The 1st ever global conference on metal
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"Heavy Fundametalisms: Music, Metal & Politics," the first ever global conference on metal, will take place in Salzburg, Austria from November 3-5, 2008. Full details and the call for papers are here. One need not be an academic to present, although such affiliation would likely help defray travel/lodging/registration expenses. All papers accepted for the conference are eligible for ISBN-numbered electronic publication, with some selected for hardback publication. 300-word abstracts are due by Friday, June 13, 2008. The conference is accepting submissions on any of the following themes:
Heavy metal and: - Origins, Definition and History
- Genres and classification. Classical music/Opera
- Culture - Subculture - Underground - Popular Culture - Fans
- Religion - anti religion - Evil - Satanism
- Politics - Nationalism - the apolitical - Fascism
- Imagery - Iconography - Aesthetics
- Art - Design - Fashion - Performance - Theatre - Sleeve Art
- Gender Issues - Misogyny - Homo sociality - Masculinities - Deviant Sexualities
- Monsters - Madness
- Philosophical themes: Existentialism - Nihilism - Hedonism - Ethics
- Literature - Cinema - Documentaries - Soundtracks - Horror - Gothic - Anime - Cartoons
- Fashion
I must confess I have no love for Salzburg (apologies to any readers who are Salzburgers). The one time I visited, it seemed that the entire town was a Mozart and Sound of Music-themed tourist trap. (The profusion of Mozart-shaped chocolates sent me over the edge.) Salzburg has lovely geography, however (click above to enlarge), as well as a top-shelf (literally, as in clifftop) modern art museum.
Thanks to Keith Kahn-Harris for the tip.
6 Comments:
I'm kind of shocked they don't have race in that long list... still, I would love to go (or even just check out the papers!)
Yes, race in metal could either be a very long or very short discussion. I can see the paper title already: "The Sound of White Noise: I Don't Like Black People but Suffocation Rules."
That's just great. But seriously - I've met so many fans of metal who were attracted to it because they felt like outsiders in their communities, and it formed the perfect "fuck ya'll then" outsider soundtrack: I know it kept me from madness in suburban hell.
And yet the subculture can breed such "insider" and exclusive mentalities. I suppose "us against the world" has its allure, but while metal is inclusive to some outsiders (I find it very class-blind and fairly race-blind, actually), it is quite exclusive as to others (gays, most notably).
Definitely hear and agree with you on those points. Hope there will be somewhere to check out the papers/discussions from this conference.
hey C let me know if you're in the neighborhood
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