In this talk Prof. Ferraiuolo analyzes a Southern Italian dance and music called tammurriata. The origin of the name comes from the principal instrument used during the performances, a frame drum locally called tammorra. Prof. Ferraiuolo studies the displacement across space and time of the tammurriata from its original venues (churchyards, since the practice is very connected with Catholic devotions to the Madonna) to completely different arenas, such as stages and youth clubs. The process of displacement suggests different forms of body politics, from forms of prayer to political approaches to global issues. 

Augusto Ferraiuolo is a Lecturer and Visiting Scholar at the Department of Anthropology of Boston University. His work focuses on ritual and performances in a transnational and diasporic perspective. He published several books and articles in both English and Italian, including The Tammorra: Dance and Music of Southern Italy (2016) and Religious Festive Practices in Boston’s North End: Ephemeral Identities in an Italian-American Community (2009). He also served as a consultant for the edited Alan Lomax: Italian Treasury: Folk Music and Song of Italy (1999). Since 2011, he has been the Director of the Intimate Lens International Ethnographic Film Festival. He is also a musician who has performed in many sessions in Ireland, Italy, and the USA. His most recent recording is Riverrun, with the Irish-Italian band àr meitheal. His latest book is “Rites of spontaneity. Communality and subjectivity in traditional irish music session” (Cambridge Scholars).

Thursday 28 March 2024

16:30 - 18:00

Aula M.004

Stadscampus, de Meerminne (Building M) St-Jacobsstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen. 

Participation is free, but online registration is mandatory. 

This even is jointly organized by ViDi & MIGLOBA