CMUS 105 - Music in the Digital Dystopia

Semester Offered: First Semester
Credits (Range): 3 Hours
In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley foresees a dystopic world in which entertainment is the primary mode of discourse. The deluge of pleasures and thrills fundamentally alters the way that people perceive and experience the world around them. According to Huxley, enjoyment replaces thinking. Some have argued that this Huxleyan dystopia has been realized through the various entertainment technologies developed during the post-World War II era. Whether or not we are indeed living in a dystopic musical world, the digital revolution of the last three decades has fundamentally changed the nature of musical performance, consumption, and perception. This course examines the ways in which new recording and communications technologies have reshaped our musical experiences.
Instructor: C. Roust
Prerequisites & Notes
Enrollment Limit: 30