Key Studies

Thinking about what I previously wrote, I feel that thinking about my key studies would be a good idea.

Clearly I will be wanting to use the 1950's and the ride of Be-bop Jazz are a key study but I feel it might be worth mentioning that I think looking at the prevalence of the sleeve as both an item of desire, branding and protection. I want to make the argument that it is a necessity and with that, it is intermedial whether you want it to be or not.

I feel making a comparison from the 1950's to a more modern time would also make a lot of sense; debating the topic of mp3's, digital downloads, the fall of physical music media but also the recent rise of Vinyl records. I feel it would be a good idea to show where the sleeve is disappearing in the modern music industry but also noting where it still has a place and need; like in small record label and the popularity spring in the vinyl market.

Along with these two key studies I can make an argument about the suitability and the sustainability—asking whether we really need the physical sleeve, to stop un-needed pollution; whether the rise of popularity in vinyl has made the sleeve less significant, as popular music floods the market, and question whether the sleeve actually still works as a selling point and whether it is truly bound to the music or if either can exist without the other.