Dr. Jnan Blau

Jnan Blau

Associate Professor

Communication Studies Minor Advisor


Office Location

Faculty Offices North (47) 22-L

Office Telephone

805-756-2510

Email Address

jablau@calpoly.edu

Courses

  • Intercultural Communication
  • Performance of Literature
  • Group Performance of Literature
  • Technology and Human Communication
  • Public Speaking
  • Humanities World Culture (summers in Peru and Spain)
 

Education

  • Ph.D. Southern Illinois University, 2007
  • M.S.  Southern Illinois University, 2002
  • B.S.  Arizona State University West, 1999

Notes

Dr. Blau came to Cal Poly in fall 2008.  His research focuses on the intersection of performance and critical cultural issues. 
His work investigates, among other things: the communicative power of music, especially in a live, improvised context;
music fandom;  popular culture phenomena;  ecotourism in the Peruvian Amazon; and performance(s) of privilege.
 
He is co-editor, along with fellow Communication Studies Department
professor Richard Besel, of the book Performance on Behalf of the Environment.  
Dr. Blau’s work has appeared in the following academic journals:  Liminalities:
A Journal of Performance Studies
, Trans: Transcultural Music Review, Cultural
Studies
<> Critical Methodologies, and Popular Music and Society.  He wrote
the entries on Chilean icons Violeta Parra and Salvador Allende for the Encyclopedia
of Activism and Social Justice
.  He also has contributed essays to the blog section
of the music-and-politics website HeadCount.org
 
In his spare time, Dr. Blau greatly enjoys his two amazing children, listens to as much music as he possibly can (either blaring in his home, on headphones around campus, or in music venues across the country), strolls on the beach, likes the quality of light right before sunset, is a master griller,  tries not to eat too well, reads a book or two, plays an instrument or two, and has been spotted DJing here and there around the SLO area.
 
A sampling of Dr. Blau's work can be found here.
 
Dr. Blau and Dr. Besel's book, Performance on Behalf of the Environment,
can be found here.

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