphasis on the variety of strategies available.
Details
- Title
- The Dynamic Range of Songwriter Activism: Musical Approaches to the Cultural Aspects of Climate Change
- Authors
- Shannon Carroll - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
- Contributors
- Lachlan Goold (Principal Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Healthy Ageing Research ClusterAndy Ward (Co-Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Healthy Ageing Research ClusterBriony Luttrell (Co-Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Master of Creative Arts
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00978
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991183945702621
- Output Type
- Thesis
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