Music
Folk-metal declared to be racist and sexist
by Jeremy Mersereau
November 5, 2015
The metal sub-genre is said to promote white male European superiority.
Bearded boosters of folk-metal bands like Skyforger and Týr might be a bit more defensive of their chosen genre today, after a Leeds Beckett University professor published a study highlighting elements in the musical sub-genre that contribute to racism and sexism.
Professor Karl Spracklen analyzed the lyrical and ideological content of multiple folk-metal groups and published his findings in the Metal Music Journal, which he also edits. Here’s an excerpt:
“Folk metal’s obsession with warriors and cultural purity […] reduces belonging and identity in a multi-cultural, cosmopolitan society to a few exclusive myths. It is showing white men how to be white men and showing women and ethnic minorities their place in European society.”
For those who own less than five Mjolnir pendants and Celtic cross tattoos, folk-metal is a metal offshoot that was developed in the 1990s. It emphasizes traditional folk instruments and established, historic singing styles… not to mention excessive hurdy-gurdying. The lyrical content usually focuses on (Celtic) paganism, mythology, and broader (white, European) history.
Which is in itself fine! Spracklen argues, however, that folk-metal acts like Turisas create a ‘leisure space’ for groups that feel they have lost power in recent decades (i.e. white working class men) “who have faced challenges to their assumed privileges from women, globalisation, immigration and postmodernity.” These ‘leisure spaces’ are what Spracklen’s research is focused on; he’s interested in how people’s use of their free time can form their identity and sense of belonging.
It’s probably safe to assume you can deflect a lot more parental inquiries with “I’m a professor working on the concept of leisure'” than “I’m a professional pop culture junkie.” Aside: Professor Leisure was an awesome late ’80s party rapper.
“While I do not think that the folk metal bands focused on in this research are explicitly racist, they are certainly romantic, conservative nationalists who sell the idea and myth of racial purity,” Spracklen concludes. To any folk-metal fanatics who are currently sharpening their (hopefully rhetorical) battle axes: Yes, he’s probably aware you know “it’s all just a fantasy!” Spracklen is more interested in how the fantasy shifts and shapes your mindset.
In the end, as problematic as folk-metal may or may not be, it’s not even in the same league as the shit neofolk fans have to deal with.
