Studying Feminism, Gender, Sexuality, and Music in the 21st Century

5/5 9:00 ~ 11:00 a.m.

Presenters: Su Zheng

Area of study: Music and Diaspora

Abstract: It has been 35 years since the publication of Women and Music in Cross-Cultural Perspective in 1987, edited by ethnomusicologist Ellen Koskoff, a milestone collection indicating a historical turn for ethnomusicology. What new depth and perspectives are presented in recent ethnomusicological scholarships? How both undergraduate and graduate students in the US today study this area? How do they study women's multiple roles and images in historical and contemporary music practices, and expressions of desire and sexualities in music? How gender ideologies and body politics, contextualized by sociocultural conditions, both construct and are constructed by musical aesthetics, performance practice, creative process, as well as the consumption of music? How more recent topics, such as queer studies, transgender studies, intersectionality, and race have been integrated with feminist studies of music and music performance? Where are the music genres and communities studied located in the world? What materials, including readings and music examples, do students study? What research projects do students create? This lecture will address the above questions through reading one sample article, examining sample syllabi, and discussing some of my students’ projects. The aim of this lecture is to stimulate a conversation on the importance and applicability of the feminist, gender, and sexuality studies to study local musicking activities.

To facilitate the smooth running of the event, participants are requested to enter the virtual meeting room(s) 10 minutes earlier, with the permission from the organizer. During the waiting period, please confirm your microphone and video camera are turned off.