Problem framing

How can we enable or enhance the way people socialize by using music in the local context of Malmö?

Conflict (Brainstorming)

Conflict 1:
while music serves as a way to express oneself’s value and the feelings of the current moment, it creates a tension in social occassions when different values and feelings collide. (I try to make it in a broader sense, so it does not specifically point to only music taste)

p.s. this reminded me of what Helge talked about how radio only plays the music that people will not dislike. We have a lot of services (as Jörn pointed out in the literature list) helping people to find likely-minded people, but we haven’t yet found services in the other way around. seems a interesting idea to think about~

grounds of research for the arguments can be two articles from Jörn:
1. bentley et al,  how people associate media sharing with  story telling of events and emotions

2.  Listening in article(itunes): how people try to express their identity according to how other people might think of them

(I am not completely satisfied with the research listed above, you guys might have better suggestions, I am satisficing for the current moment )

A suggested revision of Qualities

(thoughts are commented in the original post)

Expressivity

(why? desires and needs to be noticed, to make sure oneself matters and make a difference to the world)

Music as a way to express identity and values, to show who I am and why I am special, as a way to be noticed

Example1: Taste of music is filled with a connotation that is distributed to others.

Example2: People ask about each other´s music taste when they first meet because they think it tells a lot about one´s character

Example3: Upload own-created music on the Internet or Transfer them to strangers by Bluetooth, and see how other people react to the music(downloads, comments, fans email)

Communication

(why? desires and needs to be understood, feel a sense of belonging)

Music breaks the ice

Example: Music is used when you get together, in a social setting such as a party and the music enhances, and creates the situation.

Music helps to find likely-minded people that don’t exist in current social network
Example: Music can help you find new people, the similar preference of music is the link to an unknown person (for example, looking at people in file sharing-program, profiles on Myspace.com, talking about music to a stranger at a party )

Music as a way to express feelings for the current moment
Example1: People listen to different music in different occassions
Example2: while the music in the background while doing other activities, playlist/current songs are constantly changed

Music as a way to understand each other and a continuous communication channel

Example1: Music is a topic that is frequently discussed (for example MSN-sharing, Bluetooth-sharing at school, at a party).

Example2: Mixed tape/CD/Playlist exchange

Music provides a ground for social experiences
Example: People meet in situations where music is the connecting link, for example going to concerts.

A (relatively broad) Problem Framing

How can we enable or enhance the way people socialize by using music?

Qualities

Expression

Music is used to express an identity and values
Example: Taste of music is filled with a connotation that is distributed to others.Example: People ask about each other´s music taste when they first meet because they think it tells a lot about one´s character

Music is a way to build a group identity -this one i don’t really understand
Example: Music as a connecting factor and common ground.

Music is used to express emotions – is it more a personal experience rather than social aspect that you are trying to express urself to other? Example: When playing, or choosing music

Experiencing

-the more i look at this category, the more i feel that the following seems to be an extension of communication rather than an “Experiencing” category of its own

Listening to Music together is a collective experience
Example: Music is used when you get together, in a social setting such as a party and the music enhances, and creates the situation.

Music provides a ground for social experiences
Example: People meet in situations where music is the connecting link, for example going to concerts.

Communication
Music is a topic of communication
Example: Music is a topic that is frequently discussed (for example MSN-sharing, Bluetooth-sharing at school, at a party).

Music is a way to influence other people
- this one i don’t really understand, i think “influence” to me, it’s more like you change the way people think and do things, however music can make people dance, can create a feeling, seems to be a natural response how people will react to the music normally, rather than an influence or an impact
Example: Music can make people dance.
Example: Music can create a feeling.

Music creates communication links
Example: Music can help you find new people, the similar preference of music is the link to an unknown person (for example, looking at people in file sharing-program, profiles on Myspace.com, talking about music to a stranger at a party )