Applied Ethno/Musicology and the Applicability of Music Studies

The 22nd annual symposium, University of Helsinki, March 7 to 9, 2018.

We are now accepting proposals for individual papers and themed panels in English, Finnish and Swedish. Themed panels (90 min) can consist of individual papers or a panel discussion. Please submit your proposal by Januray 15, 2018.

Applied ethnomusicology has for decades sought to develop ways of extending the influence of music studies also beyond academic contexts: for example, in relation to the sustainability of various music cultures and through music’s potential roles in tackling social and political problems. However, currently widespread discussions about the ”impact” of research and the significance of cross-disciplinarity urge music scholars in any area of study to critically reflect on the scholarly and potentially broader social implications of their work.

The 22^nd annual symposium of music scholars in Finland invites researchers from all fields of study to explore and debate about questions concerning applied music studies and the applicability of music scholarship in a broad sense. These questions call forth multiple and conflicting viewpoints, responses and future scenarios.

Topics addressed in the presentations may include, but are not limited to, the following themes and questions:

• Through what different strategies might music researchers respond to, or confront, the expectations concerning the ”impact” of research that are currently prevalent in political and public discussions about the significance of scientific knowledge?
• What kinds of roles and responsibilities might music studies have in relation to timely cultural, social, environmental and political phenomena and challenges?
• Can music scholarship be multi-, inter- or cross-disciplinary? Should it be?
• Is ”applicability” the most apt term for describing the movement of ideas, approaches and influences between scientific fields or academic research and the wider reality? Could we develop alternative or more apposite and fruitful ways of making sense of, assessing, enacting and contesting these movements?

Please send your abstract (max. 200 words per proposed paper) by email to the following address: mtsymposium2018(at)helsinki.fi. Proposals should be sent as attached files (in pdf or word format). If you are proposing a themed panel consisting of several papers, please also send these as one document. Please remember to include your email address(es) in the attached file.

We will send out notifications about the results of the selection process by the end of January.

Keynote speakers:
PhD, prof. emeritus Philip Tagg
PhD Barley Norton (Goldsmiths University of London)
PhD Taru Leppänen (University of Turku)
PhD Liisa Ukkola-Vuoti (National Institute for Health and Welfare)

The symposium is organized by the discipline of Musicology at the University of Helsinki in collaboration with the Finnish Society for Ethnomusicology and with support from the Finnish Musicological Society and the Music Archive in Finland.

Organizing committee:
Academy Research Fellow Antti-Ville Kärjä
PhD Researcher Lasse Lehtonen
Senior Lecturer Esa Lilja
Senior Lecturer Milla Tiainen