MUSIC 2302 - Music and Diplomacy

(crosslisted)
(also AMST 2303 ) (HA-AS)

Spring. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

A. Zhou.

The intersection of music and diplomacy has only recently become an explored site of critical inquiry, yet the two realms share a long, complex, dynamic, and oftentimes controversial relationship. This highly interdisciplinary seminar asks several questions: what role has music played in international relations? What is public diplomacy and when does it become propaganda? How is power distributed between the masses, musicians, and official diplomatic agents? We will examine historic conceptions of diplomacy and “soft power” through formal and informal diplomatic events: world’s fairs, commercial advertising, government-sponsored jazz tours and much more. No prior formal training in either international relations or music is required, although these are definitely welcome. Supplementary media will be chosen to fit the needs of the individual students.