The bulk of my research broadly looks at the nature of technical and cultural innovation in general. Specifically, I look at DJ culture and technology as an example of how creativity is the byproduct of a network of people, products, brands, etc. My work addresses the relationship between DJ culture and the industries that serve it, and focuses on the manipulation, exchange and rights associated with intellectual properties in this context. While most scholarship suggests that hip hop DJs manipulate intellectual properties and are “criminals,” I explore how DJs themselves are intellectual properties that are manipulated by the industries in product R&D and in marketing.

This interest has also led to me co-founding DJistory and the DJpedia Archive, which is a nonprofit devoted to DJ culture, history and technology. The Archive has over 100 historically and culturally important DJ mixers, from the disco era to the present. Eventually this will be an online wiki and interactive museum, as well as a physical exhibit. One of the highlight items in the Archive includes a pair of original Technic SL-1200 turntables that belonged to Disco King Mario and were used by Afrika Bambaataa, considered one of the most important hip hop DJs and pioneers of the art, in his first DJ battle in 1976.

I’m also working on numerous other projects, which include a coffee table styled book on DJ mixers, featuring pictures from the Archive and the stories behind the mixers from the DJs involved.

Email: asirois@uoregon.edu

Hi there! My name is Stella and I am absolutely stoked to be one of your FIG assistants this upcoming fall! I am from San Francisco, California but the Eugene has become my home away from home! I am a sophomore BA student majoring in art with a focus in painting and a little bit of ceramics attempting to graduate early and get my masters in fine arts after that! I cannot wait to be working with you all and working with my other FIG assistant Ellyce! 

I am so excited to be able to hear from all of you and get to know you better! If you have any questions about this upcoming term do not be afraid to reach out! You can email me whether it’s about classes, school related stuff, your favorite song at the moment, favorite coffee recommendations in Eugene, or if you have a pet, feel free to send me some pics of them! I love talking pets and if you ask, I’ll show you about a hundred photos of all my pups! Anyways, I can’t wait for this fall term and I hope you’re as excited as I am! 

Email: spricha6@uoregon.edu (send me alllll the pictures of your pets)

Hello! The name's Ellyce and I'm super excited to be one of your FIG assistants this fall! Here's a little about me: I'm from Olympia, Washington (go PNW!) and I am a fourth-year BFA art major (concentrating in drawing and painting) with minors in creative writing and art history. (If y'all have any questions about the Bachelors of Fine Arts Program and how you can apply, ask away!) Along with this amazing FIG, I am also co-assisting with another. This coming fall I'll be assisting with both of Andre's "Remixing Media, ©ritiquing ©ulture" and "Hip Hop and the Politics of Race" FIGs with Stella and Jess!

I'm looking forward to sharing experiences and learning new things with y'all in the journey of our FIG together! Make sure to look over and complete your summer assignment before the beginning of our first class in person. If y'all have any questions, feel free to email me. I you have no questions and just want to introduce yourself and/or your pets, that would be fun too! I'm an avid advocate of enjoying a variety of music genres, so if y'all have any recommendations, let me know! I'm always down to listening to new jams, no matter it's rock, Broadway, country, hip hop, in a different language, you name it!

Again, I can't wait to meet all y'all in the fall!

Email: ellycew@uoregon.edu