MUS3390

Music aesthetics, criticism, sociology and psychology

M Kartomi and R Flora

8 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: MUS2110 and MUS2120
* Corequisites: At least two other third-year subjects

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject students should have a basic knowledge of the history of music aesthetics, criticism, sociology and psychology and their interdisciplinary relationships and an understanding of how to write about and discuss, in a cogent manner, what music is and what it means.

Synopsis Judgements about music and musical activities are based on aesthetic presuppositions. The subject deals with the history and theory of music aesthetics and the history, theory and practice of music criticism, sociology and psychology. Issues discussed include music as text and work of art; value, greatness and genius; affection, formalism, program music, musical forgery, phenomenology of music, postmodern music aesthetics, perception and cognition of experimental music, and the `styles of the future'.

Assessment Written (3500 words): 40%
* Examinations (2 hours): 40%
* Exercises (500 words): 20%

Prescribed texts

Hanslick E On the musically beautiful Hachett
Meyer L B Music, the arts and ideas U Chicago P