Course Description

Present developments in the Digital Age are not only shaped by technical innovations, but also by aesthetic and social transformations. The extent to which this has a particular impact on music and sound will be discussed on the basis of lectures, readings and excursions. The specific conditions in Berlin will be examined in relation to other cities around the world – especially those in which the course participants live – as well as to global networking.

Current texts from the fields of cultural studies, musicology, sound studies, and urbanism will be discussed. We will visit sites of music production and consumption in Berlin and examine local music cultural phenomena and the spectrum of urban sounds. The course thus covers the broad spectrum of music and sound, with a particular focus on: techno, house, experimental electronica, and hip hop-genres for which Berlin is especially known -, but also the acoustics of the built environment and urban noise, as well as sound art and interactive online sound/music environments (e.g., open-world games).

In many ways, Berlin is a center for contemporary electronic music. This is not least due to the strong connection between technological and aesthetic developments. Nightclubs, such as the Berghain, have dedicated sound systems, which allow a specific acoustic experience and encourage nightlong dancing and partying. Berlin-based companies such as Ableton, Native Instruments, and Bitwig distribute their music software worldwide. The dominance of digital 'virtual' technology is at the same time characterized by an increasing focus on the haptic dimension. Software companies have made great efforts to develop dedicated hardware controllers for their computer programs in order to be able to create musical processes more directly. Berlin is also a hub for the development and distribution of hardware synthesizers, sequencers, and drum machines, particularly in the modular Eurorack format.

The course will explore the relationship between aesthetic trends and technological developments with the focus on the cultural and economic conditions in Berlin. What makes Berlin a magnet not only for thrill-seeking club-goers, but also for DJs, musicians, producers and developers? How does this relate to the recent past of Berlin since the fall of the Berlin Wall, especially given the gentrification processes? Berlin's creative scene is internationally networked, and its conditions can only be understood in a global context. But what kind of digital inequality exists, locally and globally? Furthermore, we discuss the extent to which some popular myths, especially about the early Berlin techno days, neglect issues of diversity – for example, in relation to the partying crowd and influential personalities.

Beyond the Berlin perspective, the course examines the current conditions of production and consumption as well as the performance and distribution of music. How do streaming services with their algorithmic recommendation systems influence listening to music? What is the impact of the dynamic development of artificial intelligence in the field of music? What is changing in music culture through new ways of sampling, remixing, and interactive sound in video games and online environments? What are opposing trends?

In addition to the joint discussion of lectures and texts, excursions also provide an opportunity for an exchange with proven experts in the course subject areas.  

Download Syllabus (printable PDF incl. day-to-day schedule)

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