Music & Society

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Music & Society

Coursera (CC)
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Description

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About this course: Music plays an important role in our daily lives and is woven into the fabric of society. We listen to music while alone or in company, in a dance club or at home, through simple headphones or via high-end speakers, as background or as foreground, after we get up or before we go to bed. Music accompanies us when we are traveling, doing sports, shopping, working or relaxing. This omnipresence of music raises several questions: how does music affect our lives? What is the relation between the society we live in and the role, function, and position of music within that society? How is music influenced by and does music influence social, political, economic, technological…

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Didn't find what you were looking for? See also: Music, Digital Publishing & Editing, Leisure, Teaching Skills, and Audio.

When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan

  • Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
  • Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.

About this course: Music plays an important role in our daily lives and is woven into the fabric of society. We listen to music while alone or in company, in a dance club or at home, through simple headphones or via high-end speakers, as background or as foreground, after we get up or before we go to bed. Music accompanies us when we are traveling, doing sports, shopping, working or relaxing. This omnipresence of music raises several questions: how does music affect our lives? What is the relation between the society we live in and the role, function, and position of music within that society? How is music influenced by and does music influence social, political, economic, technological, and multiple other developments? Do these questions trigger you? Music and Society provides a thorough introduction to the various ways in which music and society are connected through engaging lectures, insightful interviews, challenging assignments, interesting readings, and of course a lot of musical examples. The course aims at increasing your insights on where, how and why we listen to music, how music contributes to shaping our identity, how music forms, expresses, and subverts political ideas, and how music affects our norms and values.

Who is this class for: This course is free, and will remain free for participants. You can purchase a certificate.

Created by:  Universiteit Leiden, University of the Arts The Hague
  • Taught by:  Marcel Cobussen, Prof.dr.

    Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities
  • Taught by:  Hafez Ismaïli M'Hamdi, PhD

    Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities
Level Beginner Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Universiteit Leiden Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden after they had withstood a long siege by the Spanish. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis — Bastion of Liberty. University of the Arts The Hague

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Welcome to the Course



Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about the various roles, functions, and positions music can have in our contemporary society. Before you start this course we invite you to first go through the introduction and introduce yourself in the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know in the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck and we hope you will enjoy studying in this course!


1 video, 5 readings expand


  1. Video: Music and society: general introduction
  2. Reading: Meet the instructors and the team
  3. Reading: Welcome to Leiden University
  4. Reading: Study tips for studying online
  5. Reading: Being successful in an international virtual learning community
  6. Reading: Behaving in an academic way
  7. Discussion Prompt: Introduce yourself


Music and Atmosphere



What do you think about background music? Does it disturb you or does it create a nice atmosphere? Do you think there is too much music played all day long? And why do people play music? In this first module we will basically discuss and reflect on three interrelated items: (1) How and why music is omnipresent in our contemporary society; (2) Music's influence on the specific atmosphere of a space; (3) How music affects and is affected by other societal developments.


7 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Video: "A day in the life of a listener"
  2. Video: Reflection on "a day in the life of a listener"
  3. Discussion Prompt: Is the "musicalization of culture" good or bad?
  4. Video: Music between consciousness and subconsciousness: An interview with Anahid Kassabian
  5. Video: Music between consciousness and subconsciousness: An interview with Thomas van Straaten
  6. Video: Reflection on the interviews with Anahid Kassabian and Thomas van Straaten
  7. Discussion Prompt: Do you think that background music is ethical?
  8. Reading: How can music and society be related?
  9. Video: "Music for Airports": The various roles of music
  10. Discussion Prompt: Can music have specific roles?
  11. Video: Music and atmosphere: Concluding discussion
  12. Discussion Prompt: Design your own sonic environment

Graded: Keeping a music diary

WEEK 2


Music and Identity



How does music affect identity and how does identity influence music? Is music only an expression of personal taste or is there more to say about this relation? In this module we will discuss and explore the relation between music and identity. We'll do this by discussing (1) how music influences personal identity and (2) how music influences collective identity and (3) how the 'structure of society' influences music as well as identity.


9 videos, 3 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand


  1. Video: Music and identity: An introduction
  2. Reading: Music and personal identity
  3. Practice Quiz: Music and personal identity
  4. Discussion Prompt: How my position influences my musical taste
  5. Video: Music and personal identity: the power from outside vs. the freedom from inside
  6. Video: Music and collective identity: One song, many identities
  7. Reading: Deconstructing identity: Mark C. Taylor
  8. Video: "I will survive": Music between repetition and difference
  9. Discussion Prompt: Same song, different meaning
  10. Video: Music and clashing identities: An interview with Daniel Barenboim
  11. Video: Reflection on the interview with Daniel Barenboim
  12. Video: Does social position affect musical taste? An introduction to Bourdieu
  13. Reading: Music and identity: Exploring Bourdieu’s views
  14. Practice Quiz: Music and identity: Exploring Bourdieu’s views
  15. Video: From inequality in society to inequality in music: Bourdieu’s critique
  16. Discussion Prompt: My musical preferences are really mine ... or not?
  17. Video: Music and identity: Concluding discussion

Graded: Hello my name is...

WEEK 3


Music and Politics



In this module we will investigate and discuss the relation between music and politics: how music affects politics and how it is affected by politics. Music may support political organizations and governmental institutions, it has the power to discipline the behavior of groups and individuals, but it can also act as a form of protest against a political status quo or dominant (political) discourses.


9 videos, 3 readings, 3 practice quizzes expand


  1. Video: Music and politics: An introduction
  2. Video: From noise regulation to national hymns: Music and the state
  3. Discussion Prompt: When can music become an effective "weapon"?
  4. Video: Music and culture industry: An introduction to Adorno
  5. Reading: Music and politics: The fetish character in music and the regression of listening
  6. Practice Quiz: Music and politics: The fetish character in music and the regression of listening
  7. Discussion Prompt: Regression of listening
  8. Video: Power is everywhere: From “politics” to “the political”
  9. Video: Disciplining and controlling: Music and the political
  10. Reading: Affective tonality? What's that?
  11. Practice Quiz: Affective tonality? What's that?
  12. Discussion Prompt: Can music really control our behavior?
  13. Video: Undermining authority: Music and subversion
  14. Reading: How music becomes noise: Jacques Attali
  15. Practice Quiz: How music becomes noise: Jacques Attali
  16. Video: The possibility of subversion through music: Adorno revisited
  17. Discussion Prompt: Enjoyment versus subversion
  18. Video: Music, cultural policy, and resistance: An interview with Louis Andriessen
  19. Discussion Prompt: How can music be subversive?
  20. Video: Music and politics: Concluding discussion
  21. Discussion Prompt: Can music be harmful and are restrictions therefore justifiable?

Graded: Politics and resistance in "national anthems"

WEEK 4


Music and Ethics



In this module we will explore the relation between music and ethics. Music influences behavior and certain judgments of behavior are ethical judgments. We will explore the relation between aesthetic good and ethical good music. We will discuss how hospitality can evoke a fruitful attitude towards music. We will discuss the role of music in human flourishing.


9 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand


  1. Video: Music and ethics: An introduction
  2. Discussion Prompt: Do we become better people through music education?
  3. Video: Music and virtue: Good music for the good soul
  4. Discussion Prompt: I'll take you to the candyshop
  5. Video: Music and hospitality: An introduction
  6. Video: Ethical listening and perceptual care
  7. Reading: Post-Modern Ethics: Beyond Good and Evil
  8. Practice Quiz: Post-Modern Ethics: Beyond Good and Evil
  9. Discussion Prompt: Can music make us more tolerant?
  10. Video: Music and respect: An interview with Ton Koopman
  11. Video: Reflection on the interview with Ton Koopman
  12. Discussion Prompt: Paying respect or taking responsibility?
  13. Video: Music and “Bildung”: Character first
  14. Reading: Music and ethics: Freedom, bildung and art
  15. Practice Quiz: Music and Ethics: Freedom, Bildung and Art
  16. Discussion Prompt: Discipline and Bildung
  17. Video: Music and engagement: An interview with Nanette Nielsen
  18. Discussion Prompt: How do we come from a musical ethics to a general ethics?
  19. Video: Music and ethics: Concluding discussion
  20. Discussion Prompt: Is downloading music ethically justifiable?

Graded: From music to behavior to judgment
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