"Can't you hear me, S.O.S.?": TLG's PhD study blog!

New blog can be found here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7614702

26 year old ethnomusicology student (University of London) researching ABBA fandom, seeks TSR peeps to act as cheerleaders as she battles her way through PhD studies. Apply for cheerleading position(s) by following/posting on this thread :biggrin:

A bit about my PhD topic

A bit about my specific PhD project: I am doing an ethnographic study of ABBA fandom in the 21st century :awesome:

(Ethnographic means that there's a practical element to the research, like going to fan meet-ups/conventions and interviewing people, etc, rather than just theorising ABBA based on my own guesswork/conclusions.)

I chose to do this partly because I am an ABBA fan myself, but also because I think ABBA are an interesting case study, since they continue to be part of mainstream culture despite having never reformed. (They have actually turned down $1 billion USD in the past to reform :headfire:

) I figured there must be some interesting things to say about them!

I have been doing participant-observation fieldwork with the UK branch of the Official International ABBA Fan Club, and have interviewed an ABBA biographer, as well as the curator/director of the ABBA Museum in Stockholm. I've also been keeping tabs on Facebook groups revolving around ABBA. So a lot of my work involves hanging round on Facebook. Such a tough life I lead :emo:

A bit about me/some housekeeping rules

A few bits of contextual info about me/my PhD, for those who don't know me that well:

1. I suffer from schizoaffective disorder and am registered as mentally disabled. This inevitably shapes how my PhD journey goes a lot

2. Ethnomusicology is (put crudely) the social anthropological study of music. It is the study of "music IN culture" and "music AS culture" (Alan Merriam). Traditionally it referred to so-called 'world musics' but now it encompasses everything

3. My undergraduate degree is in music from Woosta College, University of Oxford. My MA degree is in music (ethnomusicology pathway) from Goldsmiths, University of London. Had a **** time at Oxford for many reasons which I will not discuss here, but which again shape the way I approach my PhD. Goldsmiths was much better. I am currently at a different college of the University of London (would prefer not to name it here).

4. If you are one of these people who like to put two and two together and find my uni website page/academia.edu - please DO NOT refer to me on here by my full first name, or my full name (first name/surname). I prefer to keep a degree of anonymity on here

If you wanna call me something, you may call me Shan or TLG.

Posted from TSR Mobile

(edited 4 months ago)

Reply 4900

Muttley79

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Didn't hear today, so guessing I wasn't chosen :sad:

Their loss - you'd have been great!

Reply 4901

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

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Original post

by Muttley79

Their loss - you'd have been great!

Thank you

Reply 4902

5hyl33n

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

My examiners emailed me last night, to say that they are happy with my corrections and have filled out the necessary paperwork to say I should be awarded my PhD! :woo:

Just waiting to hear from the Doctoral School administration, re: next steps :redface:

I recall you mentioning your PhD award in another thread, but @Muttley79 reminded me yesterday to extend my congratulations here as well. Congratulations once again on this well-deserved achievement. Your journey was far from easy and I am so proud of you. Have an excellent graduation and I wish you all the best in whatever you decide to pursue in the future.

Reply 4903

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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Awww thank you so much, really appreciate your kind words :hugs:

Reply 4904

Muttley79

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You are both amazing examples of what hard work and perseverance can achieve. :grouphugs:

Reply 4905

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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Original post

by Muttley79

You are both amazing examples of what hard work and perseverance can achieve. :grouphugs:

Reply 4906

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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It's graduation month :eek4:

Reply 4907

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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I don't feel able to get through graduation safely :frown:

so, at a friend's suggestion, I have requested an access arrangement to try and help things feel more manageable on the day. Let's see what uni can do to help :getmecoat:

Reply 4908

Muttley79

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

I don't feel able to get through graduation safely :frown:

so, at a friend's suggestion, I have requested an access arrangement to try and help things feel more manageable on the day. Let's see what uni can do to help :getmecoat:

I think this is a great idea and they should be able to grant you whatever you might need :grouphugs:

(edited 5 months ago)

Reply 4909

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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Original post

by Muttley79

I think this is a great idea and they should be able to grant you whatever you might need :grouphugs:

Thank you. Just so gutted that my health is this poor atm :cry2:

Reply 4910

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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In other news, there is a WHOLE CONFERENCE dedicated to all things ABBA taking place in France next year! I'm hopeless at international travel and it's very close to Easter 2026. But I'm tempted :beard:

https://idea.univ-lorraine.fr/sites/default/files/2025-07/ABBA%20CFP.pdf

Reply 4911

Muttley79

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Thank you. Just so gutted that my health is this poor atm :cry2:

Praying that you'll feel well enough to enjoy the day you've worked so hard for :grouphugs:

Reply 4912

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

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Original post

by Muttley79

Praying that you'll feel well enough to enjoy the day you've worked so hard for :grouphugs:

Thank you

Reply 4913

5hyl33n

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

I don't feel able to get through graduation safely :frown:

so, at a friend's suggestion, I have requested an access arrangement to try and help things feel more manageable on the day. Let's see what uni can do to help :getmecoat:

Reply 4914

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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20

Thank you

Reply 4915

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

20