2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ARTF3014 Making Sense of Sound

20 creditsClass Size: 18

Module manager: Prof. John Mowitt
Email: finjmo@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

Pre-requisite qualifications

120 credits at both levels 1 & 2

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

By the end of this module students will be able to draw attention to and complicate the "visual paradigm" that organizes humanistic inquiry. Students will be trained to attend to sound and to develop the analytical competencies for grasping how sound (noise, music, speech and silence) makes sense; how it both has meaning and how it challenges assumptions about how meaning takes place.

Objectives

To draw attention to and complicate the "visual paradigm" that organizes humanistic inquiry. To train students to attend to sound and to develop the analytical competencies for grasping how sound (noise, music, speech and silence) makes sense; how it both has meaning and how it challenges assumptions about how meaning takes place.

Learning outcomes
Awareness of sound events and the history of making sense of them across an array of disciplines. Familiarity with various perspectives within sound studies. Facility with the analytical tools available for the work of making sense of sound. Competence in thinking and writing about the global presence and circulation of sound.

Syllabus

First Week: how sound matters. Reading, J. Cage, 'Water Walk,' and J-L Nancy, 'The Sense of the World.'
Second Week: studying sounds I. Reading, J. Sterne's 'The Sonic Imgination,' and A. Kaganof, 'Night is Coming: Threnody for the Victims of Marikana.'
Third Week: studying sounds II. Reading, M. Schaefer, 'Soundscapes: The Tuning of the World' (selections)
Fourth Week: sources of sound (literature). Reading, F. Kafka's 'The Burrow.'
Fifth Week: sources of sound (music). Reading, L. Kramer's 'Why Classical Music Still Matters,' and J-F Lyotard, 'Music, Mutic.'
Sixth Week: sources of sound (radio). Reading, T. Adorno's 'Radio Physiognomics' and J.Mowitt, 'Avuncular Listening.'
Seventh Week: sources of sound (film). Reading, M. Chion, Audio-Vision (selections).
Eighth Week: sources of sound (nature). Reading, H.D. Thoreau, 'Sounds'
Ninth Week: making sounds I. Reading, G. Agamben's 'The Sacrament of Language.'
Tenth Week: making sounds II. Reading, K. Bijsterfeld's 'The City of Din.'

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will be expected to prepare outside class for each seminar. They must read, take notes, listen to relevant pedagogical examples, prepare to share their insights/examples with peers.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

All work will be received and evaluated by the module leader mid-semester. Written and oral commentary will be provided to each student. Attendance monitoring.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	1500 words	40.00
Assignment	2500 words	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 29/04/2022 15:22:37

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