Fall 2022 - CMNS 359 D100

The Culture and Politics of Sound (4)

Class Number: 6817

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units. Recommended: CMNS 259.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

What do spectrograms, WWII and bird science have in common? What happens when we listen to sound and music? This seminar and lab course is designed to support active, applied upper level project work in the field of cultural sound studies using communications approaches, media analysis, audio production, and reflexive ethnography. Topics include but are not limited to: cultural aspects of listening, auditory perception, systems for measurement and evaluation of sound, soundwalking and urban sound design, race and gender dimensions of sound, audio techniques and formats in music production, sound design, soundmapping, and data sonification.

COURSE DETAILS:

What do spectrograms, WWII and bird science have in common? How do we talk about race or gender when we use sound in research and cultural observation? How can we use listening and sonic methods to engage with the politics of space, cities and technology? This course is designed in seminar/lab format as an intermediate level work group in the field of sound studies. The topics to be discussed in the seminars will include: history of listening technics, sound and digital media, issues of noise and urban sound design, mobilities of sound, soundmapping, aural cultures, data and sound, and sonic ethnography. The lab portion of the course will involve both demonstrations and case studies in support of seminar topics, as well as hand-on work and in-lab activities. Major student work will consist of an essay and an applied final project on a topic of current relevance in the fields of media and technology, political economy, or socio-cultural issues, as they relate to sound design and the politics of sound. Examples of general areas in which projects may be based are:

  • Sound in documentary or popular media
  • Fieldwork in the areas of noise pollution, architectural acoustics, or issues in urban sound design
  • Media soundscape analysis, including aspects of mediated listening
  • Sound and data
  • Uses of sound or listening in specific/professional domains (medicine, warfare, mental health, activism, politics, sport, etc.)
  • Oral storytelling / indigenous perspectives of sound

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The course aims to further develop both a theoretical and a practical understanding of sound as a problematic across different fields and applications. In particular, the course asks students to critically examine the use of sound in media and/or cultural contexts, and then develop an aspect of sound studies in their own projects.

By the end of the term students will be able to:

  • Identify major theories of sound and listening in relation to technology
  • Understand and be able to apply ethnographic approaches using sound and audio recording
  • Become familiar with basic sound editing and manipulation
  • Understand and be able to analyze sound in a variety of cultural applications

Grading

  • Essay 20%
  • In-lab Activities 30%
  • Applied Project 30%
  • Terminology Quiz 10%
  • Seminar Participation 10%

NOTES:

Late assignments: 5% penalty per day will be taken off for late assignments. If you have a valid reason to be delayed, feel encouraged to come and discuss this with me well ahead of time to strategize for a solution. This course has a zero-tolerance policy for academic dishonesty or plagiarism.

Academic Integrity: SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/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

Class Conduct:

This course depends on equipment sign-out for completing some of the course work. Please note that you are expected to engage in professional behavior and communication: your academic standing is your responsibility. Take care to plan your term well and ask for help where needed ahead of time. There are a multitude of resources available to you in the library’s Learning Commons, e.g. writing help, tutoring, and referencing help. In the case of technological failure, the onus is on you to ensure the (right) assignment has been successfully submitted (online).

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Required and recommended readings will be provided online in pdf via SFU Canvas.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/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