Department of Art History

Pranathi Diwakar (PhD Candidate, Sociology) presenting Translation, Bilinguality, and Caste Identity in Musical Ethnographic Research. There is no pre-circulated paper. 

Pranathi Diwakar researches the relationship of music to politics, space, and caste in the southern Indian city of Chennai. Her ethnographic project engages with two live musical scenes in the city, Gaana and Carnatic music, each associated with caste groups of opposing valences. This project led her to investigate what the social acts of music-making can tell us about cleavages of social position, distinction, and resources in the unequal social terrain of urban India. Her research interests are at the intersection of urban and cultural sociology, and she is more broadly interested in the link between art, politics, and social movements. She also enjoys food, listening to music, and will most likely make you a playlist whether you want it or not.

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