SoundLore: Folklore & Ethnomusicology

In this episode we sit down with Levi Gettleman and Elise Suarez, two of our undergraduate seniors. Our department would not be what it is without our undergraduate program and Levi and Elise are two stellar examples. Levi is double majoring in Folklore & Ethnomusicology and Jewish Studies focusing on Jewish folklore, rituals, foodways, and identity and their intersections with American regional cultures and identity. Elise is triple-majoring (!) in English, History, and Folklore & Ethnomusicology and is interested in researching oral and written narratives, particularly urban legends. Hear about their manifold activities, how Folklore and Ethnomusicology fit into their undergraduate experience, and more in this highlight episode. Enjoy!

This episode is a replay of the 2022 Richard M. Dorson Memorial Lecture given this year by Dr. Terry Gunnell - “The Meaning of the Mamuthones”. This lecture discusses the effects of commercialization on the “Mamuthones” masking tradition based the mountains of Sardinia. Named for Richard M. Dorson, this series honors the Indiana University professor credited with establishing folklore studies as an academic discipline in the United States. Professor Dorson directed the IU Folklore Institute for many years, beginning in 1956. There is a visual component to this lecture, which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SM-5R8iWE4.

In this episode, you'll hear from Folklore PhD Candidate Mathilde Lind checking in from her field site in Estonia. We cover the normal trials and tribulations of fieldwork in addition to the abnormal tribulation of COVID-19. The discussion not only addresses how Mathilde has adapted her research amidst COVID-19 conditions but also the journey a project takes from proposal to fieldwork. Mathilde's unique set of skills and knowledge when it comes to handicrafts will be of particular interest to students considering a practice-based approach to research. If you want to see examples of the work and items discussed in the podcast you can find them at @hoodedcrowcrafts on Instagram.

This episode is a replay of Dr. Bertie Kibreah's colloquium lecture from January 2022: "This talk musically situates the boyati community of Bangladesh, a network of Sufi interlocutors who engage in a shrine-based debate performance. The genre's open-ended pastiche of styles conflates secular and sacred, encourages inter-religious conjecture, and flaunts the endless possibilities that citation affords."

In this episode we present a fantastic conversation between visiting assistant professor Dr. Bertie Kibreah and PhD student Suyash Neupane. They cover everything from scholarship to musicianship, spirituality to musicality. Particular attention is given to the positionality of scholars working from within their personal communities. Coming up, we'll be replaying a recent colloquium talk that Dr. Kibreah gave at the beginning of the spring semester - so consider this an in depth introduction! Enjoy!

In this episode, we present a roundtable discussion with PhD Candidates Ross Brillhart, Micky Jo Myers, and Caroline Miller where they share their experiences adapting their dissertation research designs amidst the Global Pandemic. This discussion is both a reflection on how they've each individually confronted challenges and a conversation about how those lessons learned can inform our approach to field research more broadly.

In this replay episode, Gloria M Colom Braña uses a combination of visual and written media to explore how Puerto Ricans were dealing with an overwhelming amount of current events and disasters in the years before Hurricane Maria affected the island. Disclaimer: There is a critical visual component to Gloria's presentation. You can view her illustrations in her chapter ‘“¿Batata? ¡Batata!”: Examining Puerto Rican Visual Folk Expression in Times of Adversity” from the book Theorizing Folklore from the Margins: Critical and Ethical Approaches or in the Creative Commons database.

In this episode of SoundLore we present a conversation with Dr. Daniel Reed on the eve of his retirement from Indiana University and our department. Guest hosting this episode is, me, Jeremy Reed, SoundLore producer, and occasionally a joked-about long lost Reed family member. Over the course of this intimate conversation we discussed shifts in ethnomusicology, Bloomington, and Dr. Reed's own personal health throughout his career. While this chapter with the IU Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology is ending, you'll hear about exciting ideas and new directions for Dr. Reed shortly on the horizon. Thank you, Dr. Reed, for your dedication to us and to our discipline. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

This week's podcast is a replay of Dr. David Todd Lawrence's colloquium talk, “The Soul to See; The Courage to Fail: Ethnography, Relationships, and Social Change," from November 5, 2021. In his talk Dr. Lawrence offers searing insight on the nature of both collaborative research and writing and the necessity of advocacy and the inevitability of failing while doing so. Even if you were present for the talk, we think that this episode should be mandatory listening for students and scholars alike -- Enjoy! "Building on a discussion of work with research collaborators from Pinhook, Missouri, this presentation will engage the significant challenges of collaborative fieldwork and make the argument that approaches such as Hoodoo Ethnography can direct us in the impossible yet necessary project of advocacy even as we learn to accept the inevitable failures that accompany it. Ultimately, it will make a case that human relationships within and across cultural boundaries, byproducts of deep listening and collaboration, are the foundation of social change even as they almost always are fraught with difficulty and failure."

In this episode you will hear a conversation between two professors emeriti - Drs. John McDowell and William Hansen - celebrating the recent retirement of Dr. McDowell. Together they reflect on Dr. McDowell's personal and professional trajectory in folklore from his early days as a music major (go figure!) at Swarthmore up through his 46 year career in the IU Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology. Whether you are a colleague, friend, or student, we're sure that there will be insights for you to appreciate in this episode. Ever busy, Dr. McDowell's work is still ongoing through his involvement with the Diverse Environmentalisms Research Team (DERT). If you're interested in hearing more about that research, check out our recent episode on the edited volume of Performing Environmentalisms.

Dr. Tim Lloyd introduces his recent publication “What Folklorists Do: Professional Possibilities in Folklore Studies,” an edited volume with contributions from over six dozen folklorists discussing what it is that they do in their lives and careers. Dr. Lloyd discusses hot the core ideas within the field of folkloristics and how the book shows the range of work that are informed by these core concepts. He shares where the inspiration to create “What Folklorists Do” came from and how it enhances this inspiration with a current look on the state and prospects of the field. Although “What Folklorists Do” is organized into four categories: “Researching and Teaching,” “Leading and Managing,” “Communicating and Curating,” and “Advocating and Partnering,” Dr. Lloyd encourages readers and folklorists to consider the natural overlap and partnership of these within Folklore Studies. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

SoundLore welcomes back Dr. John McDowell and Dr. Sue Tuohy of the Diverse Environmentalisms Research Team and introduces member Dr. Katherine Borland to discuss their recent edited DERT publication Performing Environmentalisms: Expressive Culture and Ecological Change. In this episode, with host Dr. David McDonald, they present folklore and ethnomusicology as modalities to advance conversations and research into environmental issues. They discuss the process of the book's publication and its features on the environmental and ecological issues the planet faces through the lens of artistic expressions. The editors share why performance is centered in this work about environmental action and cultural expression even through their diverse ethnographic experiences and collaborators. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

On this week's episode of SoundLore, current folklore PhD candidate Caroline Miller chats with department alumna Drs. Kristina Downs and Meredith McGriff and current folklore PhD candidate Jesse Fivecoate to discuss their recently published edited volume, Advancing Folkloristics (IU Press). You'll hear them talk about the process of publishing, collaborative writing, project management during COVID-19, and most importantly, what this volume charts out for the future of folklore as discipline. Current students take note - there are ideas and lessons here about acting on the changes that you wish to see in your discipline(s). Enjoy! Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Inspired by IU Alumna Dr. Fredara Mareva Hadley's (The Julliard School) feature in The Black Church documentary (PBS, 2021), ethnomusicology PhD Candidate Kennedi Johnson and current graduate student Joseph Johnson speak with her in this first episode of SoundLore's second season. Topics range from the role of the Black Church in Dr. Hadley's life and research to a broader discussion about music pedagogies in the different spaces they've experienced, what 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' mean in these spaces, the usefulness of ethnomusicological training in working with communities, and the place of public work in academia. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

The founders of the Diverse Environmentalisms Research Team (DERT), Dr. John McDowell, Dr. Sue Tuohy, and Dr. Rebecca Dirksen, discuss the origins of the group, remembering the collaboration that led to its creation. They describe the experience of realizing how many of their colleagues in folklore, ethnomusicology, and anthropology had work that aligned research on expressive culture in relation to environmental concerns. They speak about the importance of 'diverse environmentalisms' within their fields, and how they looked to contribute to both the fields and environmental research through their work. Dr. Dirksen also speaks to the future of the group, intending to widen the goals to include environmental justice as a key feature of DERT's research. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Dr. Beverly Stoeltje speaks about her path through graduate study in the 1970s and how her dissertation assisted her later research with Queen Mothers in Ghana. Sharing stories about her graduate studies at the University of Texas, Dr. Stoeltje provides her perspectives on women's position in academic society. She talks about the roles and obstacles that women in university positions face, whether students or faculty, and the importance of mentors for women in their early careers, concluding with optimism for the future.

In asking, "Where did these three artists go?" Amy shows how a single question can turn into a field of research that has brought her to research gender and social activism in German hip hop. She recognizes the impact of social media and the pandemic on her fieldwork experience, and how she leveraged social media to build her contacts and interviews. Amy also shares examples of how music and performances have become valuable in the face of restrictions on public outings and gatherings. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

IU PhD Candidate Jeremy Reed shares his fieldwork experience researching how music festivals in Jordan act as a metaphor for trajectories in contemporary Jordanian history. His path to this research began in 2013 and continues through 2021, despite a changing research focus that began with an interest in alternative Arab music. Jeremy mixes stories from his fieldwork with insights into fieldwork methods, emphasizing real-time sensory data as supplement to audio/video recordings and notes. Recognizing the solitary nature of writing a dissertation, Jeremy reflects on the importance of maintaining community and confidence throughout the process. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Dr. David McDonald speaks with the Executive Directors of the American Folklore Society and Society for Ethnomusicology, Dr. Jessica Turner and Dr. Stephen Stuempfle. Dr. Turner and Dr. Stuempfle provide a behind-the-scenes look at academic organizations' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. They recall the impact that COVID-19 has had on academic conferences, how they adapted, the unexpected benefits of virtual conferences, and how these technologic and virtual adaptations might impact the future of academic conferences.

Dr. Julianne Graper speaks about her multispecies research and how she came to study the bats with musical scene of Austin, Texas. We discuss how she recorded bats for her field research, and how bat sounds and images are used in sound studies and tourism, as well as the impact of this research and bat festivals on bat colonies. Dr. Graper shares her belief that what we observe in the field should shape the theory we use to understand and discuss it, and shares some of her own stories from field research. The Colloquium/DERT lecture with Dr. Graper that precedes this conversation can be found on the IU Folklore and Ethnomusicology Youtube. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Dr. González-Martin listens to the stories of mothers and daughters, of grandmothers and aunts, as narratives of community. She shares her thoughts and memories on the quinceañeras of diasporic Latinx communities in the United States, situating them not only as cultural traditions, but as social engagement within and beyond the culture. Dr. González-Martin explores the importance of sharing community stories through creative cultural form, the memories associated with them, and how trauma and healing are intertwined with these cultural forms. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

IU Assistant Professor Dr. Alisha Lola Jones and IU Professor emerita Dr. Portia Maultsby discuss the history of Black music research, and the importance of oral tradition and pedagogy to this research. Dr. Maultsby reflects on her path to IU, and in particular, the history of the IU Soul Revue (which she founded and is now celebrating its 50th anniversary). She also shares her ongoing collaborations with Carnegie Hall and the National Museum of African American Music. Continued from Part 1. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

IU Assistant Professor Dr. Alisha Lola Jones and IU Professor emerita Dr. Portia Maultsby discuss the history of Black music research, and the importance of oral tradition and pedagogy to this research. Dr. Maultsby reflects on her path to IU, and in particular, the history of the IU Soul Revue (which she founded and is now celebrating its 50th anniversary). She also shares her ongoing collaborations with Carnegie Hall and the National Museum of African American Music. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Have you ever considered how children's games and perceptual illusions are shared, or wondered how they work? Dr. Brandon Barker and Dr. Claiborne Rice explore folk illusions, blending folklore with cognitive science and conceptual blending theory. The illusions include "The Chills," "The Coat Hanger Bell," and "Floating Arms." Ben Danner extends the conversation to ASMR and auditory perceptual illusions that evoke sensory responses. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Dr. Jon Kay and Ph.D. Candidate Lydia Campbell-Maher discuss Dr. Kay's research for his book "The Expressive Lives of Elders" and his findings on "how traditional arts keep us from being isolated and alone." Dr. Kay shares how his career as a folklorist led him to research creative aging and folkloristic gerontology. They also discuss Traditional Arts Indiana's recent publication, "Memory, Art, and Aging: A Resource & Activity Guide," and stories of the people they worked with to produce this guide. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Dr. Solimar Otero and Amelia Lopez discuss "Archives of Conjure: Stories of the Dead in Afrolatinx Cultures," Dr. Otero's recent publication. The conversation ranges from Dr. Otero's experiences exploring the archives in her ethnographic practice to the reciprocal ethnography that are a fundamental part of the book's creation. Dr. Otero describes how she intertwines ethnographic practice with literature, ethnomusicology, and folklore in order to understand the impact that ancestors, women, and LGBTQ+ communities have on Afrolatinx religious practices.

Dr. Alisha Lola Jones and Dr. Kyle Adams converse about 'Flaming? The Peculiar Theopolitics of Fire and Desire in Black Male Gospel Performance.' Dr. Jones's recent book draws from multiple disciplines including ethnomusicology, gender studies, music performance, and sexuality. In this episode she discusses the experiences and observances that led her to research blackness and gender expression through black male gospel performance. We hear about gender roles, challenges of and to queerness, and how slavery and the black experience in America relate to black Pentecostal church experiences. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

What is the sound of a political campaign? How does sound studies examine what role these sounds play in building candidate support and creating community? Dr. Justin Patch, Dr. David McDonald, and Isaiah Green discuss the hyper-emotional experience of campaigns and how current and past political candidates can amass a fandom through sonic and material branding. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)

Dr. Robert Dobler, Krystie Herndon, and Chloe McCormick walk us through their memories of the Ghost Walk, an annual Halloween tradition hosted by the Folklore & Ethnomusicology Student Association. Their conversation travels the IU campus and the history of the Folklore & Ethnomusicology department, exploring folklore's intriguing draw to people within and beyond the university. Music: CORONAWAVE by Pagliacci and Some Other Klowns (Suyash Kumar Neupane, Ben Danner, Kurt Baer)