Deadhead Social Science is a collection of papers examining various aspects of the complex subculture surrounding the rock band, the Grateful Dead. Deadheads, as Grateful Dead fans are called, followed the band from venue to venue until the band announced their dissolution in December of 1995. Deadhead Social Science addresses the questions: What is a Deadhead? How does a Deadhead identity evolve? Why would a person choose an identity that would be viewed negatively by a larger society? Why are Deadheads viewed negatively by the larger society? Is the Deadhead community a popular religion? How did a rock band develop a religious following? The book also examines the music, the role of vendors, and the reaction by "host" communities to the Grateful Dead and its following. One key theme in Deadhead Social Science is the interconnections among teaching, research, and personal interests written from a variety of social science disciplinary traditions.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Coeditor Adams (sociology, Univ. of North Carolina, Greensboro) has compiled a dozen essays by undergraduate and graduate students who studied the Grateful Dead subculture of the 1980s and early 1990s with her. After outlining the Dead's history and subculture and the cooperative learning of her Deadhead social-science class, Adams offers a quantitative analysis of the songs the Dead played and the evolution of a Dead cover band. In an engaging section on spirituality, one student examines the Dead subculture as a secular religion, and another focuses on a communal, dervish-like group that incorporated Dead lyrics into their beliefs. Four essays describe the characteristics of the Dead subculture and examine various motivations for joining the Deadhead community. Though usually professing to be Deadheads, the authors over-intellectualize a band and fans who pride themselves on spontaneity and serendipity. They tend to shackle the free-minded Deadhead spirit with sociological theories that add little to an understanding of the Deadhead phenomenon. Not recommended.
-Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
-Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
This book is a must read for those with a passion for teaching, for those who are truly engaged in their research and, perhaps most importantly, for those who can conceive of research and teaching as one in the same enterprise. (Vincent J. Rosigno Qualitative Sociology )
Well-edited and clearly written...it should appeal to lay or academic audiences interested in subcultures, identity and those who would like to meld their teaching and research interests into that of teacher/scholar. As a whole, the books shows us how a subculture can lead to interest among students, how they can see the world through various lenses, and the richness that can result when students and teachers collaborate. It seems that rarely do researchers have a chance to match their research and leisure activities. In this instance, they have done both and produced scholarly results. (William F. Danaher Contemporary Sociology )
the book is a very well written and edited example of the value of encouraging students to pursue their own interests in their academic endeavors. There are likely areas of study--such as Deadhead subculture--that almost require the work of students, less constrained by academic career concerns than their professors, to get the ball rolling. The Grateful Dead were so loved by their fans in large part because the fans were an integral part of the ongoing musical and cultural exploration, and Adams and Sardiello demonstrate the fruits of applying the same collaborative spirit in an academic context. (Russell Cole Journal Of Anthropological Research, Vol. 58, 2002 )
Research can be fun, fun can be research. Teachers can be students, students can be teachers. Adams and Sardiello prove that beyond doubting in this well-researched and interesting book. (Becker, Howard S. )
Well-edited and clearly written...it should appeal to lay or academic audiences interested in subcultures, identity and those who would like to meld their teaching and research interests into that of teacher/scholar. As a whole, the books shows us how a subculture can lead to interest among students, how they can see the world through various lenses, and the richness that can result when students and teachers collaborate. It seems that rarely do researchers have a chance to match their research and leisure activities. In this instance, they have done both and produced scholarly results. (William F. Danaher Contemporary Sociology )
the book is a very well written and edited example of the value of encouraging students to pursue their own interests in their academic endeavors. There are likely areas of study--such as Deadhead subculture--that almost require the work of students, less constrained by academic career concerns than their professors, to get the ball rolling. The Grateful Dead were so loved by their fans in large part because the fans were an integral part of the ongoing musical and cultural exploration, and Adams and Sardiello demonstrate the fruits of applying the same collaborative spirit in an academic context. (Russell Cole Journal Of Anthropological Research, Vol. 58, 2002 )
Research can be fun, fun can be research. Teachers can be students, students can be teachers. Adams and Sardiello prove that beyond doubting in this well-researched and interesting book. (Becker, Howard S. )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reasons we followed the band...,
This review is from: Deadhead Social Science: 'You Ain't Gonna Learn What You Don't Want to Know' (Paperback)
As a Deadhead, this is one of the things I've been waiting for. This is a wonderful collection of papers concerning one of the most influential "bands" in American culture. I recommend this to any Deadhead, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever wondered why we saw as many shows as we did, why we traveled across the country every season, and why we still continue to listen to their music. This should be read by anyone who never understood their sister's, brother's, or child's (make that parent's as well) need to see the shows and be among other Deadheads. This book covers so many facets of the Dead and their fanbase, and each paper is a scholarly piece of academia. Rebecca had such forsight to begin when she did, and I am thankful that she has found so many dedicated Deadheads who have written University thesis papers on the band. Joseph campbell and Jerry Garcia would both be very happy with this work, and I am again very pleased that a book covering this "long, strange trip" has been so wonderfully put together. A true sociological work, this should be considered by any sociology class in every University across the country. Thank you for a real good time.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Truth Be Told,
By
This review is from: Deadhead Social Science: 'You Ain't Gonna Learn What You Don't Want to Know' (Paperback)
Everyone who has attended a number of Grateful Dead shows has become aware that something "magical" is going on. Those who "get it" are changed for a lifetime. This book is a compliation of social science research - usually as part of a Masters or Doctorate project - into that phenomena. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an academic approach to this magical and mystical experience. Be aware that the format is not in traditional narrative, but more the way scientific papers are presented - nevertheless, anyone who has been "on the bus" should put this in their library and those who are not on the bus, might finally get some understanding of why the Grateful Dead experience is truly transforming.
1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
useless!!,
This review is from: Deadhead Social Science: 'You Ain't Gonna Learn What You Don't Want to Know' (Paperback)
being a deadhead for many years i find this book to be useless and borderline silly. who cares what one lady who became a deadhead in 86' has to say and tries to figure out.if you want to learn about deadheads then read A LONG STRANGE TRIP or the many others available!!
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