In the middle of the 20th century, there was a huge cross-fertilization between experimental music, performance, and the visual arts. John Cage was a central figure in this moment, a composer whose work radically broke with traditional ideas about what music is and how it can be made. His scores—the written notation that performers work from to realize a piece of music—likewise broke most of the conventions of what a musical score should look like, and influenced artists working in Fluxus, conceptual art, experimental dance, and more. Many of these artists began to use the score as the foundation for their work. Whether through text instructions or visual notation, scores have been used by artists working in all media—from experimental music and performance to photography, painting, and filmmaking. Through readings, in-class exercises, and creative projects, this course will explore the score as a creative tool. Students will re-create works from scores made by other artists, ranging from Fluxus and conceptual art to more contemporary artists, and have experience working in a variety of media. Students will also create their own creative projects in whatever media they choose.

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