NEW Course Offering for Autumn 2020
Monday/Wednesday • 9:35–10:55 a.m.
3 credit hours • Class #36573
Instructor: Jacob Kopcienski (kopcienski.2@osu.edu)
Online — Regular Zoom lectures/discussions and asynchronous assignments
The complex interrelationship between and among music, sound, media, commerce, political consent, and social dissent has both shaped and reflected the crucial social and political movements of American history, profoundly impacted the lives of individual Americans, and provided an economic foundation for a protest music industry. Using both topical and chronological frameworks, this course examines sonic and musical practices, and evolving media technologies, as well as selected political, social and commercial enterprises engaged in the creation and distribution of socio-political commentary and protest of which music and sound are central features.
Through lecture, media presentation, reading and class discussion, this course will both explore and critically examine the music and musicians of American protest and the social, political, economic and environmental circumstances that inspired it.
Instructor's Note
I am looking forward to teaching this course because protest movements and protest music are a rich part of American culture, politics and history. We will survey historic protest music and movements to better understand recent movements (Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, Climate March, etc.) and developments in social media and technology.
I am particularly excited to work with students on their course projects, which will explore the course themes through their own interests, skill sets and goals. Anyone looking to deeply and creatively engage with contemporary or historic protest music should consider enrolling or reach out to me with more questions.
Jacob has previously presented research on subjectivity, identity creation, and relational power structures in improvised and interactive electronic music at Columbia University’s Computer Music Center and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States Annual Conference. He is a frequent contributor for the contemporary music website, I Care if You Listen.
An accomplished saxophonist and electronic musician, Jacob is a member of Ohio State Sonic Arts and enjoys other artists to interpret existing works and create new ones. Visit Jacob Kopcienski's website.
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