John Shepherd

Biography

Professor Shepherd is cross-appointed to the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the School for Studies in Art and Culture, and the Institute for Comparative Studies in Literature, Art and Culture. He teaches cultural theory, cultural studies, the sociology and aesthetics of music, popular music studies, and theory and method in musicology. Professor Shepherd was from 1991-1997 the founding Director of Carleton’s School for Studies in Art and Culture, and from 1999-2000 the Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. From 2001-2005 he was an Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and from 2005-2006 the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Professor Shepherd’s research interests include the sociology and aesthetics of music, popular music studies, theory and method in musicology, cultural studies, and the sociology of music education. He has lectured extensively on these subjects in North America, Europe, Australia, South America and the Caribbean. Since 1995, Professor Shepherd has been Chair of the Editorial Board of the Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, a 23-volume reference work published by the Continuum International Publishing Group. Volume I (Media, Industry and Society) and Volume II (Performance and Production) were published in 2003. Volumes III-VII, on Locations, were published in 2005.

Research Interest

Sociology and aesthetics of music, popular music studies, theory and method in musicology, cultural studies, and the sociology of music education