Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon fabric poster draped over a collection of vinyl records isn’t exactly what you would expect to see when entering a professor’s office.
For Jarl Ahlkvist, a sociology professor, this music his passion explaining the genesis of his writing intensive classes surrounding progressive rock and heavy metal through a sociological perspective.
Ahlkvist teaches advanced seminar classes that focus on the understanding of heavy metal and progressive rock in society, as well as a first-year seminar class titled Music Identity which may be shifting to Music and Cognition next year. Ahlkvist also teaches a Foundations in Sociology course.
Placing music at the focal point of his courses, Ahlkvist has shone light on a new way of understanding our culture and society.
“What I try to do is use music as a vehicle for teaching,” explains Ahlkvist. “I approach all of these from a sociological point of view.”
Growing up listening to the music he now studies, Ahlkvist played bass and sang in bands throughout high school and college, but doesn’t think of himself as a valid musician.
“I’m not a musicologist,” said Ahlkvist. “I’m not a musician, not a good one anyways. I look at the more cultural aspects.”
According to Ahlkvist, music has a tendency to sooth and nourish us as humans. Avoiding the term “therapeutic,” he went on to explain that there is some characteristic unique to music that allows us to change moods and states of mind by simply listening to a song.
“I hope my experience is not unique and that I share that with others,” said Ahlkvist. “This is sort of my personal quest, asking ‘why does this [music] need to be part of my environment?'”
Going from a fan attending concerts to a teacher searching for understanding with his students, Ahlkvist is exploring what can possibly be done with music.
As a multidisciplinary subject, Ahlkvist is looking into understanding the functions of the brain when listening to music, which is the premise of his “Music and Cognition” course. With concrete scientific evidence now available through brains scans, experts are now able to delve further into questions about the effect music has on us, as well as why we desire customized music listening.
While his classes surround a musical foundation, Ahlkvist warns that his class is to be taken seriously. His approach from a sociological perspective is very different from that of a musicology class. While the homework for his courses may consist of listening to Pink Floyd and The Beatles, students should expect to be challenged in their thinking and understanding of music we have come to know.
“This isn’t a music appreciation class,” explains Ahlkvist.
Ahlkvist anticipates each of his Heavy Metal and Enchantment and Progressive Music in the Rock Era courses to be available during either winter or spring quarters of next year.
He will teach the Music and Cognition first-year seminar in the fall, as well as a Foundations in Sociology course.
