Selected Topics in Music Literature for Non-Majors (175-0-4)

Topic

Intersections of Music & Food

Instructors

Alexandra Lauren Gilbert Rudy

Meeting Info

RCMA 1-164: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Food and music are two of the most universal features of human experience, shaping identity, memory, ritual, and social connection around the world. Their intersection raises fascinating questions: Can music change the way food tastes? Why do particular foods and sounds become meaningful to different cultures and communities? How have food and music worked together throughout history to shape daily life?

This course explores the connections between food and music from psychological, social, cultural, and historical perspectives. Through readings, class activities and discussions, and individual projects, students will examine theories of cross-model perception and multisensory experience while considering the personal and cultural meanings we attach to different kinds of foods and sounds. Topics will include restaurant and grocery store atmospherics, music in food production, ceremonies and celebrations, food imagery in lyrics and music videos, marketing and branding, and more. By the end of the course, students will have explored a wide range of topics at the intersection of food and music and developed new ways to critically examine food-music pairings they encounter in everyday life.

Class Materials (Required)

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

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
SoC Additional Distro