Selected Topics in Music Literature for Non-Majors (175-0-3)

Topic

Minimalism

Instructors

Nevena Stanic

Meeting Info

RCMA 1-160: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

This course explores the development, aesthetics, and cultural impact of minimalism in music, introducing students to one of the most influential and pervasive musical and artistic movements of the late 20th century. Moving chronologically, we will trace minimalism's roots in the experimental music scene of the 1960s, its arrival in major institutions and concert halls in the 1980s, and its influence on much of the music we consume today. The course will examine minimalism's impact on film, television, opera, theater, ambient music, techno, and other popular genres, as well as the global influences that shaped the work of minimalist composers like La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich, including Balinese, Ghanaian, and Indian traditions.
Beyond exploring a small part of this vast repertoire, the course aims to critically engage with the multifaceted concept of minimalism—including "radical," "holy," and postminimalism—its history, and its commodification, while asking why minimalism has become so widespread in today's global music culture. Overall, we will consider how minimalism shapes our understanding and experience of music, art, and the world around us.

Registration Requirements

This course is open to all students; no prior musical training is required.

Teaching Method

Students are expected to participate in ways they feel most comfortable, through discussion, writing, and/or other multidisciplinary contributions.

Class Materials (Required)

None required for purchase. All course material will be posted to CANVAS.

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area