Outsell and Outclass: Marketing, Masculinity, and Japanese Gear in U.S. Hi-Fi Culture

Part of the Hollander Musicology Lecture Series

Following World War II, home hi-fi audio became a popular hobby among American men, linking consumer technology and ideas of masculinity. This lecture examines how Japanese manufacturers transformed the U.S. audio market in the late 1950s with affordable, high-quality equipment and explores how American companies responded to the new competition. The presentation also considers how perceptions of gender, technology, and consumer culture continue to shape today’s audiophile communities.

About guest lecturer Kelli Smith-Biwer

Dr. Kelli Smith-Biwer is assistant professor of music at the University of Michigan. Drawing on a background in information technology and network engineering, her research examines gender, media, and audio technologies. She is the author of the forthcoming book The Hi-Fi Man: Masculinity, Modularity, and Home Audio in the US Midcentury and has published in leading journals of music and popular culture. Her work has been supported by The Hagley Museum and Library, the Library of Congress, and the Royster Society of Fellows.

Learn more about Kelli Smith-Biwer at the Millikin University of Michigan website.