The adaptation and appropriation of Finnish folk poetry in contemporary Finnish metal music' by Charlotte Doesburg and 'Ukraine's First Party of Power? The Rise and Fall of the Party of Regions' by Edward Johnson

UCL SSEES Research students, Charlotte Doesburg and Edward Johnson will present their research in this double bill presentation.

Charlotte Doesburg will speak on the adaptation and appropriation of Finnish folk poetry in contemporary Finnish metal music.
The Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, has played an essential role in the creation of Finnish national identity. It has been subject to appropriation right from its publication in 1849 by Elias Lönnrot. Classical composers have written numerous compositions inspired by the epic. More recently, the poems have been appropriated by jazz and ‘new folk’ musicians and ultimately, from the 1980s onwards, it has been a source of inspiration for rock and metal bands. By using traditional folk poetry in their lyrics, musicians create a one of a kind variation of metal music that is closely connected to Finland and its history. To fully understand this sub-genre addressing how poetic material is appropriated into lyrics is not enough, it is necessary to look at previous appropriations and the current place of metal music inspired by folk tradition within Finnish national identity. Another essential part to fully understand this phenomenon is addressing the possible reasons for these appropriations.

During this seminar Charlotte will present her work on this topic so far and will focus on the various research questions raised by the literature review, which will include the concepts of national identity and metal scene, both international and in the case of Finland.

Edward Johnson will speak on his research that focuses on developing a better understanding of the concept of parties of power, centring on the example provided by the Party of Regions in Ukraine. He explores the party's relationship to power and set out the role it assumed prior to Yanukovych's election in 2010 and its evolution during his presidency. 

Edward is in the 4th year of his PhD at SSEES and returned in September 2016 from a year of research in Kyiv.