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Event—Adult Education

Signal Path: A Very Brief History of Electronic Music

Apr 20, 2021

Moving from John Cage to Kraftwerk to New Order, this seminar will provide a primer on the history of electronic music, charting how its sound, popularity, and symbolism have metamorphosed over the past eighty years.

Newberry Adult Education Seminars will meet virtually via Zoom. For more information about the Newberry’s virtual seminars, including a Zoom tutorial, please see our Virtual Seminars FAQ page. If you have questions about online learning, please reach out to seminars@newberry.org.

Seminar Description

Electronic sounds are ubiquitous and omnipresent in contemporary popular music, yet this was not always the case. Electronic music was once avant-garde and otherworldly, embodying an ethos of futurism and technological promise. What might it signify today? Moving from Karlheinz Stockhausen to Acid House to Aphex Twin, this seminar will provide a primer on the history of electronic music, charting how its sound, popularity, and symbolism have metamorphosed over the past eighty years.

Two sessions. Registration – $85**

**In partnership with the Experimental Sound Studio, this seminar is available at a discounted rate for ESS members. Register below!

Harrison Sherrod manages a film production company by day and teaches seminars at the Newberry by night. He has led courses on everything from metaphysical detectives and con games to Star Wars and Marxism.

Materials List

Required:

  • A selection of shorter materials distributed by the instructor.

  • Live Wires by Dan Warner. Reaktion Books, 2019. ISBN: 978-1789141412

First Reading:

  • For the first session, please read through Chapter 3 of Dan Warner's Live Wires.

Registration Information

Registration opens at 9 am (CST) on Wednesday, January 13th. Newberry Associates members at the Literati level and above will have access to early registration beginning January 7 at 10am. Learn more about membership benefits and becoming a Newberry Associate.

Please note: For more information about registration, including a guide to online registration, see our Registration Information page. Questions? Please contact seminars program staff via email at seminars@newberry.org.

We offer a 10% discount to members, seniors, and students.

This seminar is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about registering for a seminar, program policies, or teaching a seminar.