‘One good thing about music is when it hits you, you feel no pain.’
Bob Marley, ‘Trenchtown rock’ (1973)
This new Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded network on reggae is a joint initiative between the Translating Cultures theme and the Connected Communities programme, and is open to researchers and partners funded under those areas, as well as to the wider academic and music communities. Visit the network website here.
Network leads:
- Prof Charles Forsdick, Liverpool University
- Prof Paul Gilroy, King’s College, London
- Prof George McKay, University of East Anglia.
The network’s programme of activities explores the neglected important popular music, political, religious culture of reggae. It will interrogate questions of:
- race & identity
- poetics, orature & language
- music & (post-)subculture
- musicians’ experiences and careers
- sound and recording techniques
- the practice of dub, sound system culture
- politics, Babylon
- Rastafarianism, faith and religion in music
- narcotic (musical) cultures
- masculinity and gender; women in reggae
- related musical forms, from ska and bluebeat to ragga, dancehall, grime
- white reggae, white Rastas
- Caribbean and diasporic sonicities
- anglophone and francophone reggaes
- transatlantic transmission, translation, reception and refiguration.
Network events
We are holding three events over the next 12 months. These are:
- 25 January 2017 – an initial symposium at University of East Anglia, Norwich, scoping the field.
- 19 May 2017 (tbc) – a symposium at Liverpool University, in association with the Institute of Popular Music.
- Autumn 2017 – an industry, musicians and researchers conference in London.
Speakers and network participants include (others are being added)
Paul Carr, University of South Wales
Sara Cohen, University of Liverpool
Jez Collins, Birmingham City University
Charles Forsdick, University of Liverpool
Paul Gilroy, King’s College London
George McKay, University of East Anglia
Caspar Melville, SOAS, Bass Culture
Shara Rambarran, Queen’s University Canada (UK)
Mykaell Riley, University of Westminster, Bass Culture
Les Roberts, University of Liverpool
Matthew J. Smith, University of the West Indies
Rob Strachan, University of Liverpool
Paul Ward, University of Huddersfield
Joy White, Independent Researcher
Get involved
We have space available for further speakers and other kinds of contributions (e.g. musical) for our first meeting at UEA in January. Please get in touch with a short description (max. 200 words) of your contribution and title to jessica.knights@uea.ac.uk by 8thDecember if this interests and excites you.
Funding
Travel and accommodation costs (UK) for speakers and contributors will be covered by the network.
Further information
For enquiries and abstracts please contact Jessica Knights, Connected Communities administrator, University of East Anglia: jessica.knights@uea.ac.uk