The Politics of Soul: Music, Emotion, Embodiment (MHI4305.01)

Joseph Alpar and Brian Michael Murphy

How do various musical traditions seek to carry listeners toward a realm of emotional feeling and even to mystical experience?  From soul in American rhythm and blues, to tarab in Arab music, hüzün in Turkish music, saudade in Brazilian music, and duende in Spanish Flamenco, there are numerous concepts that describe transcendent musical performance. This course will examine various theories of affect, emotion, ritual, and embodiment to explore the ways that music can transport performers and listeners alike to altered states of consciousness. We will also study the role of media technology in these global practices, as sound recordings are employed in sample-based music to conjure collective memory and commodify nostalgia as well as produce specific emotional and political effects in their audiences.


Learning Outcomes:



Delivery Method: Entirely remote (synchronous)
Prerequisites:Permission of instructor. Please send a paragraph explaining your interest in the course.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 2
W 2:10PM - 4:00PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 16
Course Frequency: One time only

Categories: All courses , Entirely Remote , History , Media Studies
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