Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on August 7, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-99).

"Floaters" are a large population of internal migrants in China. Led by a series of urban-based economic policies and the consequent income gap between rural and urban regions, these former peasants left their hometowns, floating temporarily and illegally in the cities for economic opportunities. Without legal immigration status, they are marginalized by local urbanites and are considered by the government as disobedient citizens with the potential to jeopardize the socialist society. This dissertation, drawing on two years' ethnographic and archival research in China, examines the basic characteristics of floaters' musical world and focuses on three representative musical components. The first is a repertory called Sour Songs, which originates from floaters' rural hometowns and serves as an outlet for release of nostalgia and spiritual pain. The second, Red Songs, is a genre invented by the communist government that has become an effective propaganda tool and is characterized as "a powerful bolt of the revolutionary machine" in the floaters' world. Finally, Rock 'n' Roll, the only musical form in China that signifies both urbanity and revolt, is used by floaters to display their special identity and to express themselves when they are silenced in the broader society. This dissertation reveals hidden meanings in floaters' music-making and suggests that the study of this overlooked musical community could provide new perspectives on Chinese music at large. / Music

The music of He Yong and Zhang Chu, two of the Three Heroes of Magic Stone, has played an integral part in the development of Chinese rock. Often relegated to footnotes in the music’s history, this thesis aims to prove their cultural and musical significance during the late-eighties and early-nineties of China’s Reform and Opening period. The term “voices against an era” was chosen to define He Yong and Zhang Chu’s role as rock musicians with alternative voices during this historical period, with an investigation of the term’s role in creating an alternate dialogue. To do this, I first define what it means to be a “voice of a generation” and “cultural hero” and the mythicizing of these terms as a method of crafting a dominant discourse supporting the illusion of economic reform and globalization. He Yong and Zhang Chu’s implication in the myth is explored through their record company’s promotion of them as “heroes.” I follow this up by establishing the artists as alternative voices utilizing the tools of “noise” and “poetry” to present an alternative depiction of China’s Reform and Opening. Chinese societal issues such as identity loss, alienation, the negative effects of modernity, nature, freedom, and social pressure are then identified and analyzed as central themes in six of the artists’ songs. Lastly, I examine how He Yong and Zhang Chu navigated the paradox of fame to influence subsequent generations of rock musicians and fans through their musical legacy. By following a holistic approach that includes analysis of historical and cultural contexts, biographical information, artist interviews, music, lyrics, promotional material, music videos, and scholarly articles, this study proposes that the role of these two rockers was vital in shaping Chinese popular music and providing alternative interpretations of Reform and Opening.