"Feel is being human." — Butch Vig (Grohl 2013, 01:24:00 )
My MoP capstone project was born of frustration to quantify musical emotion. Musicians speak of music (feeling, emotion, energy, rhythm) in a heartfelt, honest and raw manner, which, as I understand it, is not acceptable in an academic context.
Subsequently, I sought ways to contextualise the language used by non-academics to describe their connection with music (including my own) in an academic framework.
I have been watching a wide range of music documentaries, researching philosophers including Foucault [1] and Kant, and expanding on my study of music culture, phenomenology and brain sciences.
The song 'Guided by Angels' by Melbourne punk four-piece Amyl and the Sniffers (2021) reflects the significance of energy with emotional states. In the chorus, Amyl and the Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor declares, "Energy, good energy and bad energy. I've got plenty of energy. It's my currency. I spend, protect my energy, currency."
Perfect.
Footnotes
I am particularly interested in Foucault’s theories on power and knowledge (Heroux 2001).
Bibliography
Amyl and the Sniffers. "Guided by Angels". Directed by John Angus Stewart. July 8, 2021. Music video. 04:00. https://youtu.be/Z--D1flPLnk.
Cahoon, Lawrence. 2014. “Postmodernism, Truth, and Power. The Great Courses.” Online lecture, 00:32:00. https://rmit.kanopy.com/video/postmodernism-truth-and-power.
Cahoon, Lawrence. 2014. “Kant's Ethics of Duty and Natural Rights. The Great Courses.” Online lecture, 00:31:00. https://rmit.kanopy.com/video/kants-ethics-duty-and-natural-rights.
Grohl, Dave. 2013. Sound City. Film, 01:48:00. United States: Gravitas Ventures. https://rmit.kanopy.com/video/sound-city.
Hardy Jr, Don. 2015. Theory of Obscurity. United States: Film Movement. https://rmit.kanopy.com/video/theory-obscurity.
Heroux, Erick. 2001. "Power. Vol. 3 Of The Essential Works Of Foucault, 1954-1984". Substance 30 (3): 143-150. doi:10.1353/sub.2001.0025.
Jarmusch, Jim. 2016. Gimme Danger. Film. United States: Low Mind Films and New Element Media. https://rmit.kanopy.com/video/gimme-danger-0.