FYS: Phase-Shift: Decoding Innovation and Artistry in Video Game Soundtracks

3 Credits.

What does a circuit-board have in common with a composer? If you bend one, what happens to the other? The progression of electronic music throughout the last century is best defined by a series of creative triumphs over technical limitations. Pioneers like Wendy Carlos and Rebecca Heineman flourished within the rigid constraints of both the technology and culture of their time, creating sounds and forging identities that established them as influential figures as the MOOG synthesizer and home gaming consoles became staples of pop-culture.Carlos and Heineman find their contemporaries in modern artists such as Lena Raine, Megan McDuffee, and Paula Ruiz: video game composers whose careers and lives paint a compelling narrative of self-actualization as a critical step in discovering new frontiers for an art form. This FYS will provide students with the opportunity to examine the nature of creation and identity by deconstructing the technical aspects and the cultural relevance of the scores for video games including Wolfenstein 3D, Celeste, Kingdom Hearts, and River City Girls. Hands-on experiments with sound synthesis will illuminate the creative process of these works, and in-class discussions with living composers will provide an opportunity to speak to modern artists about the concepts discussed in class.