The Marvelous Medium of Musicals
In the world of digital media and sound/music, the aspect I find most compelling is musicals. One of the most meaningful playlists I have is called “Mya’s Musicals.” This playlist encompasses all the different forms and genres of musicals I love! From the more well known Hamilton to the lesser known Frankenstein The Musical, my playlist has a range you can only find in theatre. Musicals are often labeled as a childish form of music, but they have the ability to tell incredibly impactful and important stories unlike any other medium. As someone who has dedicated her education to studying media, I truly believe musicals are the best medium to tell a story. Not only are they an incredible display of human talent, but music has the power to make humans explore the deepest parts of themselves. When I listen to musicals, I have to actively listen to ensure I am appreciating the story, the vocals, and the music. Musicals make me appreciate all that music is and what it could be.
I decided to take this course to gain a better understanding of how sound emerged on the internet and how far it has come since then. Sound is something we often take for granted so I want to deepen my understanding to better appreciate it. As for possible group project ideas, I would like to further explore how music can be used to tell stories that contribute to the aural experience or how our perceptions of music have changed since it’s become more accessible.
Hi Mya! "Mya's Musicals" sounds like a super fun playlist. Musicals are definitely an amazing and entertaining medium to tell stories through sound. I too am a fan of Hamilton! I even once met Lin-Manuel Miranda while on vacation, which was surreal as a fan of his work. I also really like your point about how musicals make you actively listen to the story, vocals, and music at the same time. I think that is a part of what makes musicals so interesting compared to other forms of music. Your idea for the group presentation about how music can be used to tell stories would be really interesting too. Is there a specific musical that you think does the best job of telling its story through music?
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ReplyDeleteI have never been the biggest fan of musicals, but your playlist sounds like a fun way to discover new shows that I have never heard of, for example, Frankenstein The Musical. I'm curious whether you find new musicals through clips online or by seeing them performed. It would be interesting to discuss how hearing a song on its own can shape our impression of a show before we know the full story.
Hi Mya! I really liked your post and how you explained that musicals are more than just music because they can tell meaningful stories. I never really thought about musicals that way, but I agree that music can make a story feel more emotional and personal. I also found it interesting how you mentioned actively listening to appreciate the vocals, music, and story. I usually listen to music based on my mood or what I'm doing, so I don't always pay attention to the deeper meaning behind a song. Your post made me realize how differently people experience music and how it can mean something completely different to each person!
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