HHIS-276: Broken Music

Broken Music is a seminar class about the history and practice of sound in the arts beginning in the early 20th century, through post war, and up to the present. We will look at and listen to the sonic Avant-Garde of Europe, experimental sound practices in the United States, in other parts of the world, and alternative histories and practitioners will also be presented. This seminar is particularly interested in the multiplicity of sound in contemporary art practice and how that can be connected to other known art movements and genres of fine art. The history, technological advancements, current discourses, and contemporary practices will be presented as they are related to the sonic fine arts. Readings, reading responses, class discussions and presentations will comprise the class time. A selection of texts that situate and theorize sound in relation to art practice will be provided for reading and class discussion.