BRO-CAPPELLA: AN EXAMINATION OF EVOLVING TRADITIONS, CULTURES AND IDENTITIES IN ALL-MALE A CAPPELLA

Abstract

Collegiate a cappella has been the focus of recent media and television attention over the past five years. As popular TV shows have spotlighted contemporary musical and cultural representations of collegiate a cappella, hundreds of groups have formed in colleges and communities alike. Despite this seemingly recent phenomena, a cappella has been an important collegiate tradition since the early 1900s. This thesis explores the traditions, cultures and identities of four all-male a cappella groups at an Ivy League school. By examining how contemporary social forces have influenced the traditional cultures and conceptions of male-identity in the a cappella groups, the current study illuminates the ways in which this identity has been subject to change in recent years. I argue that, despite the presence of a hegemonic masculine culture, groups have adapted to form a more welcoming and accepting environment for gay, transgender and ethnically diverse members.