Childish Gambino's music video "This is America" provoked debates across the country about gun ownership, racial violence, and inequality in the U.S. We commonly hear that music inspires individuals and mobilizes social movements, and that governments censor music. Why is organized sound politically important? From the writings of Plato to Nietzsche, to the American pop scene, to the Taliban's ban on music in Afghanistan, the strong links between music and politics are clearly audible. This seminar will explore how musical practice affects political processes and how power dynamics shape the making, distribution and listening of music.