MUS 203-01 - Topics in Ethnomusicology: History and Politics of Listening

4 credits (Spring)

Drawing upon a number of disciplinary approaches - from acoustics to psychoacoustics to sound studies to linguistic anthropology - we will work in this class to historicize and contextualize listening as a profoundly learned and culturally-informed human activity. We will study listening not only as a communicatory interface, but as a practice laden with ethical, political, and social import. Through close readings and discussions, daily listening assignments, and individual and group projects, we will examine diverse traditions of listening and hone our own listening skill sets. We will address the topic in terms of human perception and multisensory experience; physiology of hearing; health, wellness, and sonic violence; the legacy of colonialism and post-colonial studies; everyday soundscapes and noise; and forms of technological mediation. While centered on musical listening, we will also investigate intersections with non-musical sound and language.

Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Colwell