Researcher ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7547-7108

Graduation Year

2021

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Music

Reader 1

Professor Hao Huang

Reader 2

Professor Bill Alves

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

@2021Stz-TsungStoneHan

Abstract

Jay Chou is one of the most significant singers in Chinese popular music history. One of Chou’s greatest achievements is his implementation of the Chinese “Egao” culture in his music, which originated from Japanese Kuso culture. Such an approach not only created his unique style but also allowed him to adopt various musical techniques together seamlessly. By doing so, Chou created a style that references multiple traditional musical conventions without being bound by any of them. This study aims to examine the evolution of the Kuso culture as well as Chou’s implementation of it. The development of Kuso is fostered by the popularization of the Internet in China and the popularity of Kuso artists such as Jay Chou. Chou’s Kuso techniques can be used as an inspiration to reinterpret traditional art forms and cultures, but people should also be aware of its potential damages. The derivative nature of Kuso can become problematic to traditional arts and cultures, thus requiring Kuso artists to implement and develop Kuso cautiously.

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