CALL FOR PAPERS

​

 

Regional experiences and external influences:

reclaiming identities by popular music in the digital era

 

​

​

 

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

and

International Association for the Study of Popular Music

 

ONLINE

September 16-17, 2021

​

 

 

The main objective of the conference is to exchange the experiences of studying popular music regional scenes. Such panorama tends to functionally and structurally reflect the specific and diversified character of cultural regionalism itself, including music and its social functions. We shall examine local popular music scenes in three varied but overlapping perspectives located mainly in the fields of musicology, sociology, anthropology, literary studies, cultural studies, political science, but we do not limit the academic areas of research. Thus, the experts of the enumerated fields covering the research on popular music are welcome.

​

We encourage discussion on, firstly, the interpretation of popular music in the context of recent changes in the modes of music production and consumption in the area of regionalism. During two last decades, scholars studying popular music witnessed a general change in the modes of music consumption. To large degree music, traditionally and usually subjugated to the record companies and the “old” media, is no longer subject to the marketing and promotional decisions imposed from above by the management or/and corporations. More importantly, at the same time, the internet turn unshackled the regional scenes and artists and made their visibility worldwide possible.

​

Secondly, with this contextual approach, we intend to interpret the Western influences on popular music in the Eastern bloc as the internet as a medium made certain influences visible and accessible to scholar debate. We also imply, that in this particular context equally important were the patterns of resistance towards Westernization: apart from the Western or “global” influences popular culture in Eastern Europe was saturated with local surroundings and reflected some inclinations deeply rooted in particular cultural systems.

​

Thirdly, the special attention will be paid to both regional scenes and popular music research in the post-communist countries as the advent of democratic political regime at the turn of the 90s was followed by transformations in economy, social systems, political power, and – more importantly – changes in the modes of music production, publication, and consumption.

 

We look for the conference papers and presentations that address (but are not limited to) the following themes:

​

• Popular music research and the new media

• Sounding locality / reclaiming dignity by popular music

• Regional and local scenes as social or/and political platforms

• Music practices in the regional conditions

• Popular music research as a historical issue

• Materiality/materialities of popular music in the age of the internet

• Popular music 2.0: searching the web

• Technology, Power and Popular Music

• Sound studies and materiality of music

• Grooving the Cities as local identities

• The acts of hearing and listening to music through regional contexts

• The functions of popular music and regional identities

• Writing histories with music in the regional contexts

• Regional/Local/Other popular music historiographies

• The patterns of otherness in popular music

• Music ethnography in local and regional perspective

• Popular music and political power

• Changes in the East according to the rhythm of the West

• Regional Beatles and Local Stones: towards the universal patterns of popular music influences?

• Cover bands and tribute bands covering the Western music

 

The presentations and paper will be grouped in panel sessions, each presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes and each panel will be concluded with questions and discussion.

 

The conference will be held at the Nicolaus Copernicus University, located in the city of Toruń, one of the most impressive Medieval cities in Central Europe with a rich history going back to the 13th century (http://www.visittorun.pl/). The Old Town of Toruń is enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Nicolaus Copernicus University is one of the leading universities in Poland, gaining recently the prestigious status of “Excellence Initiative - Research University” (https://www.umk.pl/).

 

Also during the conference, we shall discuss the possibility of establishing the Central European regional branch of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM), grouping the East and Central European countries. One of the conference panel sessions will be dedicated to the activity of the IASPM in the Eastern/Central European region.

​

​

 

Keynote speakers:

​

Dr Sarah Raine, PhD, Edinburgh Napier University, IASPM UK

​

Dr Anna Idzikowska-Czubaj, PhD, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland

​

​

 

Submission Procedure:

​

Abstracts of approximately 500 words should be emailed to:  iaspm2020torun@gmail.com

​

Deadline for abstracts: June 15, 2021

​

Notification: July 1, 2021

 

​

​

Conference fee:

FREE OF CHARGE

FREE

FR

​

​

​

​

​

 

Organizing committee:

​

Dariusz Brzostek

Marek Jeziński

Łukasz Wojtkowski

Małgorzata Lisecka

Aleksandra Brzostek

Szymon Wigienka

 

​

 

Academic Board:

​

Rupert Till, University of Huddersfield, IASPM Chair

Franco Fabbri, University of Milan, founding member of IASPM

Sarah Raine Nicolaus, Edinburgh Napier University

 

Michael Ahlers, Lephuana University in Lüneburg, IASPM D.A.CH

Alenka Barber-Kersovan, Lephuana University in Lüneburg, IASPM D.A.CH

Jerzy Biniewicz, Wrocław University

Jan Bluml, Palacky University in Olomunc

Wojciech Burszta, SWPS University

Martin Butler, Carl von Ossietzky Universitat, Oldenburg

Theo Cateforis, Syracuse University, IASPM USA

Jacopo Conti, Universita degli Studi di Torino

Kyle Devine, University of Oslo, IASPM Norden

Mary Fogarty Woehrel, York University, IASPM Canada

Paweł Frelik, Warsaw University

Ewa Głowacka, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń

Sarah Hill, Cardiff University, IASPM UK

Anna Idzikowska-Czubaj, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań

Adam Ignacz, Hungarian Academy of Science, Budapest

Jerzy Jarniewicz, Uniwersytet Łódzki

Leonardo Massi, UKSW, Warsaw

Anna Nacher, Jagiellonian Univesity, Kraków

Mirosław Pęczak, Warsaw University

Michael Rauhut, University of Agder

Rafał Szczerbakiewicz, Maria Curie Skłodowska University, Lublin

Renata Tańczuk, Wrocław University

Paweł Tański, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń

Violetta Wróblewska, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń