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Start > Leuphana Bachelor (B.A./B.Eng./B.Sc./LL.B.) -> Major Kulturwissenschaften (bis Studienbeginn WiSe 22/23) -> Musikkulturen

Lehrveranstaltungen

Jazz Cats, Cat Ladies und Katzenmusik: Katzen in der Musikkultur (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Monika Schoop

Inhalt: This class will explore the so-far, surprisingly understudied nexus of music and cats. 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 served as muses and have inspired the composition of countless pieces about cats. The envisaged audience remains by no means limited to humans; today, we even encounter music explicitly composed for feline ears. Cats have long been ascribed musicality. Medieval illustrations depict them engaging with various musical instruments, including lutes, flutes, and bagpipes. In the early 20th century, 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 and prompts a reflection on what it means to be musical. The cat has also gained symbolic significance, carrying gendered connotations that frequently link them to femininity. This association is evident in the frequent portrayal of women as cats in popular music. Cats are further associated with traits such as independence, freedom, and fierceness. The political potential of these connotations has been mobilized in various contexts, most recently by Taylor Swift identifying as a "Cat Lady" in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential elections. Examining the connection between music and cats provides insights into human-animal relations, which have ranged from admiration to disdain throughout history. It also reveals a dark side where ethics emerge as a key theme. The cruel cat piano of the 17th century, the use of cats in acoustic experiments of the 19th century, and the contemporary practice of coercing felines to dance and play musical instruments highlight troubling aspects of human-animal relations and power dynamics. A critical examination is even more important given that the intersection of music and cats not only reflects but also shapes human-animal relations.