Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences28: 'Our' Sounds - Music, Society, Community

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Hugh Barry Ziani De Ferranti

Class Format

Lecture

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

3-4 Wed

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.S428

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2021

Offered quarter

3Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 10, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

During these 7 weeks we will study firstly the multiple ways in which music has meaning for people, as members of social units and as individuals, and secondly the ways in which those who hold power, and those who contest power, use music to strengthen or transform ideas of collective or communal identity, such as ‘nation’ and ‘ethnicity’. With regard to the latter topic, all students are required to critically examine the use of music by hegemonic powers (or those who oppose them) in their own society of origin, and complete at least one written assignment on that issue. The weekly readings are by Thomas Turino and other researchers of music in relation to society, community, and identity. They will be discussed with reference to actual examples of music from diverse cultures (including so-called protest songs), and the assigned tasks will draw upon diverse musical experiences (as listeners/fans, learners, performers or even composers of music) among members of the class.

Course description and aims

Students will acquire the following knowledge in this course:
* Various representative viewpoints on the question 'why does music matter?'
* A set of terms and analytical concepts for thinking about how music has meaning for those who play or respond to it.
* How music functions to 'produce' individual and group or community identities, and how those in power MAKE USE OF MUSIC.

Keywords

society, participation, power, performance, identity, interpersonal and intercultural experience

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

1. All students must read the assigned texts and listen to any assigned music extracts in advance of each class, and submit by Week 6 a recorded oral summary in English of one of the readings.  
2. A short report (400 words minimum) will be due in Week 4.
3. A written assignment of minimum 1,000 words (not including References list) must be submitted in Week 7.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Music as Social Life: The Politics of Participation, by Thomas Turino (University of Chicago Press, 2007)

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Some additional and optional reading materials will be provided by the instructor.

Evaluation methods and criteria

written response to initial homework exercise (by Week 2)15%
oral summary of a reading (by Week 6) 15%
short written report (by Week 4) 20%
final writing assignment (by Week 7) 50%

Related courses

• LAH.S429 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences29:'Other' Sounds - Music, Minorities, Japan
• TAL.L404 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences29: 'Other' Sounds - Music, Minorities, Japan (Leadership)

Prerequisites

Neither prior experience of the discipline of Musicology nor advanced knowledge of music theory is required.  (If you are uncertain about this aspect, please ask the instructor by email before the class begins.)  What IS required is an ability to listen deeply, a genuine love of music and an earnest desire to understand why human beings cannot live without it, as well as how we can think, talk and write about music coherently. Ability to read and discuss academic texts in English is also needed.