4.6
stars
60 ratings

Marcel Cobussen +1 more instructor

11,920 already enrolled

Offered By

Universiteit Leiden

University of the Arts The Hague

The Importance and Power of Music in our Society

Universiteit Leiden

About this Course

6,336 recent views

Music plays an important role in our daily lives and is woven into the fabric of society. We listen to music while alone or in company, in a dance club or at home, through simple headphones or via high-end speakers, as background or as foreground, after we get up or before we go to bed. Music accompanies us when we are traveling, doing sports, shopping, working or relaxing. This omnipresence of music raises several questions: how does music affect our lives? What is the relation between the society we live in and the role, function, and position of music within that society? How is music influenced by and does music influence social, political, economic, technological, and multiple other developments? 
Do these questions trigger you? Music and Society provides a thorough introduction to the various ways in which music and society are connected through engaging lectures, insightful interviews, challenging assignments, interesting readings, and of course a lot of musical examples. The course aims at increasing your insights on where, how and why we listen to music, how music contributes to shaping our identity, how music forms, expresses, and subverts political ideas, and how music affects our norms and values.

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 19 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 19 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.2/5 (6 Ratings)

Marcel Cobussen

Prof.dr.

Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities

11,920 Learners

1 Course

Hafez Ismaïli M'Hamdi

PhD

Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities

11,920 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

Universiteit Leiden

Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge and prepares them for careers both within and outside of academia. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis (Bastion of Liberty) - Freedom of spirit, thought and expression. Leiden University has a campus in Leiden and The Hague, with 7 faculties, 47 Bachelor Programmes, 79 Master Programmes and nearly 30,000 students.

University of the Arts The Hague

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(3,416 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Welcome to the Course

Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about the various roles, functions, and positions music can have in our contemporary society. Before you start this course we invite you to first go through the introduction and introduce yourself in the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know in the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck and we hope you will enjoy studying in this course!

1 hour to complete

2 videos (Total 7 min), 4 readings

3 hours to complete

Music and Atmosphere

What do you think about background music? Does it disturb you or does it create a nice atmosphere? Do you think there is too much music played all day long? And why do people play music? In this first module we will basically discuss and reflect on three interrelated items: (1) How and why music is omnipresent in our contemporary society; (2) Music's influence on the specific atmosphere of a space; (3) How music affects and is affected by other societal developments.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 65 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

7 videos

"A day in the life of a listener"3mReflection on "a day in the life of a listener"8mMusic between consciousness and subconsciousness: An interview with Anahid Kassabian18mMusic between consciousness and subconsciousness: An interview with Thomas van Straaten11mReflection on the interviews with Anahid Kassabian and Thomas van Straaten6m"Music for Airports": The various roles of music8mMusic and atmosphere: Concluding discussion8m

1 reading

How can music and society be related?15m

Week2

Week 2

5 hours to complete

Music and Identity

How does music affect identity and how does identity influence music? Is music only an expression of personal taste or is there more to say about this relation? In this module we will discuss and explore the relation between music and identity. We'll do this by discussing (1) how music influences personal identity and (2) how music influences collective identity and (3) how the 'structure of society' influences music as well as identity.

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 92 min), 3 readings, 3 quizzes

9 videos

Music and identity: An introduction9mMusic and personal identity: the power from outside vs. the freedom from inside8mMusic and collective identity: One song, many identities8m"I will survive": Music between repetition and difference9mMusic and clashing identities: An interview with Daniel Barenboim25mReflection on the interview with Daniel Barenboim5mDoes social position affect musical taste? An introduction to Bourdieu8mFrom inequality in society to inequality in music: Bourdieu’s critique8mMusic and identity: Concluding discussion9m

3 readings

Music and personal identity10mDeconstructing identity: Mark C. Taylor10mMusic and identity: Exploring Bourdieu’s views10m

2 practice exercises

Music and personal identity30mMusic and identity: Exploring Bourdieu’s views30m

Week3

Week 3

6 hours to complete

Music and Politics

In this module we will investigate and discuss the relation between music and politics: how music affects politics and how it is affected by politics. Music may support political organizations and governmental institutions, it has the power to discipline the behavior of groups and individuals, but it can also act as a form of protest against a political status quo or dominant (political) discourses.

6 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 84 min), 3 readings, 4 quizzes

9 videos

Music and politics: An introduction3mFrom noise regulation to national hymns: Music and the state5mMusic and culture industry: An introduction to Adorno15mPower is everywhere: From “politics” to “the political”3mDisciplining and controlling: Music and the political6mUndermining authority: Music and subversion9mThe possibility of subversion through music: Adorno revisited12mMusic, cultural policy, and resistance: An interview with Louis Andriessen18mMusic and politics: Concluding discussion7m

3 readings

Music and politics: The fetish character in music and the regression of listening10mAffective tonality? What's that?15mHow music becomes noise: Jacques Attali10m

3 practice exercises

Music and politics: The fetish character in music and the regression of listening30mAffective tonality? What's that?30mHow music becomes noise: Jacques Attali30m

Week4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Music and Ethics

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 82 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

9 videos

Music and ethics: An introduction8mMusic and virtue: Good music for the good soul7mMusic and hospitality: An introduction3mEthical listening and perceptual care8mMusic and respect: An interview with Ton Koopman10mReflection on the interview with Ton Koopman7mMusic and “Bildung”: Character first9mMusic and engagement: An interview with Nanette Nielsen12mMusic and ethics: Concluding discussion13m

2 readings

Post-Modern Ethics: Beyond Good and Evil10mMusic and ethics: Freedom, bildung and art10m

2 practice exercises

Post-Modern Ethics: Beyond Good and Evil30mMusic and Ethics: Freedom, Bildung and Art30m

Reviews

4.6

17 reviews

5 stars
73.77%
4 stars
19.67%
3 stars
3.27%
2 stars
1.63%
1 star
1.63%

TOP REVIEWS FROM THE IMPORTANCE AND POWER OF MUSIC IN OUR SOCIETY

by IFMar 16, 2017

very useful for advancing my career and deepen my understanding on the topic.

by PLOct 10, 2020

I really enjoyed participating this course. Interesting lectures, fascinating interviews and challenging exercises! Thank you!

by TBJan 24, 2018

A very good eye opener towards to music and it's relationship to the society

by MHFeb 9, 2017

very good course! doesn't go into too much depth but is an excellent starting point!

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

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What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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The Importance and Power of Music in our Society

The Importance and Power of Music in our Society

About this Course