I was excited about this assignment because I’m an extroverted person who loves meeting new people and learning about their experiences. Music has always been a passion of mine, as I see it as a powerful outlet for self-expression and identity. Since starting college, my love for music has only grown, which led me to curiosity about DJing. This further led me to my decision to want to interview Michelle, a rising DJ.
Before conducting the interview, I researched DJing to understand its history, techniques like scratching and blending, and other proper terminology. This background knowledge made the interview smoother and more insightful. I also took the time to get to know Michelle beyond DJing. Since our interactions had only been through text and phone calls, I wanted to create a comfortable and natural conversation. I learned about her college, major, and other interests, ensuring our interview felt like a casual chat between friends rather than a formal exchange. These mindful preparations led to a seamless and engaging discussion.
After transcribing the interview, I used the notice and focus technique, highlighting key words, patterns, and important quotes. Along with the coming to terms technique, this analysis, I developed my central idea, DJing is a form of artistic expression and visual storytelling. To support my argument, I conducted further research using the Syracuse library database and applied the BEAM technique to analyze sources. The article Capturing the Zeitgeist: Preserving American Music and Culture in the Mashups of DJ Earworm stood out as a reliable source, written by Jeffrey Yunek, PhD in art theory. Overall, I found this assignment engaging and insightful, applying skills learned throughout the semester to craft a thought-provoking argument.