Music and Torture Project

This is an ongoing project dedicated to the investigation of music and torture, first begun in May 2009 with a day-long conference devoted to this subject. Here you will find information about our two conferences, the ongoing work of our participants on the topic of music and torture, as well as other writing relevant to this discussion, including an upcoming special spring issue of Musical Quartely which will be devoted to the issue of music and torture.

Events

Music and Torture, 2nd Conference
June 17th - 18th, 2010  
La Virrenia Center for the Image, Barcelona, Spain
http://www.ninetofive.es/archives/214

Music and Torture: A One Day Conference May 15, 2009
This conference marks the first international gathering of scholars of music, art history, and philosophy, human rights advocates, journalists, and musicians themselves to investigate what links music to torture. Beyond the necessary condemnations, participants in the conference will develop a vocabulary for appreciating the entanglement of noise, pain, violence, cruelty, questioning, and power.  More: 
http://www.reprieve.org.uk/events/bairdcollegemusictortureconference/
http://www.rosslandnews.com/entertainment/television/45436712.html?mobile=true


Further reading and resources on the topic of music and torture:


http://www.sibetrans.com/trans/trans10/cusick_eng.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102103743.html?sid=ST2009102200005

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/21/music-stars-demand-record_n_329476.html

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2847830.htm

http://www.choppedliver.info/

http://www.zerodb.org/

Download this file: MUSIC AND TORTURE_program.pdf

Writings

John Hamilton

Download this file: John T Hamilton.pdf

Thomas Keenan

Download this file: Musica Para la Tortura.pdf

Chloe Davies

Download this file: Head-Banging Music in the Secret Prisons

Thomas Levin

Download this file: Alegato Por La Violencia Sonora.pdf

Justine Sharrock

Download this file: Justine Sharrock.pdf

Thomas Levin

Download this file: Playdoyer for Painful Sound.pdf