School Of Humanities And Communication ArtsMusic and Critical ThoughtWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 102573.1
Discipline: MUSIC
Student Contribution Band: 2
Level: 3
Credit Points: 10
Equivalent Units
101529 - Music and Meaning, 101742 - Music and Philosophy
About this Unit
Music and Critical Thought considers definitions of music and how music is constituted. It asks how we encounter and experience music, and what makes a piece of music aesthetically pleasing and who decides. It asks whether the meanings attributed to music are as much intrinsic as they are cultural. The unit considers emotions and feelings in music, and why we would listen to music if it makes us feel sad. When music is used as an instrument of torture is it still music? How do we view the composer in the musical work? Where does creativity reside in a musical work? Is there a difference between musical thinking and thinking about music? Is music representational or immanent or both? Is music political? The unit provides an historical overview of the important debates and considers the poststructuralist critique of these debates. Students will design a question chosen from the topics covered in the unit, and retrieve and critically evaluate the appropriate literature for their project.
Courses| 1651.7 | Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) | CONTINUING |
| 1651.8 | Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) | CURRENT |
| 1655.8 | Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars) | CONTINUING |
| 1655.9 | Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars) | CURRENT |
| 1659.4 | Bachelor of Music | CONTINUING |
| 1659.5 | Bachelor of Music | CURRENT |
| 1696.4 | Bachelor of Communication | CURRENT |
| 1706.3 | Bachelor of Arts | CONTINUING |
| 1706.4 | Bachelor of Arts | CURRENT |
| 1708.3 | Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth - 5/Birth - 12) | CONTINUING |
| 1708.5 | Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth - 5/Birth - 12) | CURRENT |
| 1736.2 | Bachelor of Communication (Dean's Scholars) | CURRENT |
| 1738.2 | Bachelor of Music (Dean's Scholars) | CONTINUING |
| 1738.3 | Bachelor of Music (Dean's Scholars) | CURRENT |
| 1808.2 | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science | CONTINUING |
| 1808.3 | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science | CURRENT |
| 1818.2 | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business | CONTINUING |
| 1818.3 | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business | CONTINUING |
| 1818.4 | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business | CURRENT |
| 1822.1 | Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) Dean's Scholars | CONTINUING |
| 1822.2 | Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) Dean's Scholars | CONTINUING |
| 1822.3 | Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) Dean's Scholars | CURRENT |
| 1841.1 | Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Creative Industries | CONTINUING |
| 1841.2 | Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Creative Industries | CURRENT |
| 1842.1 | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Creative Industries | CONTINUING |
| 1842.2 | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Creative Industries | CURRENT |
| 3654.3 | Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology/Bachelor of Arts | CURRENT |
| 6005.1 | Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts | CONTINUING |
| 6005.2 | Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts | CONTINUING |
| 6005.3 | Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts | CURRENT |
| 6017.3 | Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth-5/Birth-12) | CONTINUING |
| 6017.4 | Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth-5/Birth-12) | CURRENT |
| 6019.1 | Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) | CONTINUING |
| 6019.2 | Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) | CURRENT |
Specialisations