More conferences...

The SocArts group had another one of their famous gatherings in November in Exeter, this time hosting Paul Atkinson of all things ethnographic fame. It was all very informal and lovely and all members in attendance shared with the big man our work and ideas. He was very cordial and helpful and then proceeded to impress us with polemics about his early career and ideas about the benefits and limits of ethnographic research. It is always fantastic to be in the presence of important figures who have influence your own work, but also important to realise that this next generation of researchers is just that, the next generation, with that entails.

I have recently been accepted to present at two conferences. First up is the rather wordy The Language of Art and Music: "An International Symposium on the Potential for Artistic Expression to Cross Cultural Barriers and the Relationship between Art, Culture and International Relations" in Berlin which takes place February 17-20. I will hopefully be attending with my colleague Arild Bergh and presenting the basics of my research to such illustrious guests as Dr. Alfredo Palacio (former president of Ecuador), Danny Trejo (of From Dusk till Dawn fame), Helena Bonham Carter, Jytte Hilden (former Minister of Culture in Denmark), Marcia Barrett (of Boney M fame) and Paco de Lucia (renowned flamenco guitarist). I'm not convinced that this audience is going to enjoy what I have  to say about this subject, but it should be fun. Berlin is great, anyway.

Finally, I will be presenting at BSA Annual Conference in London, April 6-8. The title of my presentation this time is Trying to be Normal: An Analysis of Musical Practices in Post-War Sarajevo. I best start writing this, I suppose.