Meet Joanna Zienkiewicz
Joanna Zienkiewicz is a visiting PhD/guest researcher from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. During her stay at the School of Music, Theatre and Art, she aims to gain an greater international perspective and valuable experience as a doctoral student. Additionally, Joanna seeks to broaden her network and foster new research collaborations in the subject of Musicology.
What is your research about?
– My research focuses on the political roles of music, in particular as connected to protest movements and the contemporary rise of populism. Currently, I am in the middle of my PhD trajectory, for which I study the protest music written in Poland between 2015 and 2023, against the right-wing populist party Law and Justice that was in power at the time. By analysing songs, interviewing artists and protesters, and attending protests, I aim to show how contemporary political developments (such as the struggle between populist parties and those who oppose them) should be understood as also cultural phenomena.
What is your first impression of Sweden and the School of Music at Örebro University?
– I am thoroughly impressed by the opportunities for musical practice that the School of Music offers alongside a place for dissertation writing. Although my PhD is not practice-based, I also play the piano, so I make good use of the practice rooms and attend many of the students' concerts. I also fell in love with the Swedish fika - it's such a nice way to keep the work days structured, not too hectic, and to connect with colleagues!
What are you looking forward to most about your stay at the School of Music at Örebro University?
– I look forward to exchanging research ideas, experiences, and learning from the staff members here. I am definitely open to research collaborations, including interdisciplinary collaborations, and have already found the seminars organized in the department to be enriching.
How does your research relate to research that is already going on here at the university?
– Themes of music's political roles, especially as related to power and inequity, are already being studied within the Department of Musicology - this is one of the main reasons why I picked Örebro University as my research visit destination!
