What exactly do electronic sounds represent to our primate ears, honed by millions of years of evolution? How does the brain process these novel auditory experiences, transforming them into the dance-inducing, body-moving rhythms that we associate with contemporary electronic music? What sets these sounds apart from traditional instrumental music, and what unique appeals do they hold?
In this talk, we will delve into these questions through the lens of Łukasz Twarkowski’s Respublika, selected by TPAC for its immersive electronic soundscapes that captured the essence of the rave party. On this note, we will explore the question of how electronic dance music drives the physical & mental into states of euphoria and trance. As a modern musical form and a stylistic frontier, electronic music does more than just triggering physical responses of the listener.; it strikes a deep emotional chord through our eardrums.
The lecture will introduce the fundamentals of electronic sound, examining how they affect our psychological perceptions, emotional states, and cognitive responses. We will also discuss the distinctive role of electronic music in contemporary culture and the profound influence it has on both individual experiences and collective social moments.
■ Speaker | Chen-Chung Lee
Dr. Chen-Chung Lee, a neuroscientist with a PhD from the University of Michigan, is also an accomplished bandoneonist striving to balance the rational precision of a scientist with the emotional expression of a musician. Dr. Lee specializes in auditory physiology, sound localization, and music cognition. In addition to teaching courses at several universities, he leads the band Circo as both director and principal bandoneon player, earning the title of “Best Instrumentalist” at the 2018 Golden Indie Music Awards.
Dr. Lee also hosted the radio program Why You Like Listening to Music on Philharmonic Radio Taipei and conceived and hosted the National Performing Arts Center’s podcast, Backstage Monologue. Alongside performing, composing, arranging, and producing music, Dr. Lee is actively engaged in advancing arts and science education.
