Course Description
Summary
What affects our tastes? Why do we like the music we like? How do we discover music? How effective are algorithms? Using music as the entry point, we will try to answer these questions by focusing on the self, and by digging into the newest research regarding music, media and science. The aim of the course is to become more aware of our freedom, or the lack of, in developing our taste and in our everyday decision-making.
As part of this process, we will listen to a wide range of music recommended by the students themselves. Each student will be guided to create a musical chain tracing the development of their listening tastes. We will also examine recommender platforms and look at how human connection and community remain powerful influencers of taste. This course will ask a lot of questions. But there will be no right or wrong answers. In a world where we are so often looking outside for information, we sometimes forget how valuable we are. This course is about us.
