Thinking Matters 2017

‘It was truly amazing to look at something outside of the syllabus and simply learn a subject because you want to learn about it, not because you need to pass an exam on it.’ Caner Arslan, Year 12 ‘I attended Dr Cue’s seminar on the evolution of language, which allowed us to think about what language is and whether animals other than humans actually use it. Learning about pidgins and creoles, as well as translating New Melanesian, was a highlight for me.’ Kwaku Gyasi, Year 12

From punk to grime with Miranda Sawyer.

‘A fantastic way to let us experience and learn about subjects that we might not otherwise explore, and to stretch the brain to think about the way the world works.’ Thomas Neden, Year 12 ‘What interested me was the idea that sounds are a form of art

In addition to the keynote talks, all pupils attended two seminars or workshops of their choice from a programme of around 30 sessions on offer. Some of this year’s seminars: • Sound and Fury signifying … something? Politics, Oratory and Music, from Tamerlane to Trump • The neuroscience of sound: how we learn to hear, and why you cannot trust your ears • A stain on silence: words and silence in the work of Samuel Beckett • From pac man and rave to EDM - why is electronic music so good? • In space no one can hear you scream: an analysis of the use of music in science fiction movies and television • Sounding the Nation: Russian 20th-century

Top jazz trumpeter Mark Armstrong.

that are sometimes overlooked, even though they play a huge part in our daily lives. I will always remember one quote from the day: “Our eyes close but our ears are always listening.”’ Kush Newatia, Year 12 ‘Having one’s opinions and imaginations challenged; being poised to tackle all sorts of cognitive dissonances in a rational way. In a relaxed atmosphere, big ideas are circulating. This is what liberal education

music from Shostakovich to Stravinsky • Come closer now: a journey into the soundscape of Dylan Thomas

• Sound and Silence – censoring the internet • The other side of the voice: locating the mysterious ‘object voice’ of psychoanalytic theory • The sounds of anti-Semitism? The politics and pleasures of Wagner’s ‘Grand Style

looks like.’ Kamil Aftyka, Year 13

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