July 7th One-Day Symposium prior to the Two-Day Ellul Conference: “Music and Antifascism: Reflections on the Past and Possibilities in the Present”
In advance of the IJES conference on July 8 & 9, IJES conference participants are invited to attend the previous one-day symposium on July 7 free of charge. “Music and Antifascism: Reflections on the Past and Possibilities in the Present” resonates with the spirit of Ellul’s radical notion of freedom, ethics of non-power, and commitment to grassroots activism by examining the possibilities for antifascist resistance specifically through music and sound.
How have artists resisted the global surge of far-right movements and authoritarian regimes through music and music-making? How has music been mobilized against fascism and fascist tendencies in societies in the 20th and 21st centuries? The aim of this one-day conference is to discuss the role of music in antifascist action in response to the recent surge in ultranationalist, xenophobic, discriminatory, and authoritarian regimes throughout the world, which threaten not only democratic governance systems and basic human rights, but also ecological sustainability. Antifascist resistance has long connected people across borders and time periods, yet has also manifested in distinctive ways in specific socio-political settings. Through discussions of historical and contemporary examples, participants will initiate dialogue that analyzes a diversity of musical activity related to antifascism, with the aim of illuminating paths for engaging in anti-oppressive politics through music and sound.