Read on Twitter
It is way too early in the morning for this, but apparently a scandal is brewing in music theory on race and diversity so I& #39;m going to do my best to recap it for #academictwitter and #twitterstorians.
Consider it the musical equivalent of this convo: https://twitter.com/BazziNYU/status/1286740934466719744">https://twitter.com/BazziNYU/...
Consider it the musical equivalent of this convo: https://twitter.com/BazziNYU/status/1286740934466719744">https://twitter.com/BazziNYU/...
Music theorist Phil Ewell gave a plenary presentation at the Society for Music Theory (SMT) conference in 2019 called "Music Theory& #39;s White Racial Frame." https://vimeo.com/372726003 ">https://vimeo.com/372726003...
In the presentation, Ewell examined how, in spite of the field& #39;s efforts to diversify, music theory scholarship was still mostly white and the composers they taught were mostly white.
https://mtosmt.org/issues/mto.20.26.2/mto.20.26.2.ewell.html">https://mtosmt.org/issues/mt...
https://mtosmt.org/issues/mto.20.26.2/mto.20.26.2.ewell.html">https://mtosmt.org/issues/mt...
It was a data-driven presentation, more than anything else.
http://philipewell.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SMT-Plenary-Slides.pdf">https://philipewell.com/wp-conten...
http://philipewell.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SMT-Plenary-Slides.pdf">https://philipewell.com/wp-conten...
So it looks like the Journal of Schenkerian Studies, run by @ @UNTCoM, just published an issue with 14 responses to Ewell& #39;s plenary address. 12 are by men, 1 by a woman, 1 is "anonymous." All (presumably) white.
https://mhte.music.unt.edu/issues ">https://mhte.music.unt.edu/issues&qu...
https://mhte.music.unt.edu/issues ">https://mhte.music.unt.edu/issues&qu...
Some of the written responses are, um... well, I& #39;ll let you see for yourself: https://twitter.com/pmgentry/status/1287208962220265472">https://twitter.com/pmgentry/...
Did the Journal of Schenkerian Studies really publish a response to Professor Ewell& #39;s scholarship that was "anonymous"? Yes. https://twitter.com/d_chaloux/status/1287166090863357952">https://twitter.com/d_chaloux...
Did the Journal contact Ewell to let him know about their issue and give him a chance to reply to any of this?
Lolololololol no. https://twitter.com/philewell/status/1287210043159568386">https://twitter.com/philewell...
Lolololololol no. https://twitter.com/philewell/status/1287210043159568386">https://twitter.com/philewell...
Music theory twitter is calling foul. https://twitter.com/BardicKnowledge/status/1287354693589622784">https://twitter.com/BardicKno...
They& #39;re pointing out that the field& #39;s own racial origins and history are already well-known. https://twitter.com/dankettercello/status/1287221763999440904">https://twitter.com/danketter...
And they& #39;re drawing attention to how Ewell& #39;s words are being mischaracterized and used against him for the sake of defending Schenker/Schenkerian analysis: https://twitter.com/postmoshemendel/status/1287307582328242176">https://twitter.com/postmoshe...
I& #39;m not a music theorist. But I& #39;ll be paying attention to how this conversation develops. It& #39;ll be interesting to revisit this tweet a year from now and see if/how anything& #39;s changed.
https://twitter.com/prof_kozak/status/1273707528870932489">https://twitter.com/prof_koza...
https://twitter.com/prof_kozak/status/1273707528870932489">https://twitter.com/prof_koza...
Phew! Did I miss anything, gang? If not, I& #39;m going to finally get my coffee and do some gardening. Self-care is healing! Peace out!
Addendum: Toru& #39;s tweet, which deserves a read: https://twitter.com/toru_momii/status/1287214559225405442">https://twitter.com/toru_momi...
Okay now I really am going to drink my coffee and do some gardening because *someone* has to trim back the lemon balm growing in the raised bed.
