Barthes Revisited: A New Perspective on Music Listening through Punctum and Studium

Abstract

With the rapid development of globalization and the music industry, the subjective experience of music listening has become a focal point for researchers. Roland Barthes’ theory of “studium” and “punctum” provides a new analytical perspective for the field of musicology. However, existing research primarily focuses on visual culture, lacking a systematic analysis of the subjective experience of music listening. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring how factors influence listeners’ perception of “studium” and “punctum” in music. The research employs a literature review and a random sampling method to select university teachers and students of different age groups as participants. In-depth interviews are conducted to gather their listening experiences with various musical works, analyzing the multiple factors influencing participants’ perception. The data are summarized using qualitative analysis methods. The results indicate that the perception of music listening is influenced not only by the structural characteristics of the music itself but also by the listener’s personal background,cultural background and the historical development of the music industry. By applying Barthes’ theory to the analysis of music listening, this study provides a new theoretical framework and methodology for understanding the subjective musical experiences of listeners from different backgrounds.