by Dr. Thomas Brignall III, Lewis University
This study was an exploratory examination of Christian hardcore music fans. Using participant observation methods, this article examines how Christian hardcore fans define themselves, the structure of Christianity, and the intersection of hardcore music and Christianity. This study was conducted in a major metropolitan area in the mid south for the purpose of uncovering common themes about the Christian hardcore music movement. The information is based on the observations of fans, informal conversations, and participation in the music scene. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on musical social movements by analyzing how two separate movements have contributed to the creation of this particular movement and how participants negotiate between and within the two realities during their development of their group’s ideological perspectives.