This essay draws parallels between the intellectual labor of the Jamesian narrator and that of social media user, both of whom use similar techniques to arrange and interpret data streams (consciousness, expression, dialogue, action, text). I argue that James’s social politics of conversation is not only suited to making digital interlocutors c…[Read more]

Musico-analytical examination of Frank Ocean’s album Blonde and the lyrical references and musical allusions to a marijuana high.

Historical, analytical, and critical overview of John Zorn’s celebrated file-card composition, Cobra.

For Arnold Schoenberg, presentation (Darstellung) is an act of conscien- tious composition by which the formal/functional properties of motives and Gestalten, along with any possible development or variation, are real- ized in the creation of a coherent musical artwork. Presentation, then, is the manner by which a musical idea (Gedanke) is made…[Read more]

The Smiths are one of the most commercially successful and in uential bands to emerge from the British post-punk movement in the 1980s. Along with elements such as lyrics, harmony, and musical form, a key component of The Smiths’ distinctive musical style involves their sound and, in particular, their sound as represented on studio recordings. D…[Read more]

Book-length examination of the musical, artistic, and aesthetic practices of the American experimental composer and saxophonist, John Zorn.

In this essay, I examine how aspects of rhythm and metre play a fundamental role in shaping and defining Led Zeppelin’s musical style. At the same time, I will show how Led Zeppelin was able to modify, manipulate, and develop pre-existing musical models and forms through various rhythmic and metric strategies. Comparative analyses will be used i…[Read more]

A critical analysis of the racial politics and cultural mythologies surrounding Elvis Presley’s career and stardom.

An essay exploring the serendipitous connections (theoretical, methodological, historiographic) between three seemingly unrelated books: Deleuze and Guattari’s _A Thousand Plateaus_, Carter’s _The Road to Botany Bay_, and Marcus’ _Lipstick Traces_.