Celebrity Accents and Public Identity Construction: Analyzing Geordie Stylizations

Description

Geordie Stylizations is a short-focused research work which builds on the renovated interest on the nexus between accent-identity-prestige-prejudice, offering an analysis of celebrities' use of the Geordie variety in a series of public performances as a reflection instrument for scholars, but also for neophyte readers with an interest in Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Celebrity Studies, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Sociology and Gender Studies. Of interest are the individual instances of Geordieness performed on specific occasions, i.e. the ways in which people construct their unique and constantly evolving language repertoires sometimes appropriating some, other times distancing themselves from, linguistic traits that would characterize them as members of specific communities in other people's perceptions. The material investigated is provided by the artistic world: engaging with the arts and culture, and in particular with music, is not just a solitary event, but also a participatory one which many people feel is worthwhile sharing through ordinary conversation and interaction via social networks every day. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations Acknowledgements Foreword 1. Introduction 1.1 Aim of the Volume 1.2 The Object of Analysis 1.3 Methodology Adopted 1.4 Focus of the Study 1.5 Reasons for Focus and Object Choice Notes References 2. High Performances of Geordieness 2.1 The Role of Geordie in the ‘Rise of the Regional’ 2.2 Cheryl as a Characterological Figure 2.3 American English as the Default Accent in Pop Music Notes References 3. Detachability of Geordie Indices 3.1 Cheryl’s Identity Negotiation and Geordie’s ‘Fortune’ 3.2 The Characterological Value of Geordie pre Cheryl 3.3 The Characterological Value and Dissemination of Geordie post Cheryl 3.4 Stylistic Practice as Bricolage Notes References 4. Transportability of Geordie Indices 4.1 Geordie Meanings as Reusable Resources 4.2 Geordie as Authentic 4.3 Geordie as ‘Cool’ Notes References 5. Public Acceptance in the Construction of Geordie Identity 5.1 Cheryl 5.2 Vicky Pattison Notes References 6. Local Meanings and Politics of Geordie Styling 6.1 Cheryl 6.2 Sting 6.3 ‘Here’s Me Number, So Giz a Ring Will Y’Pet?’ Notes References 7. Conclusions 7.1 Pulling the Threads Together and Setting Geordie in a Global Picture 7.2 Coda Notes References Index