This course introduces incoming IU students to the various ways in which music is performed, consumed, and conceptualized in various cultures around the world. As an Intensive Freshman Seminar we will be using our many cross-cultural case studies as a springboard for further discussion on local, national, and global issues. At the heart of these discussions, however, will be investigating the role of expressive culture in articulating myriad identity formations. Our meetings will take many forms, extending beyond the classroom to include panel discussions, film screenings, cultural activities, and performances on campus and in the local community. In these activities we will develop a vocabulary for discussing musical and cultural values, utilizing the diverse resources of the University and the local Bloomington community. Ultimately, the goal of this class is to better understand ourselves as responsibly informed and productive citizens of local, national, and global communities.
