2nd Global Conference: Urban Popcultures

Michna Palace, Prague, Czech Republic

This inter- and multi-disciplinary conference aims to examine, explore and critically engage with issues related to urban life. The project will promote the ongoing analysis of the varied creative trends and alternative cultural movements that comprise urban popultures and subcultures.

In particular the conference will encourage equally theoretical and practical debates which surround the cultural and political contexts within which alternative urban subcultures are flourishing.

Conference themes include:

1. Popular, Alternative, and Underground Music Cultures
Alternative and Underground Dance, Electronica, Hip Hop, Gothic, Punk
and Post-Rock Scenes. Local, Regional, and Global Scenes. The
Mass-Appropriation of Underground Music. Independent Music Cultures.
Popular Music Theory.

2. Subcultures, Communities, and Codes
Underground and Alternative Ideologies and Lifestyles. Issues of Gender,
Sexuality, and Identity. The Avantgarde and Urban Codes. Urban Religion
and Religious Expressions. D.I.Y.

3. Theories and Critical Studies of Popular Culture
Histories, Representations, and Discourses on Independent Scenes. The
Frankfurt School. The Visual Turn. Urban Intertextualities and
Intermedialities. Cultural Appropriations. Postmodernity and Beyond.

4. Popular and Subversive Expressions in Fashion, Art, Film, and Literature
Urban and Contemporary Life and Themes Considered in Music, Literature,
Art and Film. Urban Fashion, Style, and Branding. Pop Art. Graffiti. Low
vs. High Culture.

5. The City as Creative Subject/Object
Virtual Urbanity – Online Communities and the Impact of Social
Networking. Urban Identity and Membership. Globalization/Localization of
Urban Experience. Recent trends in Copyright/Copyleft. The Role of
Internet in the Transformation of Music Industry. The Impact of
User-generated Content.

6. Conflict, Popular Revolt, and Politics
Music and Politics. Race and Music Styles. Music Revolutions.
Generational Conflicts. Class Divisions. Ageing Music Fans and
Cross-generational Cool. New Schools vs. Old Schools.

7. Popular Culture Online and in Massmedia
The Visual Aspects of Urban Entertainment. The Evolution of Music and
Thematic Television. Media Structure of Music Video. Explicit TV and
Censorship.