Sound/Technology/Culture

Throughout the twentieth century, sound and technology have been interdependent in a number of different ways. Currently, we are almost constantly surrounded by sounds mediated by a series of recording and reproduction technologies, however, we usually take these for granted as part of our sonic ecology. In this course we will focus on these sounds and technologies, examining their connections to analyze cultural production as such. We will read literary and critical writings, watch films, and listen to music that highlight the technological mediation of sound. Topics to be discussed will include the histories of sonic technologies (record players, tape recorders, film sound, the internet, to name a few), noise pollution, muzak, sampling, DJing, and sound and geography. By foregrounding sound technologies, this course hopes to not only analyze how technologized sound permeates current life worlds but use these insights to highlight the technological mediation of contemporary everyday life.

Required Texts:

Attalli, Noise

Bull, Sounding out the City

Gilbert and Pearson, Discographies

Morton, Off the Record

Noon, Needle in the Groove

A course packet available at Quartet

Schedule

Week 1 Introduction

Attalli, Noise

Connor, “The Modern Auditory I”

Week 2 Morton, Off the Record

Week 3 Auslander, Liveness (Reader)

Gracyk, Rhythm and Noise (Reader)

Attalli, Noise (Chapter 4)

Week 4 Jones, Yellow Music (Reader)

Ogren, The Jazz Revolution (Reader)

Manuel, Cassette Culture (Reader)

Taussig, Mimesis and Alterity (Reader)

Week 5 Screening: Run Lola Run

Lastra, Sound Technology (Reader)

Chion, Audio-Vision (Reader)

Week 6 Berland, “Locating Listening” (Reader)

Schafer, The Soundscape (Reader)

Keightley, “Turn It Louder” (Reader)

Ellison, “Living With Music” (Reader)

Week 7 Bull, Sounding Out the City

Screening: I Like It Like that

Week 8 Screening: Scratch

Rose, Black Noise (Reader)

Fikentscher, You Better Work (Reader)

Reynolds, Generation Ecstasy (Reader)

Week 9 Screening: Modulations

Gilbert and Pearson, Discographies (Chapters 1-6)

Week 10 Noon, Needle in the Groove

Screening: Requiem for a Dream

Course Synthesis