This Research Forum will begin with two presentations: one outlining the twists and turns on the road from idea to project in general, and one on a specific project currently in development.
After that, we will hold a workshop where we discuss project development in groups. Bring a good idea!
First presentation: Turning Vague Ideas into Strong Research Proposals, by Ragnhild Brøvig
In this talk, I will share some thoughts and lessons learned from writing RCN and ERC applications, reviewing others’ proposals, and participating in HF’s Career Development Program for ERC applicants. I will discuss the importance of (1) turning a vague idea into a focused, strong, and innovative one; (2) aligning your proposal with your research path, profile, and motivation; (3) maximizing the relevance and impact of your idea; (4) balancing broad relevance with sharp focus; (5) choosing an effective framework and storytelling strategy; (6) building networks and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations; (7) taking the “implementation” part seriously; and (8) ensuring clarity, space, and engagement throughout your proposal.
Second presentation: Heavy metal in the Middle East, by Erling L. Sogge
The heavy metal scene in the Middle East is gaining momentum. This particularly concerns its most extreme expressions including, death, black, and thrash metal etc. The goal of this project is to understand how the metal subculture has been able to build a passionate following in the Middle East, and claim a space for itself within hostile sociopoliticalsurroundings. It explores the emerging metal scenes in Lebanon, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia by asking: Who makes up the metal community here? How does it organize itself? What does its music reveal about its sense of belonging?The fact that metal has managed to thrive in countries characterized by authoritarian rule, conservative cultural norms, and limited public spaces might seem surprising. Consequently, researchers often liken Middle East metal to a "political movement" locked in feud with totalitarian forces. This perspective overlooks a crucial point. Subcultures do not seek to confront authoritarian regimes. They survive by finding a place to exist within them, while slowly pushing the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable. The project breaks new academic ground by exploring how subcultures function within authoritarian contexts and investigating which members of society tend to join such subcultural transgressions. It forces us to consider the social impact of a group seldom acknowledged in Middle East research; the resourceful yet disillusioned who neither challenge nor comply with the authorities.
Erling L. Sogge holds a PhD in Middle East studies from the University of Oslo, and is affiliated with the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (IKOS).