Soul In the Machine: Detroit Techno’s Response to the Urban Crisis

Abstract

In the following research portfolio, I strive to uncover the largely unknown history of techno through Motown’s decline in the 70s to the genre's rise in the late 80s and 90s. Using historical context from the perspectives of Detroiters who lived through this era, I plan to discuss how techno’s very nature served as a response to the cultural implications of Motown’s departure, and the urban crisis as a whole. I will also include a selection of techno tracks (all from Detroit) in efforts to apply the contextual understanding of the genre through its music.