Music and Cats / Book of Abstracts - Catalog - Page 3
From the organizers
About the Symposium
We are exited to host the first
ever expansive symposium
dedicated to the intersection of
music and cats, bringing
together research from various
fields, including music history
and theory, popular music
studies,
human-animal
studies, psychology, behavioral
biology, media and cultural
studies, literary studies, and
artistic practice, among others.
As companion animals to
humans for several millennia,
cats
have
influenced
music-making in myriad ways.
Felines have sparked the
creativity of musicians and
composers across genres, from
Western classical music to
contemporary popular music.
They
have
inspired
the
composition
of
countless
pieces – many of which are
explicitly about cats or even
composed for feline ears.
Felines have gained symbolic
significance,
particularly
concerning
gendered
connotations that frequently
associate
them
with
femininity. Historically, cats
have
long
been
ascribed
musicality.
Medieval
illustrations depict them
engaging
with
musical
instruments,
including
lutes, flutes, and bagpipes.
In the early 20th century,
some cats were trained to
speak and sing, providing
entertainment
for
audiences. In contemporary
culture, cats have emerged
as
internet
sensations,
appearing in viral videos
where they sing, dance, and
play
instruments.
This
phenomenon
challenges
common
perceptions
of
musicality
as
a
predominantly human trait,
prompting a reflection on
what it means to be
musical.
Even
more
generally, examining the
connections between music
and cats provides insights
into
human-animal
relations, which have varied
from admiration to disdain
throughout history.
medieval codices to the use of
cats as a gendered metaphor
in blues and jazz, as well as
the creation of music about
cats, for cats, and even by
cats. They will investigate
multispecies
soundscapes
and examine the unique
relationships
between
musicians and their feline
companions,
including
Freddie Mercury and Taylor
Swift. Additionally, the role
of cat memes in politics and
music education will be
addressed,
along
with
discussions on music and
animal advocacy, and the
presence of cats in recording
studios and on synthesizers
in space.
We look forward to seeing
you at the symposium!
Monika E. Schoop
Showcasing the breadth of
this field, over the course of
two days, scholars and
artists will explore topics
ranging
from
the
symbolism
of
cats
in
Our participants' cats are featured
throughout the book of abstracts. Meet Keiju!
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