A Music Perspective

By Victoria Vance
 Music: A Nondiscursive Symbol
Discursive symbols- units (e.g.,words and numbers) with fixed associations (represent

thoughts)

e.g . D-O-G - defined as a four legged mammal used as a domesticated household pet

Nondiscursive symbols- all symbols beyond words and numbers we use to create meaning

(represents emotions)

Nondiscursive rhetoric- study of how symbol systems function as persuasion

regarding presumed beliefs or behaviors
 Music As Rhetoric
Music is all around us

Music as aesthetic expression- appreciation and evaluation of form or design

e.g.music theory

Music as communication- individual unique meanings we attach to music, individual

symbolic signs

e.g. romantic love song with your partner

Music as rhetoric- collective meaning held by a widely shared group, functioning as a

symbolic artifact (who, what, when, where, and why)

 Musical Rhetoric
Persuasive arguments conveyed through music that reinforce or challenge a presumed

belief or behavior

The Meaning must be widely shared by an identifiable group

Examines unified arguments communicated to a distinguishable audience

e.g. analyzing lyrics through lens of Neo- Marxist or Feminist perspective

Illusion of Life Perspective

 The Illusion of Life Perspective
Author Susanne Langer - use music to symbolize life expirences

Music itself is not actual life; rather represents life

Offers itself as an illusion of life by sounding the way feelings feel (p 172)

Music communicates emotions through intensity and release patterns, and paralanguage

( pitch, volume)

Explain how music functions as an illusion of life through Virtual experience(lyrics) and

virtual time (music)

 Virtual Time
Patterns of intensity and relief work together to represent and suspend actual time

(Goal: critic determines whether primarily one or the other)

Critics also take into account the artist and genre of the song

e.g. Metallica
 Virtual Experience
Lyrics of a song that may be represented as primarily comic or tragic

Comic lyrics- focuses on protagonists determination to beat the odds (intensity patterns) (e.g. Gloria
Gaynor, I will Survive)

Tragic lyrics- focuses on protagonists self-consummation, hopelessness, and attempt to cope with
fate (relief patterns) (e.g. Beck, Loser)

Lyrics can be situated within:

Poetic illusion -backward looking reflection of virtual past

Dramatic illusion- forward looking into the future

 Congruity and Incongruity
Critics goal: determine whether lyrical and musical meanings are congruent or incongruent

Congruent interaction- emotional meaning of lyrics and music reinforce each other making argument
clear

e.g. lullabyes

Incongruent interaction- emotional meaning of lyrics and music contradict one another

e.g. intensity patterns for a lullabye

 Congruity
Happens when comic lyrics + intensity musical patterns (dramatic illusion), or tragic lyrics + release music

patterns( poetic illusion)

Critics goal: offer possible implications about the rhetorical effect of congruity on particular
audiences

Congruent tragic release songs may be successful in conveying a clear emotional message

e.g. sad songs with animal shelter commercials

but if too depressing its appeal may be short lived (balance)

paired with dramatic illusion may provide glimmer of hope

Congruent comic intensity pattern songs can function effectively

e.g. teachings kids to clean up , anthems for in-groups on a mission (We are the World)
 Incongruity
Transforms the argument from what a listener would get by listening to either the music or lyrics alone

Comic lyrics with release patterns, tragic lyrics with intensity patterns

Result in:

Broaden listeners appeal - songs about disease make number one charts

Meaning can be misinterpreted - a death song about love

Persuasive appeal can be strengthened - persuade listeners to accept a controversial message as

justifiable (e.g. blurred lines)

Meaning can be altered- a song about partying to a song about the thought of it, changing pattern
 Ambiguity and Ascription
Rhetorical strategies used to overcome potential communication barriers within congruent and

incongruent songs

Strategic ambiguity

Making a claim using language avoiding specifics, speaking vaguely (e.g. similes, metaphors, my
hand is Gods hand pg. 179)

Music attracts people through ascription, attribution

Lyrical ascription- using examples and stories from pop culture to draw in a target audience (e.g.
using facebook references in lyrics for teens, more relatable more likeable)

Musical ascription- imitating musical sounds that appeal to target audience (e.g. rap for teens)
 Final Note
The ultimate goal of musical rhetoric is not to claim that music causes emotions but rather

to show how music communicates or represents these emotions to and for a particular

audience.

Think about what kind of music you listen to and how it might affect or reinforce your

beliefs and behaviors as compared to your societys beliefs and behaviors.