Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2018 - CMNS 259 D100

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

Class Number: 2337

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: 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:

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 students’ perception and understanding of sound and its behaviour in the interpersonal, social, environmental, and technologically mediated spheres of cultural life. We’ll explore a variety of themes related to: sound and ways of knowing in the anthropocene; music-as-environment, acoustics and architecture; voice; soundscape analysis, acoustic ecology, noise pollution, sonic art, and urban sound design.  

Student work will consist of short listening journals, larger individual and team projects, 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

  • Soundscape Analysis Project 20%
  • Sound Journals (3 x 10% each) 30%
  • 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.]  

This course has a zero-tolerance policy for academic dishonesty or plagiarism. We take this issue very seriously and check very thoroughly for plagiarized materials. Please familiarize yourselves ahead of time with SFU’s policies, and how to avoid plagiarism, and check with the instructor or TA if you’re unsure how to use or cite materials: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing/plagiarism.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Schafer, R. Murray, Our Sonic Environment and the Soundscape: The Tuning of the World. (reprint) Destiny Books, 1993. ISBN-13: 978-0892814558.
ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0892814

RECOMMENDED READING:

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