Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Music
First Advisor
Aleysia Whitmore
Second Advisor
Sarah Morelli
Third Advisor
Kelly Fayard
Fourth Advisor
Alejandro Cerón Valdes
Keywords
Ethics of care, Exploitation, Labor, Marching arts, Music, Music instructors
Abstract
Workers across the United States are reckoning with unfair labor conditions by unionizing and speaking out. Systemic undervaluing of many workers has created a climate of fear, hidden agendas, and pervasive labor misconduct. The pageantry/marching arts are no exception. As a cultural insider, I conducted interviews, had many informal conversations, and ran a large survey that uncovered how the marching arts exploit instructors extensively despite their experience, education, and efforts. A systematic proclivity toward late payments, abused contracts, egregiously low compensation, and free labor begs the question: how can programs continually mistreat instructors this way? I explore this question through five themes developed from my own ethnography and scholarship in ethnomusicology, labor, sociology, and cultural policy. I hope to uplift the voices of instructors fighting for their worth in an industry that rarely gives as much as it takes and propose solutions for lasting change.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Odekirk, Malia, "A Labor of Love: Extensive Exploitation of Contract Music Workers" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2073.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2073
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Rights holder
Malia Odekirk
File size
62 pgs
Copyright date
2022
File format
application/pdf
Language
en
Discipline
Music, Labor relations