Biography

Seojoo Han is currently researching Florida’s underground metal music scene from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, a homegrown cultural force often overlooked in the state’s history. Collaborating with both active and retired local metal musicians, Han experiments with sonic and lyrical co-creation as a form of cooperative design, exploring new directions for participatory design (PD) beyond formalized approaches and mass-market DIY culture. Commissioned by the Palatka-based independent label TFT Records, the project will culminate in a cassette release in 2029. Please contact Seojoo (hans1@ufl.edu) if you know any active or retired participants from Florida’s underground metal scene. \m/ 

Accepting Graduate Students (Masters and Ph.Ds): 
I welcome inquiries from graduate students interested in pursuing research on topics such as the linguistic and material dimensions of contemporary grindcore, the formation and spatial practices of heavy metal publics, and explorations of “Floridaness” and the historical metal fandom of the Tampa Bay area.