Maggie
Urbaniec

"Dislike as alternativity" in Short Takes on Alternativity – BCMCR New Thinking #1 2020/21

Short piece written as part of the zine-style publication exploring the research theme at the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research. Alternativity and dislike go hand in hand, I argue. Dislike is a powerful emotion showing opposition to the other. "Dislike of the mainstream may be alternativity in one of its purest forms. Describing music you like, you may start off by saying what you do not like first, to quicker establish your boundaries".

You can read the whole piece via the PDF link on the BCMCR blog post about the zine launch here.

MA dissertation - The role of personal taste on the work of music programmers in small to medium scale radio stations across Europe.

At the centre of this study are cultural workers who select and program the music in small to medium radio stations around Europe. Their occupation could be seen as one of Gramscian organic intellectuals or, as per Bourdieu (1984), of cultural intermediaries. This research investigates how personal taste influences their work and their negotiation thereof. The data collected includes stations in the United Kingdom, Germany and Netherlands, finding significant similarities in their approaches, despite differences in format or size. The participants were interviewed in a semi-structured way over instant messenger or email, as well as one per phone call. They were asked about their music policy and schedule, work practices and personal music tastes. This research uncovers tools at the cultural intermediaries' disposal, discusses conflicting definitions of the cultural intermediary occupation, as well as local music as an exemption to the politics of taste. It contributes to expand dislike research approaches beyond the audience focus, prevalent in the studies of the field thus far.

Researching Media Cultures module

This assignment aims to expand upon using shared playlist creation as a methodological approach. Similarly to the xChange Festival Feminist Playlist, contributors were encouraged to send in three songs with a description which they associated with the given theme – in this case, guilty pleasure.

Selected by staff for the BCU Inspired showcase.

Cultural Theory module

Following a number of semi-structured interviews through online messaging, this paper explores the experience of departure from fandom using the case study of SuperWhoLock ex-fans. SuperWhoLock is a fan-made crossover universe of Supernatural (CW, 2005-2020), Doctor Who (BBC, 2005-) and Sherlock (BBC, 2010-2017). This research focusses on subsequent experience of embarrassment about their participation in particular, additionally uncovering the controversial aspects of online fandom cultures, the shows' scripts, as well as actions of cast and crews. It also contributes to the growing field of anti-fandom and ex-fan studies, shedding light onto the transition from like to dislike.