Problem Statement: The Role of Music Venues that Shaped St. Louis’s Culture Identity.

Observation, Background, and Context: St. Louis is to be recognized as one of many central points for Music, specifically Jazz, Blues and rock. Some venues like the Pageant, Gaslight Square, and Blueberry Hill have provided performance spaces for iconic musicians while also giving and showcasing local talents. What inspired me to do this topic was I use to be in the band in middle school and played Saxaphone and clarinet. It’s interesting how these venues not only serve as entertainment for these musicians but also cultural spaces, which can mold the city’s identity and give the community a sense as well. As time continues with anything in life, there are economic shifts and gentrification that have affected these historic sites. Some thrive and expand while others have closed or shut down due not to meeting certain expectations. This brings me to the question as the impact of music venues on the city’s culture in the face of economic changes.

Problem at Hand: The challenge in understanding how music venues have impacted St. Louis cultural identity over time. What roles have these venues played in a social life of the city of St. Louis, and how they have molded to changing times? Another question to consider is how the impact of some places does be closed and not closed impact the local community, the musicians and the city’s landscape itself?

Technology to present this work: To do this research effectively, I will use an interactive storytelling map to visualize the changes in St. Louis’s music venues over time. By integrating these digital tools, I seek to get my audience attention and interact with the material while also having these informative resources that showcase the relationship between music, space and cultural identity.