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"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."
Anon.
This thesis explores the use of harmonic language to achieve authentic musical personalities by contemporary art music composers. A portfolio of Alexander's compositions are used as a case study.
Argument: Metamodernism is an exciting philosophic doctrine that could usher in a new age for art music, but could also be misappropriated with catastrophic results.
"History should be written as philosophy."
Voltaire
Alexander is a graduate student of history and creative writing from the University of Queensland, and strongly believes in the interconnectivity of all artistic disciplines. Some of his historical interests include the Julio-Claudians, the Medieval and Modern West, the Age of Sail, the Christian Church, and stories concerning struggles of military, political and philosophical power.
Set in sixth-century ancient Athens, this essay investigates the links between the quadrennial festival of Athena, the Great Panathenaia, and the city's ruling tyrants: Peisistratos and his sons, Hipparchos and Hippias.
Argument: The tyrants, collectively known as the Peisistratids, manipulated the Great Panathenaia to enforce their own power.
With its conversational tone, this essay concerns the thirteenth century denunciations levelled against the University of Paris by a range of authorities, most notably Stephen Tempier, Bishop of Paris.
Argument: Those denunciations, collectively known as the Condemnations, had little effect on medieval society - and that makes them important.
Jerusalem was still a young Crusader state when Melisende inherited its crown. This essay investigates Melisende's character, and the relationships she held with her family.
Argument: That family, and not Melisende herself, was responsible for creating Jerusalem's first power-hungry queen.