The Digital Hood of Urban Violence: Exploring Functionalities of Social Media and Music Among Gangs
Author(s):
Janina Pawelz
Paul Elvers
Publication Year:
2018
Type:
journal article
Journal/Book Title
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice
Publisher
Editor(s):
Pages:
442-459
Volume:
34
Issue:
4
Abstract:
Social media and music are fundamental components of everyday life for today’s youth. The uses and functions of social media and music provide valuable insights for a better understanding of marginalized groups, subcultures, and gangs. Data are based on in-depth, semistructured interviews with gang members and gang affiliates in Trinidad and Tobago and combined with an analysis of social media content. The findings reveal that street gangs use music and social media to glorify gang life, to display power and send threats, to generate motivational support for criminal activities, and to bond socially and mourn collectively. In our analysis, social media, music, and music videos appear to be intimately interconnected phenomena; we thus call for a broader focus on gangs’ online behavior.
Citation (Chicago Author-Date):
Pawelz, Janina, and Paul Elvers. 2018. “The Digital Hood of Urban Violence: Exploring Functionalities of Social Media and Music Among Gangs.” Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 34 (4): 442–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986218787735.