Universität Wien

160007 UE Music under Neoliberalism (2025S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 16 - Musikwissenschaft und Sprachwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 04.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 11.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 18.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 25.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 01.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 08.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 29.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 06.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 13.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 20.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 27.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 03.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 10.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 17.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01
  • Tuesday 24.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 2 Musikwissenschaft UniCampus Hof 9, 3G-EG-01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

What is (or was) neoliberalism, and how has it reshaped musical life on a global scale? How have musicians, institutions, and industries adapted, resisted, or thrived under its logic? What lasting effects has neoliberalism had on music’s production, circulation, and meaning—and what possibilities remain open for the future?

This interdisciplinary tutorial (Übung) offers students the theoretical tools to critically examine how neoliberalism—the dominant global economic paradigm since the late 1970s (although it has been increasingly challenged since 2008)—has transformed musical practices across genres, geographies, and industries.

Drawing from economic, anthropological, historical, ethnographic, and sociological perspectives, the course explores:
- The impact of neoliberal policies on music-making, education, and labour
- Shifts in music marketing, streaming, and the digital economy
- The role of globalism and free-market capitalism in shaping media and art music
- State policies on music institutions, museums, festivals, and events
- Aesthetic consequences: how neoliberal logics manifest in sound and musical multimedia
- Strategies of resistance—from individual artists to collective movements

The course is structured around close readings and in-depth discussions. Students are expected to engage actively with the material, developing their analytical skills and gaining insight into how economic structures shape musical life. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically assess contemporary and historical musical practices through the lens of neoliberal theory.

Assessment and permitted materials

YOU WILL HAVE TO READ ONE OR TWO TEXTS BEFORE EVERY CLASS AND THEN DISCUSS WHAT YOU HAVE READ----DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO DO THIS!!!

Assessment
Reading the texts and participating fully in class discussions: 15%
Presentation of your proposed topic for your final essay to the class: 15%
Final essay on a topic of your choice related to music under neoliberalism: 70%

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
- articulate the ways in which neoliberalism has shaped music and musical practices;
- pose a well-formed question about music under neoliberalism and answer it with reference to specific music examples or examples of music practices.

Examination topics

Reading list

A comprehensive list will be uploaded to Moodle.

Individual texts from the list will be set for each class—these will be indicated on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

BA: HIS-V2, INT, POP-V, FRE
MA: E.ETH, E.HIN, E.INT, E.POP, H.ETH, H.HIN, H.INT, H.POP, S.ETH, S.HIN, S.INT, S.POP

Last modified: Tu 04.02.2025 07:06