Think Pieces “Tunes from Brainville: Improvised Jazz and/as Utopia”

In this piece, Greg Shupak examines the correlations between political visions of utopia and the space Daniel Fischlin and Ajay Heble refer to as the other side of nowhere, a space in which the world can be re-envisioned. Shupak uses Sun Ra’s “Brainville” as an example of how improvised music itself can create a sociopolitical imagination of a new politics, a utopia.

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Each month, a new Think Piece will be uploaded to the online home of the ICASP project to be shared, discussed, and debated. Full details, here.

Call For Think Pieces: We invite submissions of Think Pieces that range from 750-1250 words (approx.) and explore improvisation as it applies to different sites of theory, engagement, and practice. The papers can be creative or theoretical in nature, but should explore some aspect of improvisation and its possibilities for critical analysis, social action, and/or social belonging. A general format for the title of each piece should be as follows: “Think Piece: Improvisation and ______”. Papers do not need to be fully developed or scholarly in nature, and may seek to pose questions for future research. Submissions and questions should be directed to Mark Kaethler at: [email protected].