Visual & Auditory Arts

Can music be viewed as an inviolate, independent realm, devoid of additional layers of meaning and cultural significance? Moreover, in the discourse on modern culture, why is music often regarded as aloof, neglecting its profound connections with various adjacent areas, such as fashion, religion, and every other facet of human activity? “Arts & Music” is a two-quarter course tailored for students to explore the intersection of music and culture, particularly the intriguing processes that connect different art forms.

The primary approach of the course centers on cultural studies, shaping discussions across a broad spectrum of examples, including operas, ballets, instrumental music, film soundtracks, and popular songs. Notable works by influential figures like Wagner, Scriabin, Eisenstein, and contemporary pop artists will be scrutinized to unveil the cultural mechanisms fostering artistic synthesis — a pursuit that has captivated the Western mind since Antiquity.

Structured with weekly lectures and accompanying seminars, the course, while largely chronological, does not adhere strictly to the trajectory of art or music history surveys. Nonetheless, its primary objectives encompass cultivating critical perception and appreciation of artworks and musical compositions, fostering an understanding of historical lines of cultural development, and elucidating the principles governing alliances between different art forms.