Presenter: Lily Strobel – Asian Studies, Global Studies
Faculty Mentor(s): Alisa Freedman, Kathie Carpenter
Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Sex, Drugs, & Music
The Ainu are an indigenous population native to northern modern-day Japan who have historically been suppressed and erased by the Japanese government. One of the ways they have resisted this governmental action is through music. In this presentation, how the Ainu use music as a tool to preserve their culture will be analyzed, both historically and in the modern context. To develop an understanding of the Ainu as a population, an in-depth literature review of their history was conducted, particularly as it pertains to music. This information informs an analysis of how music is used in the modern day. Two principal musical approaches were identified: the traditionalist approach, where artists perform music in traditional styles; and the fusionist approach, which combines traditional Ainu music with elements of more modern music, such as reggae or dub. Both of these approaches have the dual purpose of exposing non-Ainu to Ainu culture, as well as a way for Ainu to find belonging and express their heritage. Because the two approaches are drastically different styles of music, they will naturally attract different demographics. By understanding how music specifically is used to preserve Ainu culture, a more robust understanding of how arts in general can be used to the same end will develop. The underlying framework needs only to be slightly altered to map onto other fields, such as dance or literature.