SCHC 467 H02 13983

HistoryCiv, Humanities, AIU

Notes:

This course offers a survey of American popular music styles and tastes of the 20th Century in relation to the cultural times and milieu within which they occurred. If we define Pop music as that music that is popular during certain times, this course will seek to find out why it was so, and in doing this we also learn something about those particular times. Pop music reflects its times- the attitudes, the hopes, and desires of its people, perhaps, better than any other medium. We can contrast, for example, the patriotic pro-war songs of the WWI such as Over There, and Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning, with the anti-war, anti-establishment songs of the 1960s. We can compare the relatively calm post-war periods of the 1940s and 1970s with their relatively bland popular music tastes. The course is non-technical and open to any student with an interest in Pop music. Everyone is an expert in their music and students will be encouraged to share and discuss their favorites with the class in relation to the rich pop heritage the 20th Century gave us. Grades will be determined through take home written assignments that may include watching films, describing Pop performances, and relating Pop music to a particular cultural period.