Alicja Knap

Area of proposed thesis

My research explores the relationship between music and identity, with a particular focus on how communities use music to define themselves. Supervised by Professor Sarah Hill, my DPhil will investigate how the Polish diaspora in England uses music to draw generational boundaries within this community, and how such boundary-making practices impact the wider British cultural sphere. While music has the power to bring people together, it can also divide, exclude, and other; consequences that can be deeply significant.

Outside of my academic work, I can often be found hiking up mountains or kayaking across lakes with my dog, accompanied, of course, by an esoteric folk soundtrack.

Research interests

Music and identity, Ethnomusicology, Migration studies, Music and consciousness, Popular music, Community music-making, 20th century historical musicology,

Funding

The Margaret Thatcher Scholarship Trust

Degrees

BA Music (Oxford) MSt Musicology (Oxford)