I’m spending a lot of time thinking about a topic for my essay on Contemporary Issues in Sound Arts. For now, I think the best way forward is to explore a few ideas that come to mind and see where my interest develops.

The first idea is about sampling. I’d like to look into the history of sampling and the different ways it has been used. I also want to explore the ethical and legal issues surrounding sampling today. As a creative practitioner myself, I feel it’s important to reflect on how I understand sampling — how I might use it in my own work, or whether I should be cautious about its application.

This topic has been widely discussed over time, and many arguments feel quite conclusive, which might make it difficult for me to present new perspectives or opinions. However, I believe there’s still value in examining more ambiguous areas, such as micro-sampling or idea-based sampling, which can be difficult to evaluate purely from a legal standpoint. I want to consider why certain uses of sampling are still legally or ethically contested, and what that says about creativity and authorship in contemporary sound practice.

The second topic I’m considering is minimalist music. Minimalism emerged in the 1950s and has become one of the major movements in contemporary music, although its definitions have become increasingly blurred over time. Some even mock the term, noting that much of what is now labeled minimalist doesn’t seem minimalist at all. I’d like to trace the origins of minimalist music, understand the cultural and artistic contexts in which it developed, and define the early characteristics of the movement. From there, I’d explore how minimalism has evolved and what factors have driven that evolution.

Minimalism is something I’ve always been deeply interested in and personally enjoy. I’ve often wondered why certain music that doesn’t feel “minimal” is still categorized as minimalist. That curiosity gives me a strong reason to pursue this topic. That said, the field of minimalist music is already well researched, and there is plenty of material available. To develop a strong essay, I think I would need to focus on a more specific angle within this broader topic.

For now, I plan to continue researching these two themes, and through that process, I hope to narrow down my focus and identify a clear direction for my essay.