Spring 2018 - CA 344 D200
Contemporary Music Analysis and Criticism (3)
Class Number: 13053
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
GOLDCORP
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Instructor:
Eldritch Priest
epriest@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
CA (or FPA) 245.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An in-depth investigation of selected social, critical and theoretical issues associated with contemporary music, with special emphasis on the period c. 1945 to the present. Issues discussed might include such theoretical concerns as integral serialism; indeterminacy; process music; timbral concerns; or new approaches to melody, harmony and tonality. Critical topics such as music and technology; popular music and the mass media; or critical issues connected with world music might also be considered. The material of the course will be presented through the study of scores, recorded examples and when possible, live concerts. This course can be repeated for credit.
COURSE DETAILS:
Typically, courses on the philosophy of music begin with the imposing question: “What is music?” Responses to this question are manifold, but usually they assume a common point of reference, which is “the musical work.” But what is a musical work? Is it an idea? If so, is it an idea in the composer’s, the performer’s, or the listener’s mind? Is it a score? A performance? An algorithm stored in the Music Genome Project? In this course, we begin by considering the concept of “the musical work” and how it has shaped both practice and ways of thinking. We will consider traditional and contemporary attempts to answer these questions by drawing on a number of specific interpretive frameworks and theories, such as Expressionism, Symbolism, Formalism, Acoustics, Cultural Theory and Phenomenology. However, we will also consider how music has informed or haunted philosophy, which is to say that we will look at the ways in which “music” (whatever that means) has been explicitly or implicitly taken up by such thinkers as Nietzsche, Adorno, and Deleuze and Guattari. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to criticize these approaches and advance their own critical thinking about music. The purpose of the course is to expand our understanding of music as one of many sonic arts with its own signature species of expression, but also to cultivate a philosophical sensibility towards a ubiquitous human practice.
Grading
- Participation 15%
- Class animator: (twice during the term) 10%
- Reading summaries 40%
- Paper 35%
NOTES:
PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS (15%)—ongoing Come each week—ON TIME—prepared to discuss the readings. I’d prefer to preclude the type of discussion that simply focuses on a text’s logical inconsistencies or ideological subtext. Whether or not you agree with the premise of a work try to read for what motivates the argument and understand what vision the author is striving to convey. If you have a criticism that will advance the class discussion or productively inflect or improve the text’s arguments, then you’re welcome to share these.
CLASS ANIMATOR (10% ) ONCE during the semester you will be responsible for sustaining the day’s discussion. The primary purpose of your role as provocateur is NOT to simply summarize the reading but to facilitate conversation. I’d like you to begin each class by introducing a few salient points about the day’s given topic. From these points you must deduce at least TWO questions that will provoke discussion. Your introduction should always include listening/visual material.
READING RESPONSES (40%) (4% x10)
· Your reading responses will constitute a reply to ONE of the two discussion questions proposed by the class “animators,” and will be guided by the issues and arguments raised in relevant texts and during class discussion.
· You will upload your response to Monday’s question(s) by Tuesday evening.
· Your writing should entail only enough recapping or summarizing of the text and its concepts to convey the argument that you want to make.
· Be sure to include at the top of your response the question to which you are responding.
· Reading responses should be at least two to three paragraphs in length (ca. 300-450 words) — a little longer if you get inspired.
RESEARCH PAPER (35%)
You will be responsible for selecting a topic that pertains to philosophy and music and composing a research paper that addresses a selected topic found in the readings or discussed during class.
· Proposal (due 26 February) 5% o Topic and abstract of proposed research (ca 300 words)
· Draft (due 12 March) 10% o First draft of paper
· Completed paper (due 9 April) (20%)
- 8-10 pages (double-spaced)
- At least FIVE scholarly references (Wikipedia and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy don't count)
- I don’t expect a philosophy paper that adheres fascistically to the rules of argument (i.e., “validity,” “soundness”); however, I expect a work that avoids platitudes and clichés and instead demonstrates a sustained and thoughtful engagement with one of the concepts or positions you found interesting during the term. Your work should also use a recognized scholarly reference system (Chicago, MLA).
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Almost all of our readings will come from The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Music (edited by Theodore Gracyk and Andrew Kania). The rest will be available via Canvas. You MUST bring each days’ reading to class. (This will count towards your participation mark.)
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS