The Cross-Cultural Expression of Elderly Music Performances in the Digital Age: A Comparative Analysis of Audience Comments on Short Video Platforms

Authors

  • Jingjing Wu Faculty of Creative Industries, City University, Malaysia Author
  • Sumathi Maniam Raj Faculty of Creative Industries, City University, Malaysia Author

Keywords:

audience comments, cross-cultural expression, elderly music performance, short video platforms, thematic analysis

Abstract

This study focuses on the music performances of elderly individuals in the digital age, explicitly analyzing viewer comments on YouTube and Douyin short video platforms regarding elderly music performances. The study employs thematic analysis to compare audience comments across both platforms. The findings reveal that YouTube audiences emphasize individual achievement and active aging, viewing music performances as a way to maintain quality of life and foster personal growth. In contrast, Douyin audiences place more importance on emotional connections within the collective and family harmony, perceiving music performances as a means to enhance social value and provide emotional support. Additionally, both platforms' audiences exhibit shared cross-cultural themes regarding emotional resonance, recognition of vitality, and respect for personal artistic achievements. These findings indicate that, despite cultural differences, music functions as a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries, acting as an emotional bridge for audiences through elderly music performances. This study sheds light on the cross-cultural reception of elderly music performances in the digital age, offering a new perspective on understanding elderly art activities within a global context. The study holds significant implications for music education, active aging, and the transmission of cultural capital.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Jingjing Wu, Faculty of Creative Industries, City University, Malaysia

    Jingjing Wu is a PhD candidate in Performing Arts at City University Malaysia, specializing in music performance. She holds a master’s degree in piano performance from the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine. Her research interests focus on music performance and the development of music educators, with particular emphasis on the value and significance of elderly engagement in music within the context of aging societies. She also explores emotional management techniques for teachers in music performance education, aiming to enhance teaching effectiveness and well-being in the field.

  • Sumathi Maniam Raj, Faculty of Creative Industries, City University, Malaysia

    Dr. Sumathi Maniam Raj is a senior lecturer at City University Malaysia. She holds a Masters and Ph.D in Performing Arts (UM), B.Ed (Hons) TESL/literature (UPM).  A former Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, she has written numerous articles which have been published in SCOPUS indexed journals. Her work on theatre and education has been presented in national and international arenas. She is an academic trainer who provides consultations for international Phd students.

References

Agarwal, P., Garimella, K., Joglekar, S., Sastry, N., & Tyson, G. (2020). Characterising user content on a multi-lingual social network. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 14, 2–11. https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v14i1.7274

Beck, L. A. (1992). Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Journal of Leisure Research, 24(3), 302–303. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222216.1992.11969876

Benevenuto, F., Rodrigues, T., Cha, M., & Almeida, V. (2009). Characterizing user behavior in online social networks. Proceedings of the 9th ACM SIGCOMM Conference on Internet Measurement, 49–62. https://doi.org/10.1145/1644893.1644900

Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. H., & Pandey, J. (1997). Handbook of cross-cultural psychology: Social behavior and applications. John Wiley & Sons.

Bhabha, H. K. (2004). The location of culture (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203820551

Bond, M. H., & Smith, P. B. (1996). Cross-cultural social and organizational psychology. Annual Review of Psychology, 47, 205–235. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.47.1.205

Boulianne, S. (2015). Social media use and participation: A meta-analysis of current research. Information, Communication & Society, 18(5), 524–538. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2015.1008542

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Bruns, A., & Burgess, J. (n.d.). The use of Twitter hashtags in the formation of ad hoc publics.

Creech, A., Hallam, S., Varvarigou, M., & McQueen, H. (2014). Active ageing with music: Supporting wellbeing in the third and fourth ages. Institute of Education Press. https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/89066/active-ageing-with-music-supporting-wellbeing-in-the-third-and-fourth-ages

England, R. S. (2005). Aging China: The demographic challenge to China’s economic prospects. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.

Gabrielsson, A. (2011). Strong experiences with music: Music is much more than just music. OUP Oxford.

Gao, Y., Liang, J., & Xu, Z. (2024). Digital social media expression and social adaptability of older adults driven by artificial intelligence. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1424898

Givskov, C., & Deuze, M. (2018a). Researching new media and social diversity in later life. New Media & Society, 20(1), 399–412. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816663949

Givskov, C., & Deuze, M. (2018b). Researching new media and social diversity in later life. New Media & Society, 20(1), 399–412. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816663949

Hallam, S., & Creech, A. E. (2010). Music education in the 21st century in the United Kingdom: Achievements, analysis and aspirations. Institute of Education—London.

Hays, T., & Minichiello, V. (2005). The meaning of music in the lives of older people: A qualitative study. Psychology of Music, 33(4), 437–451. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735605056160

Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations. SAGE Publications.

Hogan, B. (2010). The presentation of self in the age of social media: Distinguishing performances and exhibitions online. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 30(6), 377–386. https://doi.org/10.1177/0270467610385893

Hudson, R. (2006). Regions and place: Music, identity and place. Progress in Human Geography, 30(5), 626–634. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132506070177

Leist, A. K. (2013). Social media use of older adults: A mini-review. Gerontology, 59(4), 378–384. https://doi.org/10.1159/000346818

Li, H., Zeng, Y., Gan, L., Tuersun, Y., Yang, J., Liu, J., & Chen, J. (2022). Urban-rural disparities in the healthy aging trajectory in China: A population-based study. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1406. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13757-x

Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1998). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. In College student development and academic life. Routledge.

Nettl, B. (2005). The study of ethnomusicology: Thirty-one issues and concepts. University of Illinois Press.

Reuter, A., Scharf, T., & Smeddinck, J. (2021). Content creation in later life: Reconsidering older adults’ digital participation and inclusion. Proceedings of the ACM Human-Computer Interaction, 4(CSCWC3), 257:1–257:23. https://doi.org/10.1145/3434166

Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/37.4.433

Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. (1998). The contours of positive human health. Psychological Inquiry, 9(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0901_1

Seinfeld, S., Figueroa, H., Ortiz-Gil, J., & Sanchez-Vives, M. V. (2013). Effects of music learning and piano practice on cognitive function, mood, and quality of life in older adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00810

Waldron, J. (2013). User-generated content, YouTube, and participatory culture on the web: Music learning and teaching in two contrasting online communities. Music Education Research, 15(3), 257–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2013.772131

Wardle, H. (1999). Representation. In Cultural representations and signifying practices (S. Hall, Ed.). SAGE Publications.

Yamaguchi, S. (2004). Further clarifications of the concept of amae in relation to dependence and attachment. Human Development, 47(1), 28–33.

Yuan, C. W., Hanrahan, B. V., Rosson, M. B., & Carroll, J. M. (2018). Coming of old age: Understanding older adults’ engagement and needs in coproduction activities for healthy aging. Behaviour & Information Technology, 37(3), 232–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2018.1432686

Downloads

Published

2024-12-31

Issue

Vol. 2 (2024): Proceedings of the International Music and Performing Arts Conference

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Jingjing Wu, Sumathi Maniam Raj (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution‑NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Authors retain copyright and grant the Proceedings of the International Music and Performing Arts Conference the right of first publication. Non-commercial reuse or adaptation is permitted with proper attribution.

How to Cite

Jingjing Wu, & Sumathi Maniam Raj. (2024). The Cross-Cultural Expression of Elderly Music Performances in the Digital Age: A Comparative Analysis of Audience Comments on Short Video Platforms. Proceedings of the International Music and Performing Arts Conference, 2, 147-161. https://eprosiding.upsi.edu.my/index.php/Pro-IMPAC/article/view/33