MUS 235 - Special Topics in Music: Voicing Self

What does your voice do? Why is it that you can recognize someone almost instantly from the sound of their voice? Is there such a thing as “black voice”? If so, what is it? How do different cultures and people use voice to navigate social, political, and cultural issues, particular issues of community and identity? These questions will propel our uncanny foray into investigating voice as both a medium and metaphor, used for belonging to and critiquing systems of oppression. This course will be a broad overview of the ways in which voice intersects with race, gender, and sexuality. We will address the role of the voice in a broad range of genres and musical styles including queer lip-synching, “sonic blackness,” gospel worship, beat boxing, auto-tune, throat singing, and eunuchs. As we navigate these domains, we will address topics of authenticity, appropriation, voices of technology, and identity.  

Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
No music training required.