Building upon the computational findings of WP1, WP2 seeks to track the cultural theoretical aspects of collective singing across the Scandinavian and Baltic regions. The goal is to contextualize the semantic shifts identified in WP1 within a wider cultural and social narrative, focusing on their implications for social cohesion amid historical crises. WP2 will dissect the role of collective singing in uniting or dividing communities during historical moments indicated by WP1 to be pivotal for collective singing.

Leveraging the semantic profiles produced by WP1, WP2 aims to establish a rich theoretical framework that situates collective singing as a central cultural technology influencing societal cohesion. This framework will serve as the foundation for interpreting the complex roles of collective singing within both historical and contemporary contexts. A core component of WP2 will involve an in-depth qualitative analysis of the wide array of sources nested in the datasets aggregated in WP1. The analysis will focus on identifying and interpreting the narratives, discourses, and representations of collective singing as they have evolved over time (Kuutma, Joons, Oras). 

Special attention will be given to the ways these sources reflect societal attitudes towards the function of collective singing during key historical periods of social crisis, aiming to uncover underlying themes of unity, division, resilience, and transformation with a special interest in demographics with a heightened risk of exclusion.

Impact: Beyond advancing our theoretical framework and empirical knowledge, WP2 seeks to translate its findings into actionable insights for cultural and social policymaking across the Baltic and Scandinavian regions. 

This WP is led by Kristin Kuutma.