Sound is a major component of the environment: it’s what we listen to as music and what we endure in noisy urban life; it’s an expression of science and art, as well as of social, political and psychological aspects of our lives.

The course is an interdisciplinary investigation of sound. We will consider the role of sound in all the arts and in contemporary life and thought. 

The semester will be organized around topics within the study of sound: defining sound, sound space, sound and image relationships, voice, sound technology and notions of public/private; of globalization and modes of culture; anthropology of sound and sonic ethnomusicology, sound textures, noise and silence past and present. Guest speakers will speak on those subjects; we will have readings and in class discussion. During the semester each of you will produce several sound-based projects and two short writings.