Anthropology of Music 3106-AM

The anthropology of music deals with humans as creators and listeners of music. The course consists of a lecture and exercises. In the course of the lecture, the main areas of interest in the anthropology of music will be presented, as well as an overview of the history of this field of study. Exercises will be devoted to the discussion of readings that complement the problems of the lecture.

Term 2025L:

Anthropology of music deals with humans as creators and recipients of music. The course consists of lectures and classes. The lectures will present the main areas of interest in anthropology of music, as well as an overview of the history of this field of science. The exercises are devoted to discussing selected topics from supplementary readings that complement the lecture material.
Main topics:
1. Music begins with man – there is no music without him, and there is no man without music.
2. Culture – its formation in the course of human development and definition of the concept.
3. Human hearing, orientation in sound space and its construction, including noise, intentional creation and limitation of sound (e.g. in sacred spaces), zones and periods of silence.
4. Acoustic explorations, transcending horizons (including the use of ultra- and infrasound).
5. Music in animistic systems, examples of shamanism.
6. An outline of the history of anthropology and the anthropology of music.

Prerequisites (description)

The anthropology of music deals with humans as creators and listeners of music.

Course coordinators

Ewa Gruszczyńska-Ziółkowska

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student
- understands the basics of music anthropology
- is able to discuss the theories presented in the readings
- is able to apply anthropological thinking to his own work research

Assessment criteria

Oral examination in the material covered in the course after passing the qualifying colloquium in the practical classes.

Bibliography

Literature given for lecture and exercises.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3106-AM in USOSweb