Songs, Society and Semiotics

The initial idea for the academic project stemmed
from the author''s long-standing interest in the
cognitive and perceptive processes at work as people
communicate, especially when they actively switch
between a slew of different communication systems.
Since many of these systems (words, music,
intonation) are found in popular songs, this made
them one of the most suitable and accessible forms of
human communication to study.
By focussing on a small number of songs and
listeners, the book is able to provide a detailed and
fascinating insight into their interaction. It also
highlights the innate sense of musicality that
ordinary listeners possess - whether they are aware
of it or not.
The book''s main argument however asserts that the
principles of semiotics and cultural indoctrination
will always guide and underlie the communication
process in every listener-song interplay.

Autorentext

Dr June Maxwell is currently an Associate Tutor for the OpenUniversity in Scotland. Her personal academic interests liemainly in the arts field, particularly human communication. Thisbook therefore fulfils a personal ambition to make a modestcontribution to the body of human knowledge in this field.

Klappentext

The initial idea for the academic project stemmedfrom the author's long-standing interest in thecognitive and perceptive processes at work as peoplecommunicate, especially when they actively switchbetween a slew of different communication systems. Since many of these systems (words, music,intonation) are found in popular songs, this madethem one of the most suitable and accessible forms ofhuman communication to study.By focussing on a small number of songs andlisteners, the book is able to provide a detailed andfascinating insight into their interaction. It alsohighlights the innate sense of musicality thatordinary listeners possess - whether they are awareof it or not. The book's main argument however asserts that theprinciples of semiotics and cultural indoctrinationwill always guide and underlie the communicationprocess in every listener-song interplay.