MUSICAL POLTICS OR POLITICAL MUSIC: EXTREME METAL MUSIC FESTIVALS AND RADICAL POLITICAL IDENTITY FORMATION

This thesis explores the relationship between extreme metal music, Festivals, and Radical political identity formation. While political extreme metal music festivals have gained notoriety for their fundraising prowess, this thesis explores how these festivals shape the identity of their attendees. Literature on social psychology, extreme metal music, and festivals forms a broad overview of extreme metal music festivals. This overview is then used to compare two European radical right-wing festivals and one American radical left-wing festival. It argues that the transgressive, isolating nature of radical political groups and the metal community provides a unique platform for a fusion of the two. The countervailing needs for identity formation become fulfilled in the context of extreme metal music festivals transforming them from a simple music festival into a political radicalizing event.Master of Art