What’s an Ethnomusicologist to Do?

After lunch Brandon looked for jobs on the Internet.

He read: Financial Analyst, Portfolio Associate, Dental Receptionist, Detention Services Officer, Helicopter Repair.

Just like the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before that, etc., there were no listings for Ethnomusicologist.

Ethnomusicology is all I am passionate about, thought Brandon.

Brandon had recently finished his Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology. Often he wondered why it seemed like no one besides himself realized how important it was to study music in conjunction with certain ethnographic and social phenomena.

He thought about all his Ethnomusicologist heroes.

Why would the world not want more Ethnomusicologists?

Soon he found himself looking at pornography.

We don’t normally post works of fiction on this site, but this story by Bryan Hurt in the New England Review, Middlebury’s quarterly literary magazine, is hilarious. Also discussed: race horses, gray whales, not paying your rent, and falling in love with your friends. Miranda July makes a prominent appearance. [via]

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