Music Psychology at the movies
One of the best movies I have seen recently was the animated
feature, Inside Out. Actually, it brought me to tears more than once. The
authors have created a cartoon that is based on modern cognitive psychology, in
particular, modern theories of personality, memory formation and retrieval,
cognitive development and emotional function. I was particularly touched to see
how, in the control room of the mind of an 11 year old girl, musical memory has
a privileged route to consciousness. No matter who you are, where you are, or
what you are doing, a musical thought can find its way into your mind, imbued
with all the emotional significance that has accrued to it through your experience.
I was touched to think what a delight and what a privilege
it is to study music as a psychological phenomenon, and to attempt to add to
our understanding of its’ unique function in human mental and emotional life.
Oh, and by the way, birds do it too!
