Metal in Strange Places Conference

11/14/2016

Hello everyone, sorry it has been so long but I have been in catch up mode since the conference ended. I fell way behind in teaching and planning. I do want to say a huge thank you to all of you who attended, presented, went to the fiction reading or the concluding show. Also the planning committee was amazing: Kevin, Brian, Alexis, Lynn, Jacob, Amanda, Dawn, Patrick, and Nathan--Thank You!! Overall the conference was a big success--and we came in under budget, wich always loks good for future endeavors.
A few of you have asked me when the next one is--not for three or four years, since our department is sponsoring other conferences and I would like to propose Dayton as the host for the 2021 ISMMS conference.
I still plan to send out an evaluation form for those who attended as well. Putting on a conference like this is a lot of work, but when we can have the kinds of discussions and do the kind of networking that we did I think it makes that much more worthwhile.
I hope to see you in Victoria for this year's ISMMS conference.
Bryan \m/

10/14/2016

Okay folks, here is the conference schedule. As you can see we have a ton of cool papers and a huge variety of topics. It's going to be a great three days. Please register!

Metal in Strange Places Conference Daily Schedule
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Keller Hall, University of Dayton Law School, Mathias Heck Courtroom
3:00-5:00 p.m.—Registration
5:15-5:30 p.m.—Welcome and Introduction: Bryan Bardine, Andy Slade (English Dept. Chair)
5:30-6:45 p.m.—Session #1
Session Chair: Bryan Bardine
Keynote #1—Tracy Reilly: “Heavy Metal in Court”
7:00-9:00 p.m.—Fiction Reading: Metal and Literature (Snacks and Drinks Provided)
Session Chair: Bryan Bardine
Dean Swinford: Reading from the Death Metal Epic Trilogy: The Inverted Katabasis and Goat Song Sacrifice

Friday, October 21, 2016
Kennedy Union Ballroom
9:00 a.m.-All Day—Registration
9:20-9:30 a.m.—Opening Remarks: Bryan Bardine
9:30-10:45 a.m.—Session #2: Metal Community around the World
Session Chair: Nelson Varas Diaz
Edward Banchs: “They Will Scream Quietly: The Metal Community of Zimbabwe in Times of Peril”
Kris Fletcher: “The Rise of Mediterranean Metal”
Felix Reyes: “Move Over J-Pop: Empowering Women Ruling with Resistance in the Japanese Jukinzoku Scene”
11:00-12:15 p.m.—Session #3: Metal and the Winds of Hostility
Session Chair: Brenda Walter
Matthew Unger: “Teaching Brutality: Methodological Reflections on the Study of Extreme Metal Aesthetics”
Eric Smialek: “Extreme Metal and Its Others: Metal Audiences’ Hostility Towards Adolescence”
Brenda Walter: “Visceral: Disemboweling the Bodily Architecture of Black Metal”
12:15-2:00 p.m.—Lunch Break
Jebeneezer Law: “Moments in Time: Capturing Dayton’s Metal Scene” photography exhibit will be in room 207 for the first half of each lunch break during the conference.
2:00-3:15 p.m.—Session #4
Session Chair: Amanda Reed
Keynote #2—Gabby Riches: “Researching on the Edges: Reconceptualizing Extreme Metal Female Fandom through Moshpit Practices and Affective Encounters”
3:30-4:45 p.m.—Session #5: Black Metal around the World
Session Chair: Brian Hickam
Mei-Ra St. Laurent: “Metal Noir Quebecois: Understanding Black Metal Representations of Nationalist Ideology in Quebec’s Black Metal Scene”
Russell Skelchy: “Worshippers of the Sugarcane Fields: Black Metal and the Politics of Inversion in Indonesia”
Brian Hickam: “To Cast a Shadow: Semiotics of Color in Black Metal Cover Art”
5:00-6:15 p.m.—Session #6: Which Side are You On?
Session Chair: Edward Banchs
Aaron McPeck: “American Folk Metal: Homegrown Sounds in Panopticon’s ‘Kentucky’”
Jasmine Shadrack: “Mater Onmium and the Cosmic Womb of the Abyss: Nomadic Interiorities and Matrifocal Black Metal Performance”
James Kopf: “From Helvete to Headphones: Black Metal, Disreality, and the Temporary Autonomous Zone”

Rest of Evening: Explore Dayton
We will have a list of local restaurants and bars in the area if you are interested in going out for the evening, including a sign-up sheet for various places.

Saturday, October 22, 2016
Kennedy Union Ballroom
9:00 a.m.-All Day—Registration
9:20-9:30 a.m.—Opening Remarks: Bryan Bardine
9:30-10:45 a.m.—Session #7: Researching Metal Studies
Session Chair: Ross Hagen
Ross Hagen, Nelson Varas Diaz, Jasmine Hazel Shadrack, and Joan Jocson Singh: “Looking for Metal: Rethinking Methodologies in Metal Studies”
11:00-12:15 p.m.—Session #8: Taking a Closer Look at Dayton’s Metal Scene
Session Chair: Bryan Bardine
Neilson Hixson, Jebeneezer Law, Marc Godsey, and Benny Bodine: “Exploring the Dayton Metal Scene from the Perspective of a Club Owner, Metal Photographer, and Two Musicians”
12:15-2:00 p.m.—Lunch Break
Jebeneezer Law: “Moments in Time: Capturing Dayton’s Metal Scene”
2:00-3:15 p.m.—Session #9: The Look, the Sound, and the Fashion of Metal
Session Chair: Brad Klypchak
Toni-Matti Karjalainen: “Exploring the Use of Country-of-Origin References in Metal Media”
Brian Kirkmeyer: “Engineering Design Concepts in Heavy Metal”
Amanda Barnett: “Denim Metals: Does Heavy Metal Dress Code and Subgenre Sabotage or Supercharge the Battle Jacket Experience”
3:30-4:45 p.m.—Session #10: Understanding at the Margins
Session Chair: Kevin Ebert
Kevin Ebert: “Teaching Metal: Navigating the Reactions in the Classroom”
Masie Kaiser: “The Myth of ‘Genderblindness’ in Metal Culture
Jeremy Wallach and Esther Clinton: “United We Shall Never Fail: Thoughts on Metal and Disability”

5:00-6:15 p.m.—Session #11
Session Chair: Chris Burnside
Keynote #3—Henkka Seppala: “Playing Metal for a Living and Studying Human Capital: The Music Scene, Scholar System, and their Future in Finland”
6:15-6:30 p.m.—Conference Closing

8:00 p.m.—Charity Concert Featuring: ZUEL, Engraved Darkness, EpiKisT,
4 Star Revival, and Forces of Nature
Oddbody’s Music Room
5418 Burkhardt Road
Dayton, OH
Ticket Price: $10 at the door

10/13/2016

Our next featured band who will perform at the charity show is Epikist: Here's a bit more about them:
Epikist

Founded in 2010 by drummer Jesse Poores and guitarist Shane Fallen, Epikist began in the humble start-up of an outdoor storage unit. The heat of the summer and the confined spaces helped shape the early sound of the band. Songs such as “Panic Mode,” with its shifty dynamics and utter insane back beat showed the direction of devastation!

With the addition of four string heavyweight Thomas Sampson on bass and the bearded wonder Joshua Paul on vocals the band became a force to be reckoned with. Blending the sounds that shaped them individually each member now brought everything they had and then some to the proverbial table. Pantera, Metallica, Clutch, BLS, Korn, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd....All combined with a healthy dose of in your face unabashed, unapologetic, angst made Epikist explode onto the metal scene.

Lyrics ranging from the loss of loved ones to the battles we fight everyday deep down, Paul never seems happy with what was said and there always seems to be more to come--there is, and that is what drives the audience to the next track. “ I never stop with lyrics, it is just one of those things that could be easier said in a novel than a 4 minute rock song, but the guys give me ample space to brood!” Speaking of room to brood, guitar reigns supreme as the EpiKisT war machine rolls on. Guitar solos are front and center! Guitarist Shane Fallen has his roots deep in music and seems to be the next incarnation of David Gilmour, if Gilmour played for Megadeth! Fallen combines meticulous finger work on his left hand with all the speed and dexterity of a sushi chef with his right. “Soul Within”, “Life Without Limits,” “The Last Straw”...these are true guitar anthems worthy of any sixteen year old budding musician to mimic in his bedroom mirror.

Bringing up the backbone of the band is drummer Jesse Poores and bassist Thomas Sampson. When the two hit it’s like watching Ali and Foreman going toe to toe. Thunderous bass lines are aplenty through riff rockers “Four Lines” and “Enough,” while the engine of this war machine is driven by the animal, Poores himself. With enough gravitas to make Buddy Rich fly off the handle, and speed to make the Rev wake up Jesse beats the drum like a madman calling the troops to rally.

An EPIK stage show rounds out the night as the four members of EpiKisT leave nothing behind on stage. When the lights come up till the lights go down, EpiKisT just flat BRINGS IT!

09/30/2016

For this year's charity concert which is attached to the Metal in Strange Places Conference, the proceeds will be splt between two local charities: The Alzheimer's Association of the Miami Valley and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Alzheimer's and demential have played a role in my (Bryan) my life for quite some time. Both of my in-laws suffered from it, and have passed away in the past. year. It's important to learn as much as we can about this terrible disease. Please read the attached description of the Alzheiimer's Association and share with friends and family.

About the Alzheimer’s Association
The Miami Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers a variety of programs and services free of charge across a nine-county region to those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia – whether you are a person living with the disease or a care partner.
The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease.
Programs and services are made possible through contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Programs and Services at the Alzheimer’s Association
We offer education programs that address specific interests of those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease personally or professionally, early stage programming for the diagnosed individual and their care partner, support groups throughout our nine county area, care consultations that will help provide an assessment of needs and assistance with planning and problem solving, caregiver respite, and a 24/ helpline at 800.272.3900.
Don’t hesitate to contact us anytime night or day at 800.272.3900 or [email protected] if you need help with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease or have any questions about the programs and services offered at the Miami Valley Chapter. If you’d like to volunteer, we welcome that too! We’re here for you and your loved-ones.

09/29/2016

Please take advantage of our new, blue "SIGN UP" button in the upper right corner! One click takes you straight to registration for the Metal in Strange Places Conference.

09/26/2016

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09/26/2016

Registration is ongoing for the conference. To register just go to http://ecommons.udayton.edu/metal_music and follow the steps. If you have any questions let me know.

Also our next presentation abstract to share is from Masie Kaiser. It is titled "The Myth of "genderblindness' in Metal culture."

The myth of "genderblindness" in metal culture

One of the most significant obstacles to talking openly about and improving gender dynamics in metal is “genderblindness.” Based on the concept of colorblindness developed by critical race theorists, genderblindness refers to the idea that one does not “see” gender; that gender is simply not a factor in one’s treatment of others or the way people are treated in society at large. Genderblindness is meant to be a positive attribute or a goal to which one should aspire; however, I argue that genderblindness is a myth and that its pursuit is harmful rather than helpful.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, gender and its associations constantly affect our decisions and relationships. When women are told that gender discrimination does not exist, they have no recourse for airing any concerns about sexism. In this way, genderblindness is a mechanism for maintaining the gendered hierarchy that places women, transgendered people, and non-binary people in a position of lower status.
Gender is ever-present in metal: it affects who we talk to at shows, how we evaluate a musician, where we stand in the crowd, and virtually everything else. But too often, when gender is mentioned, metalheads will assert that they do not “see” gender, or that everyone should receive the same treatment, ignoring the reality that some groups have different needs and are historically and politically situated differently than others. In this way, the claim of genderblindness is frequently used as a tool for avoiding a direct confrontation with sexism.
Placing recent work by metal scholars such as Rosemary Lucy Hill, Julian Schaap, and Susanna Nordström in conversation with my own ethnographic research, the presentation will explore the following: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a genderblind position? How is it present in metal? Who uses this concept, how, and why? What effects does genderblindness have on metalheads who are not men, and on metal as a gendered power structure?

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09/22/2016

The conference is just one month away! Are you getting ready? Registration is open and The Marriott at the University of Dayton is offering a special rate until September 30.

Our three keynotes this year are
Henkka Seppala, bass player for Children of Bodom
Gabby Riches, Doctoral candidate at Leeds Beckett University
Tracy Reilly, Professor of Law and Technology, University of Dayton School of Law

We also have a local panel featuring
Neilson Hixson, Owner of Oddbody's Music Room
Jebeneezer Law, Metal Photographer
Marc Godsey, Guitarist with Forces of Nature
Benny Bodine, Guitarist for Four Star Revival

09/16/2016

Here's a presentation abstract by Brenda Walter, titled "Visceral: Disemboweling the Bodily Architecture of Black Metal." Brenda's presentation will be on Friday, October 21 at 11 a.m.

“Visceral: Disemboweling the Bodily Architecture of Black Metal”

Black metal has the power to stimulate the mind, to bring the listener to the very edge of an intellectual nihilistic abyss. While the experience of Black Metal can be one of transcendence and annihilation, it is nevertheless rooted in the embodiment of the listener. Deep, dark, growling, heavy—the architecture of Black Metal’s primal sound and aesthetic are closely associated with the chaotic lower abdomen, including the generative organs and the bowels. This paper will examine the deep body-structures of Black Metal, beginning with the medieval construction of the viscera as a place of inverted and sinful darkness, the fetid locus of demons and Satanic evil, and the origin of wicked sexual rapacity. Theological treatises such as the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas and the De Universo of William of Auvergne, the miracle tales of possession and purgation recorded at the shrines of saints, and later witchcraft treatises such as the Kramer’s Malleus Maleficarum and Remy’s Demonolatry depict the bowels as demon-infested caverns that, when ruptured, reveal the festering evil within the mind-body of the afflicted. These same structures run like sinews through the inverted, necrotic, and ruptured bodily construction of Black Metal. Like a medieval exorcism, the ultimate goal of Black Metal is the purgation of fetid material and the exposure of the demons hidden within. However, unlike the exorcist who banishes the demon, Black Metal seeks to release it as a means of making visible the stinking offal of human platitudes and the delusional niceties of quotidian life. As in architectural Bowelism, in which the building’s intestinal pipes visceral vents are displayed on its exterior in an act of Brutalist honesty, Black Metal Bowelism brings the viewer-listener to the abject experience of their own soil and waste, their rootedness to the earth, even as they are transported to the intellectual abyss.