The University of the West Indies, at Mona, Jamaica Homepage

The University of the West Indies

at Mona, Jamaica

   

 

CONFERENCE RATIONALE

The Global Reggae 2008 conference will provide an opportunity for musicians, scholars, cultural practitioners and entrepreneurs from Jamaica and around the world to share their perspectives on the ways in which Jamaican reggae has been appropriated and adapted in a variety of cultural contexts. This international conference will also examine the local impact of the reggae music industry in Jamaica and assess ways in which the Jamaican economy can benefit through the development and encouragement of internationally competitive local music enterprises. The proposed conference sub-themes include:

  • The Roots of Jamaican Popular Music Revival
    • Mento
    Nyabinghi
    Jazz
    Jump Blues
    Afro-Cuban

  • The Rise of Jamaican Popular Music
    • Proto-ska/ Bluebeat
    Ska
    Rocksteady
    Reggae
    Dub
    Dancehall

  • Reggae’s Influence on World Music
    • Hip-hop
    Reggaeton
    Reggae Samba
    Jawaiian

  • The Technological Transformations of Reggae
    • Sound Systems
    Juke Box
    Radio & TV
    Recoding Studios
    Digital Technology Processes
    The Dub Plate
    The Internet

  • The Bob Marley phenomenon
    • The Wailers (1964-1973)
    The I-Three

  • Reggae’s Social and Political Contestations
    • Rastafari and Reggae
    Aesthetics
    Gender politics
    Political Activism
  • Reggae Scholarship
    • Ideologies
    Language
    Popular Press and Media
    Dancehall in Print

  • Reggae Arts
    • The Dance
    Reggae films/graphics/music videos
    Reggae, fashion and merchandise
    Performance/clash traditions

  • ‘Serious Ting’: Reggae music as business
    • Role and importance of collective rights management societies and trade associations

    Reggae music business in the digital, Internet and mobile communication world

    Back to basics – product development challenges (lyrics, work ethics, quality standards and contractual relationships)

    Investing in Reggae/Jamaican music – A case for private and public funding

    Jamaican music: catalyst for Jamaica’s creative industries

NB: The areas outlined above are not exhaustive or mutually exclusive. These are only selected to provide a guide / focus for panels, abstracts and papers to be submitted. The final publication of papers will be based on what is submitted and not necessarily restricted to the format of the call for papers. The conference seeks a wide interdisciplinary discussion on the issues of the theme and its sub-themes.