Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2017 - CMNS 259 D100

Sound Studies I: Listening, Culture and Society (3)

Class Number: 1004

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to sound as a communications medium and listening as a cultural as well as perpetual practice. Designed to develop the student's perception and understanding of sound and its behaviour in the interpersonal, social, environmental, media and creative fields. Explores a variety of cultural themes related to sound and listening with special reference to acoustic design and sonic environments. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

Overview:

This course is an introduction to sound as a communicative medium, and the practice of listening as a cultural as well as a perceptual practice. The course is designed to develop the student’s perception and understanding of sound and its behaviour in the interpersonal, social, environmental, and technologically mediated spheres of cultural life. We will explore a variety of themes related to: sound and ways of knowing in the anthropocene; acoustics and architecture; voice; soundscape monitoring and analysis, acoustic ecology, community noise research, sonic art, and urban design from an aural perspective.

Course work will consist of three substantial soundscape projects, short listening journals, a terminology quiz, in-class participation and general engagement in the course content, including via dedicated channels on social media. Assignments will be judged according to imagination, technical and creative competence, quality of written reports, command of terminology, and familiarity and engagement with the weekly readings.

Grading

  • Projects (2 x 15% each) 30%
  • Sound Journals (2 x 10% each) 20%
  • Quiz 10%
  • Final Project 30%
  • Participation 10%

NOTES:

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03, and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline. [Note: as of May 1, 2009 the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Schafer, R. Murray, Our Sonic Environment and the Soundscape: The Tuning of the World (reprint). Destiny Books, 1993.
ISBN: 9780892814558

Other required readings will be made available to students on Canvas.

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