Music, Authoritarianism, and Resistance

How do music-makers navigate the fraught terrain of authoritarian politics? This course dives into the entanglement of twentieth-century music and the social, cultural, and political currents shaped by authoritarian regimes. From the cultural platforms of early fascist states to contemporary reflections on political oppression, we will explore how music constructs, critiques, and reimagines power and identity. Drawing on musicology, media studies, and sound studies, we will examine works by composers, performers, and filmmakers who grappled with authoritarian control. Expect lively discussions, close readings of texts and music, and hands-on analysis of music’s power to resist and reflect. Through collaborative projects and a final research paper, we will develop tools to decode the intersection of music, sound, power, and resistance.