Reclaiming an Untouchable Drum

Wednesday, April 8–Thursday, April 9, 2015, ARH Room 302

Published:
April 07, 2015

Zoe Sherinian, associate professor and chair of ethnomusicology, University of Oklahoma, will present two free public events about the reclamation of an untouchable drum, the parai.

Sherinian has conducted extensive research on the Dalit, a class of people in South India who were once called "untouchables." When conducting Hindu and Christian rituals, the Dalit use a frame drum, the parai. Sherinian's most recent research focuses on this drum and how its status in South India has changed over time.

The events are:

Film screening: This Is a Music: Reclaiming an Untouchable Drum
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Alumni Recitation Hall, Room 302
Sherinian will show her feature length film "This is A Music: Reclaiming an Untouchable Drum." The 74-minute film follows the story of a group of Dalit drummers who form a professional drum ensemble, and shows how they reconstruct their performance for urban audiences
Meaning And Performance of the Dalit Drum: A Lecture Demonstration
4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2015
Alumni Recitation Hall, Room 302
Sherinian will give a lecture on the meaning and performance of the parai drum. Sherinian will discuss the musical meaning derived from performance of the drum, and the ethnomusicology techniques she uses in her fieldwork.

The events are co-sponsored by Grinnell College’s Center for the Humanities, Center for International Studies, and the English, music, and religious studies departments.

Grinnell welcomes and encourages the participation of people with disabilities. Alumni Recitation Hall is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator at the south end of the building and accessible restrooms on the third floor. Outside entrances with automatic door operators are located on the southeast and southwest sides of ARH. Several accessible parking spaces are available along Park Street. Accommodation requests may be made to Conference Operations.

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