Popular music culture continually seeks to create states of individual and collective joy, ecstasy, transcendence, and belonging, as well as spaces in which subjectivities can be composed, transformed and/or radically (re)imagined. On the other hand, popular music also produces widely circulating discourses about the reverse of wellbeing, such as anxiety, alienation, abuse, isolation, depression, and self-harm.
This two-day conference brings together an international set of scholars who will explore these and other issues from different angles of vision. We'll discuss key themes, such as:
- histories of popular music as a discourse of identity and belonging
- the use of music as therapeutic intervention
- grassroots music spaces as sites of community organisation
- pop music and body images
- mindfulness as musical listening
- pop music as a commentary on mental health awareness.
The conference will take place on the St Mary’s campus in Twickenham. Although occasional papers will be delivered online, you will not be able to attend the conference itself online.
How much does it cost?
- One day registration fee is £20.00
- Two-day registration fee is £40.00
- Participants delivering their paper online – no fee
Contact us
Accommodation
If you need accommodation close to the university, you can contact our Conference Office at conferences@stmarys.ac.uk for further details.
Conference organisers
- Mark Donnelly: mark.donnelly@stmarys.ac.uk
- Richard Mills: richard.mills@stmarys.ac.uk
Booking form
Media enquiries
Press team
020 8240 8262