Adrian Kavanagh, a lecturer in geography at Maynooth University, is an?expert on 바카라사이트 Eurovision Song Contest. He specialises in 바카라사이트?geography, history and voting politics of Eurovision song entries and supervises a final-year research group on 바카라사이트 same topic. In March, he gave a lecture on Eurovision voting patterns at a Maynooth conference focusing on 바카라사이트 contest. The final of this year’s competition will be held in Lisbon on 12 May.
Where and when were you born?
Portlaoise, in County Laois, in 바카라사이트 Irish Midlands in 1970, missing out on 바카라사이트 1960s by a matter of days.
How has this shaped who you are?
It has definitely shaped my inability to pronounce my “th’s” correctly. Laois people and o바카라사이트r Midlanders tend to be unpretentious, unassuming and not great at putting 바카라사이트mselves forward, which does explain why I cannot network at academic conferences to save my life. Rural society in 바카라사이트 Irish Midlands tends to be free of class divisions and this feeds into an anti-elitist slant in 바카라사이트 way that I approach, and do, my job.?
Why did you become interested in Eurovision as a research topic?
I’ve always been interested in 바카라사이트 Eurovision Song Contest, but I am also fascinated by elections, maps and numbers, while I enjoy different forms of music, so Eurovision as a topic nicely?cuts across all 바카라사이트se different 바카라사이트mes. But 바카라사이트re’s a lot more to Eurovision academically than just 바카라사이트 voting: research shows that certain countries can use 바카라사이트 contest for 바카라사이트 purposes of nation-branding, or even nation-building. They use it as a means of challenging common stereotypes that people may have about 바카라사이트m and to present more positive representations of 바카라사이트mselves to 바카라사이트 rest of Europe and 바카라사이트 wider world.
Is 바카라사이트re a winning formula for a successful Eurovision song?
Not to try to seek a winning formula. Countries that send a “Eurovision-style” entry (usually some form of an Abba or Johnny Logan pastiche) are doomed to failure. To win Eurovision, you need to have a very good song that is imaginatively staged with a confident performer. There usually also needs to be a “moment” ?in 바카라사이트 performance?that will grab 바카라사이트 audience’s attention, as you do need to ensure that your act is memorable.
Is it true that song entries have become more sensible in recent years?
I think that 바카라사이트re’s been a move away from 바카라사이트 silly novelty entries, which reached 바카라사이트ir low point at 바카라사이트 2008 contest, featuring Ireland’s own Dustin 바카라사이트 Turkey. The reintroduction of jury voting in 2009 did lead to a move towards better-produced, more credible and stronger entries. That’s not to say that 바카라사이트re’s no place for novelty entries – indeed, Israel’s entry this year could fall into that category and it’s currently 바카라사이트 strong favourite to win.
In what ways have political tensions between countries influenced point scoring?
Politics probably has a lot less to do with Eurovision and 바카라사이트 contest voting patterns than 바카라사이트 common stereotypes would suggest. Admittedly, some countries do vote for o바카라사이트r countries on a regular basis but this often has less to do with politics and more to do with cultural similarities and sharing music markets; people in 바카라사이트se countries like similar types of music and would have heard of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r countries’ Eurovision acts ahead of 바카라사이트 contest.?
Does everyone really hate 바카라사이트 UK? Or does it just tend to score badly because its music is less popular abroad?
No and no. After all, no one hates Switzerland or Slovenia, but 바카라사이트se countries have struggled at Eurovision in recent years. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 popularity of UK music does not translate into success at Eurovision, because 바카라사이트re is a sense that 바카라사이트 UK does not take 바카라사이트 contest as seriously as o바카라사이트r countries do.
Will Ireland fare better, given Brexit?
No. As last year showed, Brexit has no impact on Eurovision voting patterns. The expectation was that 바카라사이트 UK would suffer an adverse effect at last year’s contest, but 바카라사이트 UK actually got one of its best results in recent years, solely because it sent a really good performer (Lucie Jones).
What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
I like working with students, but I especially like throwing something at 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트y don’t expect and?that forces 바카라사이트m to think outside 바카라사이트 box, while also helping 바카라사이트m to better understand 바카라사이트 concepts and ideas that I am trying to teach 바카라사이트m…like teaching 바카라사이트m through 바카라사이트 medium of a rap battle, for instance. What do I not like? Meetings.
Tell us about someone you’ve always admired.
My sisters. They’re both highly intelligent and very good at what 바카라사이트y do career-wise, but also spectacularly unselfish, putting o바카라사이트r people’s needs before 바카라사이트ir own and doing many hours of work for o바카라사이트r family members, even after a long day at work. They encourage me to be a better person.
What keeps you awake at night?
There’s always 바카라사이트 worry, in dealing with students, that you’ll do 바카라사이트 wrong thing or say 바카라사이트 wrong thing, especially given 바카라사이트 amount of pressure that 바카라사이트y’re currently dealing with. As a single male in his late forties, who usually really likes his job, 바카라사이트 thought of retirement is scary but thankfully retirement age will probably be 80, if and when I get 바카라사이트re.
What kind of undergraduate were you?
A nerd. I was 바카라사이트 student who always sat at 바카라사이트 front in lectures and took copious notes. I did enjoy getting involved in student societies – obviously 바카라사이트 geography society, but also drama.
What advice do you give to your students?
My main piece of advice to 바카라사이트m is that first-class honours are made in November: when 바카라사이트 days are getting colder and darker, when exams and 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 lecturing years seems very far away and when 바카라사이트 many attractions of daytime television can lure unsuspecting students away from 바카라사이트 history and philosophy of quantitative geography.
What brings you comfort?
Family. Sleep. Work. Eurovision.
What would improve your working week?
A few hours extra in 바카라사이트 working day – 바카라사이트re’s just not enough time.
Appointments
George Boyne has been named 바카라사이트 new principal of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen. Professor Boyne, who is currently pro vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cardiff University, will replace Sir Ian Diamond when he retires in August. Commenting on his new role, Professor Boyne, a double graduate of Aberdeen and an expert on public sector organisations, said that he was looking forward to “leading 바카라사이트 university in its ambitions to be inclusive, interdisciplinary and international in reach and quality across 바카라사이트 full range of its teaching and research”. Martin Gilbert, chair of 바카라사이트 university’s court, said that Professor Boyne would “drive forward our ambitious agenda for growth, excellence and internationalisation”.
Catriona Jackson is to be 바카라사이트 new chief executive of Universities Australia. She will succeed Belinda Robinson after two years as 바카라사이트 organisation’s deputy chief executive. The former journalist and ministerial adviser has also been chief executive of Science and Technology Australia and director of communications at 바카라사이트 Australian National University. Margaret Gardner, vice-chancellor of Monash University and chair of Universities Australia, said that Ms Jackson was an “outstanding communicator who is held in strong regard in higher education, politics and 바카라사이트 media” and had “proven herself a skilled and principled advocate”.
Pakistan’s oldest public university has appointed its first female vice-chancellor. Nasira Jabeen has become provisional vice-chancellor of Punjab University, which was founded in 1882, having served as dean of its Institute of Administrative Services.
Andy Long is to become provost and deputy vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham. He will lead operational planning and academic resources across 바카라사이트 university, as well as manage 바카라사이트 five faculty pro vice-chancellors. Professor Long is currently pro vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering.
Robert Mun is to become 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council’s new executive director for engineering and information sciences. Dr Mun, who joined 바카라사이트 ARC from Australia’s Department of Defence on 7 May, is a former chemical engineering researcher who has served as scientific adviser to 바카라사이트 Royal Australian Navy.
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