Call for papers
As one of the many branches of rock music, metal was identified with notions of transgressiveness, controversy, and rebelliousness, both by internal scene members and outsiders. As such, the neverending quest for transgression and controversy became one of the most important driving forces of metal’s artistic and social practice, urging the metalheads to cross the boundaries of musical and social forms in order to preserve and further develop the perceived authentic nature of metal. Besides the constant intensification of musical and lyrical extremity from heavy metal to extreme metal and beyond, metal’s thirst for transgressiveness and opposition found its articulations also in the various usages of religious elements and political ideologies. Since its emergence, the scene was not afraid to employ the symbol of Satan and other religious signifiers of evil and alterity, as well as to flirt with various forms of radical political protest, in both its right-wing and left-wing forms. Thus, metal has also attracted many outsiders. For them, various transgressive practices of metal could represent not just an invitation for artistic collaboration, but also a socially dangerous problem to be solved (e.g. moral panics concerning metal in the 1980s), or, conversely, a sign of metal’s potential for the desired social change (like in the interactions of radical right-wing political personae with black metal).
As this brief overview exemplifies, transgression and metal together produce a vast array of artistic and social processes, forms, and effects. To study them, one must examine the ever-changing boundaries of various social and cultural categories and systems. It is this linking of metal and transgression in its full richness, that we would like to dedicate our conference to. The topics we seek include (but are not limited to):
- Transgression and controversy in sonic, lyrical, and visual dimensions of metal
- Transgression of the genre and social boundaries in metal
- Political transgressions and controversies in metal
- Transgression and opposition via religious elements in metal
- Outsider interactions with metal’s transgressiveness
- Theoretical reflections on metal and transgression
The conference is multidisciplinary and is open for contributions from different fields (e. g. metal studies, musicology, the study of religions, anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, etc.).
Keynote speaker
Dr. Keith Kahn-Harris
Leo Baeck College; Birkbeck College
Registration
In-person participation is encouraged but online presentations are also acceptable.
For registration follow this link.
The deadline for registration is 15. 7. 2023.
The conference is without a fee.
Organizing bodies
- Department for the Study of Religions, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University
- Czech Metal Studies
- Metal Studies in Central/Eastern Europe
Organizing committee:
- Dr. Miroslav Vrzal (Department for the Study of Religions, Masaryk University, Czechia)
- Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová (Department for the Study of Religions, Masaryk University, Czechia)
- Mgr. Jana Nenadalová (Department for the Study of Religions, Masaryk University, Czechia)
- Mgr. Matouš Mokrý (Department for the Study of Religions, Masaryk University, Czechia)