Sound Expertise

Music and Eugenics with Alexander Cowan

Nov 26, 2024
Alexander Cowan, a musicologist specializing in the intersection of music and eugenicist thought, explores the unsettling connections between music and the eugenics movement. He discusses how figures like Francis Galton believed musical talent was hereditary, perpetuating racist ideologies. Cowan delves into the historical context of music psychology and critiques the notion of innate musical ability linked to social hierarchies. This thought-provoking conversation urges a reexamination of inclusivity within the musical community, highlighting the dark implications of these ideologies.
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