Culture/Nature | Man and Animal Life

The relationship between Culture and Nature, between Man and other living beings, constitutes my main concern and the principal object of my reflections, studies, and actions. The suffering that man causes to animals is and always has been a cause of profound compassion for me. The shame of belonging to a society that considers itself civilized and yet is unaware of the barbarity it commits has been and continues to be present. A vegetarian since childhood, dedicated to veganism and the defense of animal rights, my commitment is to understand the cultural conditioning that determines this lack of awareness and empathy.

Anthropocentrism and its relativization

All my attention is directed towards overcoming an anthropocentrism that justifies and makes this lack of sensitivity be accepted as obvious, unquestionable, an uncontestable right. Seeing countries destroy their forests to transform them into pastures causes indignation and despair. The analysis and inquiry into a system of conceptions and visions of the world and of man that unconsciously underlies and justifies this lack of sensitivity is imperative.

Cultural conditioning and worldview system

This system and its mechanisms, underlying cultural expressions, need to be revealed through readings that go beyond appearances and the literal. Revealing these systemic foundations can contribute to clarification, to raising awareness of this civilizational deficiency and the necessary relativization of the anthropocentric edifice built by humankind.

System and its displacement

This endeavor brings to consciousness the relationships of this system of worldview and of humankind with the natural environment from a specific observer's position and their displacement in other geographical contexts. In this case, it is about revealing a culture that becomes virtual, not corresponding to the natural conditions of the environment surrounding humankind. Humankind and society live culturally in a virtual world, inconsistent with that perceived by the senses, not understanding the meanings of the visual language of cultural expressions.

Religious universalismn and global studies

The displacement of this system of worldview from its reference point is related to that of the calendar, which becomes the same in all hemispheres, as well as to religious practices and their festivals. Attention is thus directed to religion, to the universality of its beliefs, to its missionary impulses, to the relationships between anthropocentrism and geocentrism. Studies therefore need to be focused on global contexts and processes.

Studies of the relationship between Culture and Nature do not align with compartmentalized thinking, in spheres delimited by borders, in areas. They require a focus on processes that cross dividing lines in multiple senses. They are necessarily transdisciplinary.

Analysis of psycho-mental processes and music

Studies of the conditioning factors of humankind that obscure awareness of atrocities and impede civilizational evolution are not limited to the observation of systemic structures and mechanisms. They must consider their psycho-mental action on humankind, which determines conceptions, certainties of just conduct, and prevents attunement with the suffering of living beings. It is in this context that the significance of conducting analyses of cultural processes through music is understood. For centuries, it has been recognized that music has the capacity to move emotions. It should not be understood merely as an individual or collective expression, but as a triggering or active agent in internal human processes—emotional, psycho-mental—and their consequences.

Cultural studies with music as a guiding principle

Cultural studies-oriented musicology

It is in this sense that cultural analyses are conducted with music as the guiding principle, that is, musicologically, or it implies that musicological studies are conducted according to this function, that is, focused on cultural processes. This procedure, resulting from reflections begun in the 1960s, has marked the studies developed since then. Musicology has not been directed at music itself, in its insertions in contexts or as an individual or epochal expression, but as a means at the service of cultural analyses that shed light on the conditioning factors of humankind and societies.

Main Topics

Philosophy and Cultural Studies

Natural Philosophy and Cultural Archaeology

Ancient Studies and Empirical Cultural Research

Aesthetics and Ethics

Anthropocentric System of Worldview and Humanity

Symbolic Anthropology and Ethnoiology

Reading Visual Representations and the Search for Meaning

Cultural Conditioning of Psycho-Mental Processes

Cultural Analysis and Music as a Guiding Principle

Music as Expression and Agent of Psycho-Mental Processes

Culturally Oriented Music Research

Culturally Oriented Architecture and Urbanism

Perception of Space, Urban Cultural Analyses, and the Environment

Cultural Conditioning, Immigration, and Colonization

Cultural Analyses, Enlightenment, and Education

Resignifications of Religions and Cultural Traditions

Lectures

Music in Oceania – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2007/08 ➢

Music in Ancient Mythology and Syncretistic Ecumenism – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2007 ➢

Music Research in Brazil – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2006 ➢

Cultural-Analytical Musicology/Musicological Cultural Analysis – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2005/06 ➢

Music in Lusophone Africa – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2005/06 ➢

Transatlantic Music Processes – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2005 ➢

Music and Cultural Analysis: Inter-American Processes in the Caribbean – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2004/05 ➢

History of Popular Music in Latin America – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2004 ➢

Classical and Romantic Periods – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2005/06 ➢

History of American Music – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2003 ➢

Music in the Encounter of Cultures ➢

V: Antiquity and the Middle Ages – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2000

IV: 20th Century – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 1999/2000

III: 19th Century – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 1999

II: 17th and 18th Centuries – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 1998/99

I: 15th and 16th Centuries – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 1998

The Historical Role of Music in the Encounter between the West and China – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 1997 ➢

Principles of the Work of Young Composers at the Mozarteum around 1920 – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 1997 ➢

Seminars

Music Culture Research and Politics in Latin America: Current Issues – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2007/08 ➢

Music in the Religions of the World – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2007/08 ➢

Music in Biblical Hermeneutics – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2007 ➢

Spain, Portugal, and Latin America in Music Research – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2006/07 ➢

Musical Aesthetics and Migration – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2006 ➢

Notation Studies, Paleography, Semiology (Exercise) – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2006 ➢

Music and Colonialism: Postcolonial Issues – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2005/06 ➢

Music in Architectural Theory – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2005/06 ➢ 

H. Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) & Revisions of Nationalist Music Historiography – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2005/06 ➢

Theory of Music in the Middle Ages: On the Dialogue of Cultures and Religions – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2005 ➢

Music in Late Antique Gnosis – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2005 ➢

The Cultural Studies Approach in Musicology: History, Methods, Trends, Projects – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2005 ➢

Music in Ancient Thought: On Intercultural Music Philosophy – Univ. of Cologne, Winter Semester 2004/05 ➢

Tropicalism & Concepts of Difference in Popular Music Research – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2004/05 ➢

Music in Art Theory: Modern/Postmodern – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2004/05 ➢

Introduction to the Aesthetics and Ethics of Music – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2004 ➢

Frédéric Chopin: Chopinism, Chopin Studies, Chopinology – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2004 ➢

World music? Musicological Aspects of Globalization – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2004 ➢

Introduction to 20th-Century Music History: Le Groupe des Six – University of Bonn, Winter Semester 2003/04 ➢

Music and Urban Studies – University of Bonn, Winter Semester 2003/04 ➢

Cultural Studies – University of Bonn, Winter Semester 2003/04 ➢

Music History in a Global Perspective: Sources on 19th-Century Music – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2003 ➢

Music and Religion – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2003 ➢

Gender Studies – University of Bonn, Summer Semester 2003 ➢

Music and Symbolism: An Introduction – University of Bonn, Winter Semester 2002/03 ➢ 

Sigismund von Neukomm (1778-1858) – a prominent European musician – University of Bonn, Winter Semester 2002/03  ➢ 

Colloquium on Current Research Projects in Anthropological Musicology– University of Bonn, Winter Semester 2002/03  ➢ 

Music in games from the annual festival cycle in Europe and America– University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2001 ➢ 

The Music of Brazil – University of Cologne, Summer Semester 2001 ➢ 

The Music of Portugal – University of Cologne, Winter Semester 2000/01 ➢ 

Course Units (Ethnomusicology)

Everyday Culture Research and Analysis of Cultural Conditioning ➢

Comparative Musicology & Semantics – Alain Danièlou ➢

Indonesia/Brazil in Ethnomusicology – Ernst Schlager ➢

US Ethnomusicology in Brazil – Bruno Nettl and Alan Merriam ➢

INIDEF – Caracas/São Paulo in Ethnomusicology – Isabel Aretz ➢

Cultural Area Studies – Worldview – Folklore – Werner Danckert ➢

US Folklore Studies in Brazil – Alan Lomax ➢

Musée de l’Homme and Brazil – André Schaeffner ➢

Acculturation in Music Culture Studies – Egon Schaden ➢

Ethnomusicology and Contemporary Dance – Rolf Gelewski ➢

Folk Song Research, Systematics, and Ethnomusicology – Walter Wiora ➢

Prehistory & Music Archaeology – Brazil – Constantin Brăiloiu ➢

Primordial Sound, Questions of Origin, Symbolism – Marius Schneider ➢

“Primitive Music” and Psychology – Richard Wallascheck ➢

Comparative Art and Musicology – Robert Lach ➢

Organology in the Debate – Curt Sachs ➢

Folklore in the debate in Brazil – Fritz Bose ➢

Candomblé and Umbanda in Ethnomusicology 1972 – Alberto Soriano ➢

Wind fifth theory – Erich von Hornbostel ➢

Antiquity – Mediterranean – Brazil – Ottavio Tiby ➢

Medieval studies and music culture studies – Solange Corbin ➢

Byzantine studies and Brazil – Egon Wellesz ➢

Italian-Brazilian studies in music studies – Roberto Leydi ➢

Japan-Brazil music culture studies – Armand Hauchecorne – Paul Claudel ➢

Lebanon/Syria-Brazil music culture studies – Simon Jargy ➢

Oriental studies, Jewish studies, music – Robert Lachmann ➢

Turkish-Brazil music culture studies – Ahmed Adnan Saygun ➢

Vietnam-Brazil music culture studies – Tran Van Khê ➢

Music Culture Studies China-Brazil – MA Hiao-tsiun ➢

Music Culture Studies Portugal-Brazil – Fernando Lopes Graça ➢

Music Culture Studies Africa-Brazil – Gilbert Rouget ➢

Course Units (Aesthetics)

Trends in Aesthetic Reflection – Vilém Flusser ➢

Formation/Transformation of Musical Language. Sorbonne/São Paulo – Jacques Chailley ➢

Design, Communication, and Art – Décio Pignatari ➢

Contemporary Art Aesthetics and Music – Walter Zanini ➢

Architectural Aesthetics and Music – Flávio Motta ➢

Graphics and Notation – Tadeusz Łapiński ➢

Avant-garde and Musical Aesthetics – Jorge Peixinho

Creative Forces in Music and the City. New Objectivity – Ernst Toch ➢

Stage and Music Aesthetics – Herbert Baumann ➢

Aesthetics, Sociology of Music and Cultural Studies – Ivo Supičić

Cultural History, Sociology and Aesthetics – Gilberto Freyre ➢

Baroque Aesthetics, Propaganda & Mentality – Francisco Curt Lange ➢

Contemporary Music and Society – Pierre Klose 

Electronics & Tonal Music Aesthetics – Henk Badings ➢

Build Up – Image and Music in Consumer Society – Rogério Duprat ➢

American Vocal Aesthetics – Eladio Pérez-González ➢

Aesthetics of New Protestant Church Music – Kurt Hessenberg ➢

Anthroposophy and Aesthetics – Hans-Georg Burghardt ➢