Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH/MUS 306"
COURSE NAME: "Opera and Philosophy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Stefan Sorgner
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Junior Standing; Corequisite: EN 110
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course explores the complex interplay of ethics, cultural criticism, and philosophy in the history of opera. Opera was invented at the end of the sixteenth century by musicians, thinkers, and music theoreticians of the Camerata Fiorentina who regarded the polyphonous music of their contemporaries as morally corrupting. They turned to ancient Greek tragedies and philosophies for inspiration, seeing these as providing useful techniques for cultivating audiences’ virtues. Richard Wagner subsequently developed his innovative reform of opera and his concept of a ‘total work of art’ (Gesamtkunstwerk) by engaging with similar concerns and sources. On this course, you will examines these developments and cultivate a familiarity with the issues and ideas that they raise.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will present central philosophical reflections on the meaning of opera. Opera was invented by members of the Camerata Fiorentina, who critically engaged with reflections on tragedy by Plato. Besides dealing with Plato, the course will deal with operas and philosophical reflections on opera by Mei, V. Galilei, Peri, Caccini, Monteverdi, Gluck, Mozart, Kant, Hanslick, Schopenhauer, Wagner, Nietzsche, Bizet, Puccini, Adorno, Nyman, Glass, and Sven Helbig.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

More specifically, by the end of the course you will be able to:

• recognize and analyze philosophical issues concerning opera;

• analyze relevant historical as well as recent works, along with specific positions and arguments regarding them;

• analyze and employ broader theoretical approaches, debates and concepts on philosophical issues concerning opera;

• develop informed, reasoned positions regarding these issues, cases and broader theoretical aspects;

• explain and analyze course material orally and in written forms;

• make appropriate use of original and academic resources and undertake guided research work.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Music	Theodore Gracyk, editor	Routledge	978-0415858397
Music Aesthetics: A Historical Reader:	Edward A. Lippman, editor	Pendragon Press	978-0918728418
Music in German Philosophy: An Introduction	Stefan Lorenz Sorgner, Oliver Furbeth, editors	University of Chicago Press	978-0226768373
Cambridge Companion to Wagner	Thomas S Grey ,editor	CUP	978-0521644396

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Class Participation		10
Midterm exam	The mid-term written assignment will be a ‘take-home’ assignment of 1000-2000 words (incl. bibliography), written in response to one of a selection of questions which I will provide. I will distribute the questions during week 6 and the assignment should be submitted by Friday of week 7. An electronic version of the project must be uploaded on moodle. (Title of Course/Term/Year)	30
Presentations	In-class Presentation: Students are required to give two short individual presentations (5 - 10 minutes). The presentation will be well-organized, concise, and include (when opportune) audiovisual and electronic materials. An electronic version of the presentations must be uploaded on moodle. (Title of Course/Term/Year) The deadline is the last class. No materials will be accepted past the deadline. Please ask your instructor about your grade immediately after the class, in which you will have given the presentation.	10
Final exam	The final exam will consist in an essay. All students will have to answer the same question.	20
Final Project	Final Project: The final paper (1000-2000 words, incl. bibliography; 2000-3000 words, incl. bibliography for Honors students) will be on any topic of the student’s choice related to the class program. The topic should be precisely defined and worthy of investigation. An electronic version of the project must be uploaded on moodle. (Title of Course/Term/Year) The deadline is the last class (session 28; the deadline is not the date of the final exam). No materials will be accepted past the deadline.	30

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. 94 to 100 A; 90 to 93 A-
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. 87 to 89 B+; 84 to 86 B; 80 to 83 B-
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. 75 to 79 C+; 70 to 74 C; 65-69 C-
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. 60 to 65 D+; 55 to 59 D; 50-54 D-
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. 0 to 49 F

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________

A maximum of four absences are allowed throughout the semester. Any additional absence will result in a penalization of one grade level (e.g.: from B+ to B for five absences, B+ to B- for six absences, B+ to C+ for seven absences, etc.). Two latenesses count for one absence. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class by calling students’ names. Students not answering will be marked absent. Students arrived late will ask the instructor to be market late at the end of the class, after which attendance records will not be modified.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

1. Introduction 1

2. Introduction 2

3. The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Music: III, 24, Antiquity and the Middle Ages

4. The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Music: IV, 28, Plato

5. Music Aesthetics: A Historical Reader: Plato 5-31

6. Music Aesthetics: A Historical Reader: Mei, 91-104 5-31

7. Orpheus: Peri, Caccini, Monteverdi, Gluck

8. Mozart: Don Giovanni 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL2VdxseTvE

9. Mozart: Don Giovanni 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL2VdxseTvE

10. Music in German Philosophy: Kant

11. The Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Music: IV, 33, Hanslick