Hello friends,

This is just a brieft entry to let you know that I'm still alive and kicking.  I haven't been posting this semester because my focus has been on my other research area - musical theater.  But the exciting news is that I may have something worth publishing in the very near future.  

Next semester, I should be able to turn back to fan-related things.  I'm taking a course on the Serial Narrative...topics include Doctor Who, which I'm squeeing a bit inside.  And maybe a bit on the outside too.  Earlier this year, Jessica and I tried to submit a panel on Sci-Fi and Music at this big music society meeting, but we were turned down.  We're now trying a different society.  Hopefully, they'll be nicer.  The paper that I wrote for that panel is related to fan musics.  

In terms of dissertating on filk, I have a dissertation adviser and a first reader!  They are two of my favorite professors.  Things are underway and I 99.9999% sure that this will happen.  It'll still be a year, however, before I can really kick into full-on research drive.    

Speaking of filk-y things, I realized that I planned in my head to go to ConCertino this year but have not actualized that into any concrete plans.  Anybody looking for a roomie?  *flashing sign above my head*

Hello lovely folks: Long time, no post. So I just presented my paper on Firefly's "Ballad of Serenity" in class.  Like JUST presented...we're on break now.  I sort of got reamed by my professor over the issue of Why.  So I'll pose the question to you guys.  More broadly, why participate in fandom?  More specifically, why filk?  

I had a lot of trouble answering this question.  I was a fan before I was an academic, and this in a way "compromises my critical distance."  Yet, for me (a few of my classmates agree), this is a question like, "Why do you like music?"  Or "Why do you play music that is over 100 years old?"  Is it because this "Art" music is high culture?  What automatically justifies classical music over, say, filk?  Does a legit distinction exist?

Any and all thoughts are appreciated.  (I'm about to post something similar on the Filk LJ, so please excuse the redundancy...)

Hello friends,

This is, as the title suggests...
( a request for your participation )
Thanks, in advance, for your participation.  In an unrelated but sad update, I've been trying to get in touch still with the FFP people.  I recently sent a message to Karen Praxel/Hanks via Linkedin on Tuesday, but have not heard back yet.  My email lead with Darrin Kean dead-ended.  Le sigh...I'm disappointed

So, I'm catching up some episodes of the Nerdist podcast while I'm doing my data-entry job. I can't listen to all of them...sometimes they're just too crude for my tastes. But, TANGENT. About 55 minutes into their "Casa de Queso" episode, they go into an interesting discussion of the differences between the terms Geek and Nerd. You can listen to it here: http://www.nerdist.com/2011/08/24750/  I'm curious as to people's thoughts on that.  Could Hardwick and Co.'s conclusion on that matter be applied to the definition of filk?

As for the sad news...I don't think I'm going to be able to afford to go to OVFF this year.  School started last week, and methinks it's going to be a crazy time (grading papers, writing papers, visiting family, etc.).  I'm quite a bit bummed, but once I finish coursework (which is next year), it should be much easier to con.  You can count on me returning to the NE Floating FilkCon though! 

So for now, I am just copy and pasting a transcription of another mini-interview that I recorded with markbernstein.  Embedded within it are my personal reasons for constantly asking the above question.



( MB: Unfortunately, [defining filk] tends to degenerate into a whole lot of hair splitting. )
*end of interview*


Before anyone else mentions it...I am familiar with madfilkentist's essay.  



I encountered an interesting article last week about defining the word "genre."  I am entertaining the idea of keeping the definition that filk is a genre of music.  But rather than wrestling with the left side of the equation, I want to work with the right side.  Meanng, what if "genre" needs to be better defined rather than filk?  It's just an idea that will probably end in a dead-end.  But my brain is urging me to pursue it...I think it's an early sign of academic insanity...

Well, College Humor already did it.

I find this quite interesting.  Anyone care to discuss it with me?  I experienced a variety reactions...

After much delay, here is the mini-interview that I had with markbernstein at Contata 6 on Parody within Filk. 

MB:  ( Parody is a long standing tradition within filk. )
Let me know what you guys think! 

Hey all,

You will be glad to know that I just spoke with Darrin Kean, one of the camera crew for the Filk Film Project.  *insert big grin*  He is going to put me in contact with Jim Hanks and potentially some others connected with the project.  It seems that when the economy dropped in 2008, all funding for the project vanished as well.  But it seems like efforts to revive it are in the works.  This is just hearsay, but I thought you all would want to know.  I'll update you as I find out more...

I feel like my brain's going to explode from all I want/need to do.  I'm going to channel my type-A sister right now and just organize the many filk-related things that I would like to do today/Wednesday into a list.  Tuesday will be reserved for my FELA! paper.

1) Read musicahumana 's two papers. - CHECK
2) Email people for recordings (Tom, Thesilee, Harold) - CHECK
3) Email more info regarding the filk film project. - INQUIRING FURTHER
4) Load all Contata recordings onto computer and organize CHECK
5) Transcribe my brief interviews with markbernstein 1/2 DONE
6) Anecdotal introduction for the PCA paper

Okay.  All that seems reasonably accomplishable.  Yea, I made up that last word.  Allons-y.

Wow...been absent a bit.  The paper I was working on passed with a couple of minor revisions, which mean that I will have my M.A. in Musicology by the end of the fall semester!  I just have to complete two more seminars, and I will be eligible.  My ulterior motive is to get my parents in town for a commencement ceremony, where they will feed me wonderfully for a weekend.  It's a diabolical plan.

Anyways, before I went on my self-imposed hiatus from LJ, I received a really interesting message from suecochran. ( Read more... )

Whew.  Just FYI, the Popular Culture Association put out a Call for Articles for a special issue on Fandom.  Jessica Getman, aka musicahumana , are working on a paper to submit.  We're currently brainstorming right now, but we'll keep you updated on the process.  

Feel free to respond below.  As always, I welcome your comments, suggestions, and criticisms.