Dissertation Naming
So, I have to apply for advancement to Doctoral Candidacy this week. I am not totally sure what in the world that means, but it is the last step before I can defend my dissertation.
Among other things, I am required to commit to a title (and therefore a topic) for my dissertation. Most of the thing still doesn’t exist (at least not in any tangible, recognizable form), but that is irrelevant. All I need right now is a title. This is where you come in—I am taking suggestions for my dissertation’s title.
To be as basic as possible, my dissertation is about mashups—a style of music made completely from “mashing” pre-existent recordings together to create new music. I am trying to do two things: first, I want to make a defense for this type of creativity. Obviously this type of music is somewhat controversial and is (mostly) illegal, but there is actually a clear historical precedent for “recycling” old ideas…Second, I want to examine the priorities and aesthetics of these mashup artists. What things remain constant? What things stand out as seeming more important?
So, if you have some sort of brilliant idea as to what this thing should be called, please let me know! It seems like dissertations love two-part titles—some clever “hook” (colon) something filed with -isms and fancy sounded words.
Here are some ideas I’ve thrown around:
“Whose Music is it Anyway?: Mashup Priorities and Aesthetics”
“Toward an Aesthetics of the Mashup”
“Whose Music is it Anyway?: Mashups, Aesthetics, and the Creative Process”
“Motivation, Priorities, and Aesthetics in Sample-Based Music”
Oh, and if you give me a winner of a title I’ll take you out to dinner or something…even if you live far away, I’ll fly out to you (or fly you to me) and we’ll celebrate!
Wow! That’s a generous offer! I want to get taken out to dinner. So here it is: “Mashups Then and Now.” I know. So original. Actually, I like the ones that begin with “Whose Music is it Anyway?”
“Do the Mash Potato: The Aesthetics of Mashups and Sample-based music”
(I like Thai food.)
“No Matter How You Slice it, it’s Still Mashed; The Art of Stealing Made Legal. Or Gleaning From the Best to Make Bestest.”
(I’m on a diet)
We’re all influenced by the music we listen to anyway, so the inspiration comes from someone else. Is that stealing? Too Long huh? Oh well I’ll go back to writing poetry While listening to Music. Never mind.