Intro Week: What do we do when we listen (in the humanities)?
Aug 5: Intro
Intro class. Please bring your laptops, if you have one.
Aug 7: Listening as research
Reading: R. Murray Schafer, “Open Ears” (keywords: soundscape, acoustic ecology). Watch online Audacity tutorial (split, time shift, envelope, saving as different file types).
Assignment: Write response to Schafer. Bring in 2 tracks that represent your sonic background. Introduction to audio editing (uploading tracks and cutting)
In class activity: Discuss Schafer. Create playlist.
Aug 9: First Blog Post
Unit One (Alenda): media studies/environmental studies approaches to sound
Aug 12: MEDIA/GAME studies
Reading: Jonathan Sterne, “The mp3 as cultural artifact” and Karen Collins, excerpt from Game Sound
Assignment: Reading response to Sterne.
In class: Pick 1-2 partner(s) for your podcast research project and develop a list of possible topics.
Aug 14: Environmental sonification
Reading: Carlo Patrão, “Botanical Rhythms: A Field Guide to Plant Music” and Rachel Carson, “A Fable for Tomorrow” from Silent Spring
Assignment: Reading Response to Patrao. In class, begin drafting an outline of your podcast script, including potential interviews and sound samples.
Aug 16: Second Blog Post
Aug 19: Gender and voice
Reading: NPR’s Fresh Air “From Upspeak To Vocal Fry: Are We ‘Policing’ Young Women’s Voices?”
Assignment: “Reading” response to NPR podcast. In-class editing time.
Aug 21 Globalization and music
Reading: Steven Feld, “The Poetics and Politics of Pygmy Pop”
Assignment: Reading response to Feld. Rough cut due, time for peer review.
Aug 23: Submit Project 1 podcast and reflection blog post for project 1
Unit Two (Trish): Listening as a Mode of Inquiry
Aug 26: Listening Methods
Reading: Chion “The Three Listening Modes”
Assignment: Reading Response to Chion
In class activities: Visit Special Collections
Aug 28: Arguments in Sound
Reading: Assignment: Eddie Francisco Alverez “How Many Latinos in the House”
Reading Response: Read and respond to Alverez.
In class Activity: Class visit from Daisy Muralles about public radio.
Aug 30: Blog post: Submit Project 2 Proposal
Sep 2 (Labor Day – Class cancelled)
Sep 4: Sound in Context
Reading: Read and reflect on “Speaking in Tongues”
Assignment: Reading Response. Before class, submit first rough draft of Project 1.
In class activity: Peer review in class.
Sept 6: Blog post due: Listen and learn from kcsb.
Sep 9: Accessible Sound
Reading: Oserio and Iwertz Composing Captions
Assignment: Revise rough draft of Project 2
In class: Final round of peer review and design.
Sep 11: Submit project 2 research article and reflection essay
Sep 11: Showcase
In class showcase of student projects. Discussion of student projects. Final reflection exercises.
