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"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 1780

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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by studybelle

I just finished Alevels, and figuring out how to relax

Huge congratulations: not an easy feat at all even in "normal" times, let alone pandemic ones. You've done so well to make it this far. Whatever happens on results day, be proud of yourself! :biggrin:

And def relax lots now :yep:

Reply 1781

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

20

Woken up still feeling positive and motivated towards the PhD :woo:

Hoping to do some more prose blobbing today.

I'm struggling on a particular section of this chapter: explaining exactly what about the Mamma Mia! franchise can be regarded as camp/kitsch :holmes:

Obviously so many things to talk about there but I feel somewhat overwhelmed by it all and dunno where to start :redface:

I might ask to meet with my advisor again (he's the biggest ABBA fan out of my supervisory team, albeit not a hardcore fan!) on Teams, so that I can bounce ideas off him :beard:

Reply 1782

username5702009

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Woken up still feeling positive and motivated towards the PhD :woo:

Hoping to do some more prose blobbing today.

I'm struggling on a particular section of this chapter: explaining exactly what about the Mamma Mia! franchise can be regarded as camp/kitsch :holmes:

Obviously so many things to talk about there but I feel somewhat overwhelmed by it all and dunno where to start :redface:

I might ask to meet with my advisor again (he's the biggest ABBA fan out of my supervisory team, albeit not a hardcore fan!) on Teams, so that I can bounce ideas off him :beard:

I think you have a difficult chapter to write. I'm not an ABBA fan, but it seemed to me that the films tapped into the long running desire for feelgood musicals, perhaps a line that can be stretched back to Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals of the 50s. Or more recently the trend for 'jukebox' musicals such as We Will Rock You or the Green Day musical whose name I forget.

Reply 1783

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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by barnet1471

I think you have a difficult chapter to write. I'm not an ABBA fan, but it seemed to me that the films tapped into the long running desire for feelgood musicals, perhaps a line that can be stretched back to Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals of the 50s. Or more recently the trend for 'jukebox' musicals such as We Will Rock You or the Green Day musical whose name I forget.

Thank you so much for this insight! I should def write something about it being a 'feel-good' musical - great point! :biggrin:

There are certainly lots of strategically employed 'feel-good' things in both films, come to think of it :beard:

It's an easier chapter compared to the one I finished in May (Chapter 3, which took almost an entire calendar year to write! :tumble:

) but this chapter is certainly extremely meaty :eek:

I've got a chapter plan I'm fleshing out and I think this chapter may end up even longer than Chapter 3 (which was about 16K if I remember right) :headfire:

So much to say and so few words :cry2:

How are you doing? :h:

Reply 1784

username5702009

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Thank you so much for this insight! I should def write something about it being a 'feel-good' musical - great point! :biggrin:

There are certainly lots of strategically employed 'feel-good' things in both films, come to think of it :beard:

It's an easier chapter compared to the one I finished in May (Chapter 3, which took almost an entire calendar year to write! :tumble:

) but this chapter is certainly extremely meaty :eek:

I've got a chapter plan I'm fleshing out and I think this chapter may end up even longer than Chapter 3 (which was about 16K if I remember right) :headfire:

So much to say and so few words :cry2:

How are you doing? :h:

All is good for me except I cannot go to France in the autumn now. I have found where my French great aunt is buried and wanted to pay my respects. Local parks and Hampstead Heath for walking are a godsend.

Reply 1785

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

20

Original post

by barnet1471

All is good for me except I cannot go to France in the autumn now. I have found where my French great aunt is buried and wanted to pay my respects. Local parks and Hampstead Heath for walking are a godsend.

I am so sorry to read that you cannot pay respects to your French great-aunt, that's heartbreaking :frown:

My family is having issues regarding France too: my older sister (who lives in Boston, MA) wants to marry her fiance this summer and was hoping to have a small non-legal ceremony in London at some point in Sept. He's French and his family live in the Alps but what with everything going on, not sure they can come here by Sept/Oct :frown:

Yay for local parks! I've only been to Hampstead Heath once but it's such a nice place to walk around :yep:

Glad that isn't too far for you to get to! :yay:

Reply 1786

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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20

Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

I'm struggling on a particular section of this chapter: explaining exactly what about the Mamma Mia! franchise can be regarded as camp/kitsch :holmes:

Obviously so many things to talk about there but I feel somewhat overwhelmed by it all and dunno where to start :redface:

I might ask to meet with my advisor again (he's the biggest ABBA fan out of my supervisory team, albeit not a hardcore fan!) on Teams, so that I can bounce ideas off him :beard:

Had a really inspiring study session with one of LA supervisor's other supervisees this morning! It's unstuck my Mamma Mia! franchise discussion problem :yeah:

So excited to get this part of the chapter moving!!! :nutcase:

Reply 1787

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

20

Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

I'm struggling on a particular section of this chapter: explaining exactly what about the Mamma Mia! franchise can be regarded as camp/kitsch :holmes:

Obviously so many things to talk about there but I feel somewhat overwhelmed by it all and dunno where to start :redface:

I might ask to meet with my advisor again (he's the biggest ABBA fan out of my supervisory team, albeit not a hardcore fan!) on Teams, so that I can bounce ideas off him :beard:

Sent advisor an email about it: he's provided some reading suggestions and some YouTube clips of a film critic reviewing the two movies, which he says might prompt further thinking.

Looking forward to getting some more work done on this today :excited:

Then tomorrow, LA supervisor lands in London :crazy:

She wants to see for herself exactly how bad the covid situation is in London, before setting up any meetings, which is fair :redface:

Reply 1788

Scotney

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Sent advisor an email about it: he's provided some reading suggestions and some YouTube clips of a film critic reviewing the two movies, which he says might prompt further thinking.

Looking forward to getting some more work done on this today :excited:

Then tomorrow, LA supervisor lands in London :crazy:

She wants to see for herself exactly how bad the covid situation is in London, before setting up any meetings, which is fair :redface:

I wonder what she will see?

Reply 1789

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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by Scotney

I wonder what she will see?

Indeed...

She's on a plane!!! :gah:

We've tentatively agreed to have an outdoor celebration with one of her other supervisees (who recently got minor corrections for her viva!) in Kew Gardens on Fri 30th morning. We'll see: LA supervisor is v v worried about covid-19, so we're just all keeping things flexible :redface:

I probably won't have a face-to-face 1:1 with her whilst she's here but actually, I think it might be easier that way for me. Having conflicting feels about spending 1:1 time with LA supervisor in-person, having spent nearly 1.5 years solely on Zoom :colondollar:

Reply 1790

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

20

LA supervisor has landed safely :woo:

and has confirmed we will meet on Fri 30th morning :awesome:

Reply 1791

Scotney

20

Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Indeed...

She's on a plane!!! :gah:

We've tentatively agreed to have an outdoor celebration with one of her other supervisees (who recently got minor corrections for her viva!) in Kew Gardens on Fri 30th morning. We'll see: LA supervisor is v v worried about covid-19, so we're just all keeping things flexible :redface:

I probably won't have a face-to-face 1:1 with her whilst she's here but actually, I think it might be easier that way for me. Having conflicting feels about spending 1:1 time with LA supervisor in-person, having spent nearly 1.5 years solely on Zoom :colondollar:

Oh Kew Gardens is a great idea. and also having someone else there will break the ice nicely. Do not overthink this I often spook myself about things but when I get there I am fine. It will be nice to meet with new faces.

Reply 1792

Scotney

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Original post

by Scotney

Oh Kew Gardens is a great idea. and also having someone else there will break the ice nicely. Do not overthink this I often spook myself about things but when I get there I am fine. It will be nice to meet with new faces.

I think the weather is meant to improve again by then too. Fingers crossed!

Reply 1793

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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20

Original post

by Scotney

Oh Kew Gardens is a great idea. and also having someone else there will break the ice nicely. Do not overthink this I often spook myself about things but when I get there I am fine. It will be nice to meet with new faces.

Thank you so much for this, Scotney :hugs:

I spoke to my uni disability mentor for an hour today, ranting about this issue and she was very helpful. Feeling better about it now :redface:

Reply 1794

Scotney

20

Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Thank you so much for this, Scotney :hugs:

I spoke to my uni disability mentor for an hour today, ranting about this issue and she was very helpful. Feeling better about it now :redface:

Oh it is great you have support there. And it is very important to rant! I am a great believer in it! 😁

Reply 1795

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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Original post

by Scotney

Oh it is great you have support there. And it is very important to rant! I am a great believer in it! 😁

Ranting is the best and a particular skill of mine! :pierre:

Reply 1796

Scotney

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Ranting is the best and a particular skill of mine! :pierre:

Pretty good at it myself when required!!!

Reply 1797

The_Lonely_Goatherd

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Original post

by Scotney

Pretty good at it myself when required!!!

Reply 1798

Muttley79

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Original post

by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Ranting is the best and a particular skill of mine! :pierre:

Me three!

Great news re 30th - Kew is lovely :grouphugs:

Reply 1799

The_Lonely_Goatherd

OP

20

Original post

by Muttley79

Me three!

Great news re 30th - Kew is lovely :grouphugs:

Thank you! I haven't been there since... Oct 2019, I think. Something like that anyway. Am looking forward to going to Kew, now that my disability mentor knocked some sense into me :colondollar:

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

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