Dr Rachel McCarthy

Staff details

Dr Rachel McCarthy

Position

Lecturer in Musicology

Department

Music

Email

r.mccarthy (@gold.ac.uk)

Rachel is a musicologist, focusing on 21st century music and politics.

My research focuses on intersections between music, musicology and politics in the 21st century. Specifically, I have explored the role of musical parody and satire as social and political critique. My current book project looks at the relationship between anti-capitalism and the politics of difference in YouTube pop parody videos. I am also interested in musicology as political activism, and I recently co-founded a study group on music, Marxism and social difference that explores Marxism in music studies from anti-racist and feminist perspectives. Previously, my work has focused on gender in 21st century popular music.

Academic qualifications

  • New College, University of Oxford, BA (Hons) 2012
  • University of Southampton, MMus Musicology 2014
  • Royal Holloway, University of London, PhD 2020

Research interests

Satire, parody and comedy; twenty-first century music; popular music; gender; Marxism; meta-musicology