Experiencing Lockrop : A phenomenological approach to contemporary practice of Swedish herding calls

Abstract: The purpose of this master’s thesis is to gain knowledge and understand of contemporary lockrop(Swedish herding calls) practices from the perspectives of those who engage with it. It aims to dothis by paying close attention to the nuanced phenomenological aspects that may shape experiencewithin the moment in which practice occurs. Main research questions include: how do practitionersdescribe their experience of lockrop practice? How do they shape the practice aesthetically? Whattypes of benefits do they claim arise from engaging with lockrop, and what limitations do they face?Which factors hold the potential to alter and shape their practice experience? In order to achieve this,I have conducted multi-sited fieldwork in Sweden in the form of auto-ethnography, interview andparticipant observation with a strong focus on turning attention toward embodied perception of themoment. Eight participants were interviewed in a one-on-one setting, with a further fourinterviewed in a group setting. Participants ranged from established, performing practitioners tocomplete beginners. As a practitioner myself, I also kept a log of my own experiences of lockropunder the course of fieldwork in order to help build an empathetic understanding with participantanswers and bring the reader closer to the moment of experience. A cross analysis of qualitativefieldwork data revealed a nuanced and multi-layered range of participant experience that istransformative depending upon the individual, setting and circumstance. Despite this, severalidentifiable themes emerged. These include how lockrop practice is shaped aesthetically andexperientially when performed for an audience, how embodied perception of the practice shiftswhen it is engaged with for personal, recreational and/or enjoyment, how communicational aspectsof lockrop practice have been transformed when practice occurs outside of the pastoral andtraditional environment, the use of lockrop as a tool for individual well-being, and the impact thatperformance anxiety can have on practitioners. This study broadens current dialogues held aroundcontemporary lockrop practice in previous research. It emphasises the importance of turning to themoment of practice itself. Such discussions may prove fruitful in considering future potentialitiesand considerations connected to the teaching and usage of lockrop.