Invisible Influencers: Examining Absence in Popular Narratives 

Inspired by the absence of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges from the musical and military history canons, this series examines presence and absence in popular historical narratives as well as how they are sustained or disrupted. 

Part 1: Understanding Representation in the Historical Canon 

Featuring: Denise Frazier, Givonna Joseph, Demi Ward, Rosanne Adderley 

Thursday, April 20, 1:30 - 3:00pm 

Location: Greenleaf Conference Room. Jones Hall, room 100A Stone Center 

This conversation takes a broad look at race and representation in the historical canon. Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de St. Georges, easily raises questions about race and representation in musical history and, more broadly, European cultural history to say the least. This panel will examine how race, specifically Black people/people of the African diaspora, is and is not present in the popular historical imagination. With Joseph Bologne as our grounding through-line, this conversation will also be informed by the nuances of enslavement, socio-cultural status, social norms in 18th century France and how Bologne’s position and status in French society and the larger historical narrative is complicated by his identity as the son of an enslaved woman and a plantation owner on occupied land. 

Register here.

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Part 2: Archives, Libraries, and the Academy 

Featuring: Rachel Stein, Lee Miller, Liz McMahon and Sakinah Davis 

Tuesday, April 25, 3:30 - 4:30pm 

Location: Dixon Annex Recital Hall 

A lively discussion between academic researchers, librarians, and archivists exploring the relationship between archives that select, preserve, and provide access to historical artifacts, the researchers who seek theses artifacts out and integrate them into a historical narrative that is then collected in article or book form by the library and made available to future readers and researchers. Through this conversation, we’ll reveal how these mutual relationships perpetuate or disrupt biased historical narratives. 

Register here.

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Part 3: Guiding Listening to the Music of Joseph Bologne, Le Chevalier de Saint Georges 

Featuring: Courtney Bryan, Tara Melvin 

Friday, April 28, 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Location: Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, room 603

Join a guided listening experience to the music of Joseph Bologne, le Chevalier de Saint Georges.

Register for the event here.