Study of the terms and means by which we make and defend judgments involving the exercise of aesthetic sensitivity or perceptiveness. Consideration of the relationship between aesthetic qualities and aesthetic value. Discussion of aesthetic criticism as the means by which the capacities and salience of works of art are called to our attention and brought into focus. Topics include questions of taste, expression, and affect.

Thinking about the intellectual, affective and neurological experiences, the meaning and value, and the aesthetics and politics of music has occupied an important position in modern and contemporary philosophical writings. Central to these theories is a questioning of what music is insofar as it is an art form and practice, akin to but different from other arts, such as drama, literature, painting, sculpture, to name but a few examples. Claims have been made, in fact, that music’s effect, when created, performed and listened to, surpasses those of the other arts because of its supposed abstract purity, its universality, and its singular capacity to express, represent and incite emotions. This course will explore such issues in 19th-21st century, mostly Western, philosophies of music and sound studies. Among the theorists to be read are: A. Schopenhauer, F. Nietzsche, T. Adorno, R. Barthes, J. Derrida, E. Said, J-L Nancy, P.Szendy, F. Moten, J. Sterne, F. Okiji. Theory is crucial but so is practice. It is here we will have the occasion to reflect on the uses and abuses of music in racial politics and in censorship trials; in war and in literature; in murder and in patriarchy; in film and in media. Students will repeatedly be called upon to extend their own listening practices and to introduce music and incidents into the classroom discussion. There will be a RH108 blog and playlist to which students will make weekly contributions. An oral group presentation and final project are required. The syllabi will be revised according to the movement of our classroom discussion. Final class list will be determined at the end of the second week of classes.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills