Blog #2 – Review of Beverly Diamonds Research Approaches and Methods

Beverly Diamonds book Native American Music in Eastern North America discusses issues surrounding the music through a cultural context. The importance of placing her study in relation to the originating culture provides a succinct explication of the topic, whereas a study of the music alone would fail to highlight the important background, growth and influences the music contains in relation to its culture. It is evident through her analysis that ethnomusicologists must abide by a certain rule of ethic that allows for the most just representation of a topic; especially when a culture's sensitivity to outsiders and the lack of proper representation in the past have skewed the present image. Diamond outlines 4 challenges she encountered: to present the culture not as monolithic but as distinctive various cultures; speaking as an outsider; language barriers; and the preconceived stereotypes and underrepresented indigenous modernities.

Indigenous culture has previously been generalized as monolithic. Diamond clearly outlines this mistake and throughout her analysis, focuses on the differences within the respective cultures. An obvious challenge yet advantage for Diamond is her own cultural heritage. This difference allows her to take on objective approach when analyzing the music and culture, but the loom of over generalization is a challenge, which Diamond is clearly aware of. Language is another culturally based difference and with many dialects and variances between communities the challenge is heightened. A translator helps in these situations, but in most cases, the essence of the language is not retained. As Diamond explains, languages such as English are noun-based, causing problems when trying to translate from verb-based indigenous languages. The last challenge of stereotypes and modernities is overcome by presenting different examples of music, artists and cultural practices of the various indigenous communities. One example is how Traditional Indigenous Knowledge is fused and adapted with modern techniques and practices to create indigenous modernities.

Diamond utilizes various methods and approaches while compiling her research: personal correspondence and interviews, an advisory committee of elders and respectable individuals, electronic resources, books and media. Rather than basing her research on previous studies, Diamond makes personal contact with the communities and artists in order to formulate an accurate description. What can I learn from Diamonds approaches and methods in relation to my research? What types of challenges will I have to overcome?

By analyzing Diamonds modes of research, I am learning techniques in which to apply to my research. Since the intended area of research has yet to be studied, primary sources such as interviews and personal correspondence will play an important role. Similarly to the advisory committee, there is a group of individuals I can consult regarding Baha'i-related issues/sensitivities called the Local Spiritual Assembly. Made of nine individuals from the Baha'i community of Regina, this assembly oversees the spiritual and administrative needs of the community at a local level. This assembly is also formed at the National and International level. Other sources to consult include books on hip-hop/rap culture like Adam Krimms "Rap music and the poetics of identity" and Baha'i books such as compilations issued by the Universal House of Justice on Baha'i-inspired music. Recorded media will play a major role, as the rap lyrics will be analyzed for its Baha'i-related content. Other resources to be consulted include online fan-based sources, such as MySpace and Facebook. Since online-social networks are growing to be an important aspect of global culture, it is interesting to see how such sites can create communities around artists that may not have been able to break through the international scene otherwise.

A challenge I foresee for myself is how to present Baha'i-inspired hip-hop music in a non-biased approach. Being a Baha'i myself, I have grown up in the religion. I am also a hip-hop enthusiast and some of the individuals to be interviewed are social friends whom I have performed with in the past. I will need to learn how to step back and present the study from an objective view, rather than a subjective one. I would like to assume that my diversity as an individual and musician would allow to me undertake such a project with little challenges, but I realize that my own preconceived notions of what Baha'i-inspired hip-hop music is may distract the issue at hand; that is to present the topic in a scholarly manner to an audience that has little or no information about the study without glorifying or depreciating it.