Audio Tech, Music & Society

Students in this course will explore the connections between the changing nature of audio technology and cultural and social movements and functions from the perspectives of both music producers and music listeners/consumers. Over the last century, recording technology has shifted from physical acoustic recorders to digital audio workstations and consumer products have shifted from wax cylinders to online streaming services. Each step along either of these paths has had a profound impact on the ways in which people interact with music and the ways in which social and cultural groups related to music function and maintain and identify themselves. In examining this set of relationships through course readings, classroom discussion, student-led classes, and original research, students will both learn to make direct connections between the studies of audio technology, of music production, and of music consumption and also gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which these fields rely on each other to function in a social and cultural context.