Queer Ear: Remaking Music Theory

Queer Ear: Remaking Music Theory challenges music theory's rationality, unity, unilinearity, teleology, and logical certainty by bringing together a diverse group of music theorists who issue queer challenges to both music theory and musicology. The essays examine a wide variety of artists and composers, theories, and authors, and rethink the field's major tenets, examine hidden histories, and view listening practices from the perspective of non-normative subjectivities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Queer Ear: Remaking Music Theory is a groundbreaking collection of essays that challenge the traditional approaches of music theory and musicology by embracing the queer perspective. Editor Gavin S.K. Lee brings together a diverse group of music theorists who explore the complexities of the queer ear and queer soundings, challenging the notion that music should be understood solely through rational, unified, linear, teleological, and logical lenses.

In this volume, the authors redefine the boundaries of music theory by repurposing hard theoretical apparatuses such as Schenkerian analysis and cultural theory for queer ends. They argue that queerness is an essential aspect of music-theoretical practice and that by exploring the queer ear and queer soundings, we can gain a deeper understanding of music's emotional and social significance.

The essays in Queer Ear cover a wide range of topics, including the music of Sun Ra, Cowell, Czernowin, Henze, Schubert, and Schumann; theories ranging from Schenkerian analysis to queer shame, disability studies, and posthumanism; and authors such as Edward Cone and Edward Prime-Stevenson. Through their examinations, the authors challenge the field's major tenets, examine hidden histories, and view listening practices from the perspective of non-normative subjectivities.

One of the key themes of Queer Ear is the idea of queer temporality. The authors argue that traditional music theory has often been rooted in linear and chronological frameworks, which fail to capture the fluid and non-linear nature of queer experiences. By exploring queer temporality, the authors suggest that music can be understood as a series of ruptures, disruptions, and dislocations that challenge the boundaries of time and space.

Another important theme is the idea of queer narratology. The authors argue that traditional music analysis has often been dominated by male-centric and heteronormative narratives, which fail to recognize the diverse experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ individuals. By adopting a queer narratology, the authors suggest that music can be analyzed as a series of stories and narratives that reflect the experiences of non-normative subjectivities.

Queer Ear also explores the relationship between music theory and diverse, embodied LGBTQ lives. The authors argue that music theory has often been used to marginalize and erase the experiences of LGBTQ individuals, but that by embracing the queer perspective, we can create a more inclusive and equitable field. They suggest that music theory can be used as a tool for empowerment and resistance, as well as for promoting understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ identities.

In conclusion, Queer Ear: Remaking Music Theory is a groundbreaking collection of essays that challenges the traditional approaches of music theory and musicology by embracing the queer perspective. Through the repurposing of hard theoretical apparatuses and the exploration of queer temporality, queer narratology, and queer music analysis, the authors redefine the boundaries of music theory and offer a new understanding of music's emotional and social significance. This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in music theory, musicology, and the broader field of LGBTQ studies.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197536773