Music and Technoculture

This seminar explores ethnographic and theoretical approaches to the study of music technologies in cultural and historical context. How do emergent technologies affect the nature of musical experience? What does technology have to do with ideologies of musical creativity, authenticity, virtuosity, and aesthetic value? We will give equal attention to production, distribution, and consumption practices (and their convergence). Major topics include “liveness” and recording, remix and remediation practices, interfaces/instruments, labor and property, virtual scenes, and digital gameplay. Prerequisite: graduate standing or written permission.