AMST/MUS 35A: Rock, Country and Hip-Hop: History of American Popular MusicInstructor: Taylor Ackley Prerequisites: None Course Description: Formerly offered as MUS 35a.</br></br>In this course students will examine the historical context, stylistic development, and cultural significance of American popular music, spanning from the birth of the recording industry through the present. Close attention will be paid to how political and social changes have interacted with technological innovations through commercial music to challenge, affirm and shape ideas of race, gender, class and sexuality in the United States. Ultimately the goal of this course is to provide students with the vocabulary, analytical tools and historical background to understand the music they listen to as people in the 21st century. While the course is structured as an asynchronous online course, forum participation will provide space for students to reflect on the music they hear and study in order to share their personal experiences and observations.</br></br>In this 10 week course students will have readings from our textbook as well as primary sources like artist interviews and album reviews along with weekly assigned listening. Each week of the course will involve two graded assignments: a discussion prompt where students communicate about an assigned listening or reading in an online forum, and a brief writing assignment. As a culminating project students will create a podcast style discussion of a piece of popular music from the last 10 years. Alternative formats for the final project are possible pending instructor approval. </br></br> By the end of the course students will be able to:</br>• Engage in detail with the core musical characteristics of popular music by analyzing its constituent elements (rhythm, form, pitch structure, instrumental texture, and vocal style).</br>• Recognize and identify important musical styles and artists by ear.</br>• Contextualize the role of rock music within U.S. history and society.</br>• Demonstrate knowledge of relationships among subcultures and subgenres within American popular music.</br>• Build skills in effective writing about popular music and in appropriate modes of listening.</br> Session: Extended Day: Online Time: Asynchronous Credit Hours: 4 Credits Course Format: 10-week Asynchronous Online format Brandeis Graduation Requirement Fulfilled: CA, OC Enrollment Limit: 20 students Course Classification: Undergraduate Level Course Course Tuition: $3,700 Course Fees: None Open to High School Students: Yes |
