98813 - Musical Traditions in Asia (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student will know themes, issues and methods in the study of musical practices and tradition in Asia, with a focus on Mainland and Maritime Southeast Asia. On successful completion of this course a student will be able to: acquire an in-depth knowledge of specific musical practices and traditions in Asia in a culture-anthropological perspective; and to connect the study of specific music cultures in Asia with historical, cultural and theatrical disciplines.

Course contents

The course focuses mainly on music and performative arts of Southeast Asia, and in particular on the relation between musics, dances, ritual and spirit possession in Central Burma (Myanmar). 

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS:

Attending students will produce a written essay on an argument of their choice agreed with the lecturer during the course. The essay will be object of discussion during the oral exam, alongside the following literature:

- CHIAROFONTE, Lorenzo "Nat hsaing. Etnografia e analisi musicale di un rituale per gli spiriti in Birmania" (soon to be published; if not available during the course, handouts will be distributed) & attached audio/video tracks.

- 1 chapter of your choice in TITON, Jeff Todd (a cura di), "I mondi della musica. Le musiche del mondo", Zanichelli, Bologna (chapts. 6, India del Sud; 7, Indonesia; 8, Giappone only) & tracks 16-26 in the attached CD.

- 1 chapter of your choice in GIURIATI, Giovanni (ed.), "Patterns of change in the traditional music of Southeast Asia", 2022, Nota, Udine & audio/video tracks from the companion website.

 

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:

Non-attending students must study the following literature:

- CHIAROFONTE, Lorenzo "Nat hsaing. Etnografia e analisi musicale di un rituale per gli spiriti in Birmania” (soon to be published; if not available during the course, handouts will be distributed) & attached audio/video tracks.

- 2 chapters of your choice in TITON, Jeff Todd (a cura di), "I mondi della musica. Le musiche del mondo", Zanichelli, Bologna (chapts. 6, India del Sud; 7, Indonesia; 8, Giappone only) & tracks 16-26 in the attached CD.

- 2 chapters of your choice in GIURIATI, Giovanni (ed.), "Patterns of change in the traditional music of Southeast Asia", 2022, Nota, Udine & audio/video tracks from the companion website.

- "The world music listening guides: Guide all'ascolto delle musiche del mondo: Music for spirit possession cult in Burma (Myanmar)", ed. by Chiarofonte Lorenzo, Intercultural Institute of Comparative Music Studies, Fondazione Cini, Venezia (online teaching materials).

Moreover, non-attending students will be asked to discuss about the following listenings, available through the YouTube channel of the Intercultural Institute of Comparative Music Studies:

Playlist: East-Asia / Southeast Asia / Indian Subcontinent

Please note: Listening and viewing of the audio-video materials must be considered integral part of the program.

Teaching methods

Oral teaching supported by audio and video materials. The course will consist of several seminar activities, including discussions and presentations by and with the students.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an oral interview, during which the student will discuss the written essay (for attending students only, agreed with the lecturer during the course), the study literature and the audio-video materials. Students must demonstrate good knowledge of the literature, critical analysis skills and language skills.

A solid knowledge, a rich discursive articulation, an appropriate language, and the ability to make connections between the contents of the books will be evaluated with marks of excellence.

A complete and adequate knowledge, well articulated and correctly expressed will be evaluated as excellent. Knowledge more than satisfactory and expressed in a correct language will be evaluated as good. An essential knowledge, not always appropriate expression and articulation of confused speech, will be considered sufficient. General but superficial knowledge, inappropriate expressions and significant gaps in speech articulation will be evaluated as barely adequate/scarce.

The exam will be evaluated insufficient when the student does not demonstrate adequate command of the "knowledge and skills to be achieved" indicated as teaching objectives; and when the student uses inappropriate language, lacks orientation in the discipline.

For information on exam dates and registration for exams, please refer to the Almaesami program at the following URL:

http://www.unibo.it/Portale/Guida/AlmaEsami.htm.

Students with specific needs are invited to contact the lecturer to define how to verify the learning appropriate to their needs.

Teaching tools

During the lectures, audio and film recordings complementary to the readings will be provided. 

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Chiarofonte