Source Entry #2
Part 1- MLA Citation
Zatorre, Robert J., and Valorie N. Salimpoor. “Opinion | Why Music Makes Our Brain Sing.” The New York Times, 7 June 2013. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/opinion/sunday/why-music-makes-our-brain-sing.html.
Part 2- Summary
In the article “Opinion | Why Music Makes Our Brain Sing”, Music, writer Robert J. Zatorre gives his opinion followed by proved facts about the intangible nature of music. Explaing how music has always had a significant value for humans. Neuroscience research reveals that music engages the brain’s reward system, this process releases dopamine during pleasurable moments and anticipatory phases. Zatorre speaks about the striatum, they explain, “Which is known to respond to naturally rewarding stimuli like food and sex and which is artificially targeted by drugs like cocaine and amphetamine”. The interaction between the auditory cortex, which processes musical information, and the reward system explains why music brings out strong emotions in tunes we like. Zatorre and Salimpoor also explain that Composers and performers manipulate these prediction mechanisms to evoke emotions and create value in music. Therefore, creating a pleasurable experience, and we value it because of its emotional impact to us.
Part 3- Rhetorical Analysis
Robert J. Zatorre and Valorie N. Salimpo back up their opinion piece by scientifically proving how music affects human emotions and excitement. The audience is for general readers and those interested in neuroscience. They display music as a universal human experience, inviting the audience to learn more about the topic and understand about excitements. Their background knowledge in neuroscience creates a credible analysis, it’s similar to a feature piece. They use pathos to compare feelings such as buying music or “chill” pleasure while listening to music, resonating with readers’ experiences. They also use Logos to explain the neurological reasons why music affects us and compare music to other rewarding stimuli like food and sex. These connections make the audience think about their own experiences with music. Even though this article was posted in 2013, many people don’t realize that there is a neurological reason why music lights up their mood.
Part 4- Notable Quotes
“In the modern age we spend great sums of money to attend concerts, download music files, play instruments and listen to our favorite artists whether we’re in a subway or salon. But even in Paleolithic times, people invested significant time and effort to create music, as the discovery of flutes carved from animal bones would suggest.”
“Composers and performers intuitively understand this: they manipulate these prediction mechanisms to give us what we want — or to surprise us, perhaps even with something better.”
“ In the cross talk between our cortical systems, which analyze patterns and yield expectations, and our ancient reward and motivational systems, may lie the answer to the question: does a particular piece of music move us? When that answer is yes, there is little — in those moments of listening, at least — that we value more.”
