Date of Submission
Fall 2024
Academic Program
Psychology
Project Advisor 1
Elena Kim
Abstract/Artist's Statement
DIY music spaces are more than venues—they are living expressions of subculture and resistance, fostering creativity, community, and identity outside of institutional constraints and traditional frameworks through grassroots initiative. This study explores people’s experiences in Bard College’s DIY music spaces, SMOG and Root Cellar, using Photovoice, a participatory method blending photography and storytelling. These spaces aim to embody an ethos of inclusivity, anti-commercialism, and shared labor, offering participants a connection to personal and collective political, artistic, and social expression. Guided by Social Identity Theory, Sense of Community Theory, and Social Representation Theory, this study delves into how DIY spaces empower self-expression, shape social identities, and build meaningful relationships. While celebrating their transformative potential, this research also addresses challenges in these spaces, such as systemic inequalities, power dynamics, and structural limitations. Positioned uniquely within an institution like Bard College, this research bridges the academic discipline of psychology with the often-overlooked work and culture of DIY spaces, amplifying their significance. By expanding beyond conventional constraints—both in subject matter and methodology—this study brings institutional validity to these unconventional spaces, highlighting their transformative power and importance as sites of creativity, resistance, and innovation.
Open Access Agreement
Open Access
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Flynn-Murray, Kay, "DIY as a Space of Community Building and Identity Expression: A Photovoice Project" (2024). Senior Projects Fall 2024. 29.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/senproj_f2024/29
This work is protected by a Creative Commons license. Any use not permitted under that license is prohibited.