Week 7 - Subjectivity

Unpacking my research question there are quite a few aspects that I need to investiagte and address within my research.
The following questions arise as been significant for me to address:

What is a vibration/music experience?
What is vibration frequency and what effects can different frequencies create?
How can music create feelings of relaxation? What is relaxation music?
What is the purpose of relaxation?
Can frequency modulation in vibrations enhance feelings of relaxation?
What is the subjective aspect of Vibration/Music experiences?

These questions can also be seen via diffent lenses, the neurological, the subjetive, the humanties, the media and communications, the designer, the musical, the psychological, the medical or  the music therapist lens. As such I need to have a careful contemplation about how to navigate these convoluted and dense academic waters or bodies and islands of research.

In relation to decreasing stress, this week I have been looking at the nature of relaxtion music - the subjective nature of relaxation and what musical componets foster greater feelings of relaxtion.

The Subjective Experience
Other studies have found that the most relaxing music is that which is liked by the participant (but not necesarily familiar music) (Jiang, Rickson and Jiang, 2016).
This may seem a  fairly obvious aspect of music appreciation and affect. Evidenceded by studies into the positive effect of autobiographical relevant music in dementia patients. Combined with the sheer populaity of particular musical preferences ie. personalized spotify playlists, fandom, prediliction for musical genre etc. When people are sad or happy they often put on music as a point of mood modulation. Just because studies say new age music makes people relaxed, does not mean that new age music may make other people anxious. Nor does it mean heavy metal cannot create feelings of relaxtion. Subjective experience in combination with intentionaly in specific musical component variables, seems to be the best indiaction of musical affect.

Screenshot from William Kendridge's Charles Eliot Norton Lectures entitled 6 Drawing Lessons (2015)

Class exercises

1. I was happy with how I structured my topic, I was happy to see a lot of my ideas all pulled together. ​
2. The breath of my topic however felt more broad than specific. I realized I had scantily spoken about the subjective experience and more research into music is needed. I also need to start documenting the process better, and organize my resources better.

Coming at the topic from different perspectives might frame the subject better for the reader.
However, the word limit is restrictive in the amount of depth required when being specific.
As such these considerations are framing my idea.

Research/Creative minds are somewhat split….So I think getting creatively inspired could be of benefit.
Looking at the ‘effect’, 'affect' and 'emotion' from a subjective experience.
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The Rabbit Hole - informs part of the project that needs to inform an audience.
What do I need to tell someone who doesn't know me or my project or why I think it's important?
Audience: 2 examiners. Consistent to a genre of a honours thesis.
Comply to the genre