Amplified

Cultural historian Josh Kun researches music and migration in Berlin this spring, asking ‘what music can do to us, and what music can do for us’

todayMarch 10, 2018

  • play_arrow

    Cultural historian Josh Kun researches music and migration in Berlin this spring, asking ‘what music can do to us, and what music can do for us’ Dina Elsayed

 

Culture historian and 2016 MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient Josh Kun says although there’s no “magic science” to figuring out a city, there are at least three types of places he visits from the outset: bookstores, record stores, and stationery stores. Plus, he eats out – preferably street food.

Originally from Los Angeles, Kun is in Berlin as a Bosch Fellow in Public Policy at the American Academy and is researching the relationship between music and global migration, specifically forced migration, and issues of displacement, detention and deportation. “What keeps propelling me forward is a much larger question about what music can do to us, and what music can do for us,” whether understanding this world, imagining a new one, or grieving one left behind. One area he’s been exploring is the Arabic music scene in Berlin, which he says is growing fast.

Kun has found Berlin a fascinating backdrop for his research: “For a student of 20th century issues around freedom, justice, nationalism, community, society, belonging – these key issues that are central to my work – it’s just an extraordinary place.” The L.A. native is also happy he can get by without driving. “The trains, everybody takes the trains. And they’re clean!”

Kun will be presenting some of his research in a talk at the American Academy on March 20 entitled “Sounds of Detention, Sounds of Escape: Listening to the Migrant Songbook.”

The track heard in the piece is called “Down With The Homeland” by the Syrian group, Mazzaj Rap Band.

Photo by Salvador Ochoa

Written by: Dina Elsayed


Previous post

Amplified

International students convene at John F. Kennedy School for annual Honor Choirs festival

  At 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night, 200 students from all over the world will be taking the stage at the RBB Große Sendesaal in Berlin for the annual High School Honor Choirs Festival. The festival was established by the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) and has taken place annually since 1976. The event gives participating students the opportunity to work with renowned conductors and to travel to […]

todayMarch 3, 2018


CONTACT US

Common Ground Berlin is a podcast and funded solely through grants and listener support. It belongs to the non-profit organization Common Ground Berlin e.V.

0%