MUSI 1003 - Spring 2021 PDF

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Department of Music MUSI 1003: Popular Music and Diversity in American Society TTH 5:00-5:50 pm

Professor: Jesús A. Ramos-Kittrell, Ph.D. Office hours by appointment via Zoom (see link on HuskyCT on Announcements) Contact: [email protected] DESCRIPTION MUSI 1003 falls within both Content Area 1 (Arts and Humanities) and Content Area 4 (Diversity and Multiculturalism) of the General Education curriculum (more information on the goals of these content areas is provided below). It will encourage you to think critically and creatively about popular music and its social and historical meanings and contexts, particularly in relation to equity and diversity in relation to issues of race, gender, and sexuality. The course centers on American popular music of the last one hundred years. We will study significant musical styles in chronological order, and will explore several recurring themes throughout the course: the role of music as a symbol of identity (race, class, gender); the interaction of European American, African American, and Latin American traditions; and the influence of mass media and technology (printing, recording, radio, video, internet) in shaping the experience of music, music culture, and its politics. LEARNING OBJECTIVES The course is intended to enhance your understanding of some of the music you already know, as well as introduce you to less familiar styles and genres to enable you to be a more informed consumer of popular music. Upon completion of the course, students should have:  Acquired knowledge about the variety of popular musics in the United States from cultural, historical, and stylistic perspectives.  Understand how these musics express the responses of different groups to their position and status in regional and national culture, including resistance to hegemonic interpretation and representation.

MUSI 1003 Spring 2021

 Become sensitive to a variety of ways in which music articulates social power relationships, and how these might be reproduced in how we engage with it and consume it. In order to assess your progress toward these intended outcomes, we will be asking you to reflect upon these issues throughout the course in your discussion section.

Goals for General Education Courses, as Proposed by the General Education Oversight Committee – GEOC (taken from http://geoc.uconn.edu): The purpose of general education is to ensure that all University of Connecticut undergraduate students: 1. become articulate, 2. acquire intellectual breadth and versatility, 3. acquire critical judgment, 4. acquire moral sensitivity, 5. acquire awareness of their era and society, 6. acquire consciousness of the diversity of human culture and experience, and 7. acquire a working understanding of the processes by which they can continue to acquire and use knowledge. Group 1 courses (Arts and Humanities) should provide a broad vision of artistic and humanist themes. These courses should enable students themselves to study and understand the artistic, cultural and historical processes of humanity. They should encourage students to explore their own traditions and their places within the larger world so that they, as informed citizens, may participate more fully in the rich diversity of human languages and cultures. The primary modes of exploration and inquiry within the Arts and Humanities are historical, critical, and aesthetic. Group 4 courses (Diversity and Multiculturalism). In this interconnected global community, individuals of any profession need to be able to understand, appreciate, and function in cultures other than their own. Diversity and multiculturalism in the university curriculum contribute to this essential aspect of education by bringing to the fore the historical truths about different cultural perspectives, especially those of groups that traditionally have been underrepresented. These groups might be characterized by such features as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identities, political systems, or religious

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traditions, or by persons with disabilities. By studying the ideas, history, values, and creative expressions of diverse groups, students gain appreciation for differences as well as commonalities among people. Subject matter alone cannot define multicultural education. A key element is to examine the subject from the perspective of the group that generates the culture. The inquiry needs to be structured by the concepts, ideas, beliefs, and/or values of the culture under study. Regardless of the approach, courses should view the studied group(s) as authors and agents in the making of history. TEXT Larry Starr & Christopher Waterman, American Popular Music: From th Minstrelsy to MP3, 5 ed. (Oxford University Press, 2017). ISBN 9780190632991. Although not a required purchase, this class takes this book as point of departure to contextualize the historical development of popular music in the United States, as well as to problematize such history in terms of issues of equity and diversity. This is to say that, while the course approaches the content and timeline of this book, the course sometimes differs significantly from its perspective. Therefore, the substance of the course content on which students will be assessed will be that included in docu-lectures and the slides used in these docu-lectures. Assessments for discussion sections will vary from lecture content. Your instructors will address the specifics pertaining discussion sections in a separate syllabus. Students will need to log into HuskyCT to access all docu-lecture content, slides, supplemental class readings, a song and video YouTube playlist, and for exams, as well as for the submission of assignments for discussion sections. Please be sure to check your UConn email regularly, or have it forwarded to your preferred email address to avoid missing important information pertaining this class. All lecture content will be delivered via docu-lectures prepared in video format. These lectures will be available in the main HuskyCT page (MUSI 1003-001X) under Course Content  Lectures  PreMidterm/Post-Midterm. Please note that these videos will stream form Kaltura, a large file storage platform hosted by UConn. Below are technology recommendations to make access to these files as smooth as possible. If you are experiencing difficulties streaming class docu-

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lectures do not hesitate to contact: Blackboard Support for Students: 1(855) 308-5616 | or chat with a representative TECHNOLOGY RECOMMENDATIONS Due to restrictions posed by COVID-19, this will be an online class. Class materials (e.g., -docu-lectures, slides, video and song streaming, discussion section readings) and meetings (i.e., discussion section meetings and office hours to answer questions related to class content) will all be accessed online. Every student is expected to have access to a computer to take care of academic activities as part of the classes that s/he is enrolled in at UConn . Poor performance due to watching videos, reading assigned texts late, or attending discussion sections through a phone is something for which students will be held accountable (your instructors have prepared at their best to deliver academic substance in this class and not give you a ‘glorified Skype’ experience. Likewise, your instructors expect responsible engagement from students.) If you are attending class from home, or accessing large-file content, it is highly recommended that you have internet service with at least 50 Mbps streaming capacity (if you have less than that at home, and someone else in your household is using the internet while you stream class content or attend discussion sections – where you will go into break rooms to engage in discussion – you will probably experience freezes and will miss participation. Instructors cannot hold the class on standby waiting for people to login again.) If you live on campus the University internet service should give you no trouble. CLASS DYNAMICS Professionalism:  Video docu-lectures for a given week will be uploaded to HuskyCT each Monday (Course Content  Lectures  PreMidterm/Post-Midterm). There will be no online live lecturing by the professor. Students will be expected to complete the docu-lectures for each Tuesday and Thursday at their discretion. However, every Thursday the professor will be available online from 5:00 to 6:00 pm to answer questions pertinent to class content for that week. It is

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strongly recommended that students watch the docu-lectures attentively, as the professor, while online, will not lecture or repeat what is in video materials. This weekly online hour will be an opportunity to ask questions about things that might not be clear of that might need expansion. A Zoom link to these weekly online meetings on Thursday (which are entirely optional) will be posted on the main HuskyCT page for this class (MUSI 1003001X) on “Announcements.”  Students will also have separate access to the PowerPoint slides featured in the docu-lectures. These will be posted in Course Content  PPT Slides  Pre-Midterm/Post-Midterm.  Travel arrangements that do not take into consideration the priority of class schedule (including discussion sections) are not acceptable. Exam dates are not discretionary (including the midterm exam). Be aware that the period of final exams has been set by the Office of the Registrar for May 3-8. Please make your travel arrangements accordingly, as the date for the final examination is neither optional nor movable. Accommodations: If you need special accommodations for this class, make sure to contact the Center for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible to arrange the necessary paper work. To request accommodations please contact the CSD: (860) 486-2020 | [email protected] Academic Integrity: Academic misconduct (including but not limited to plagiarism) will not be tolerated. Misconduct is sanctioned by UConn policy, and disciplinary action will be followed in accordance with the university’s Student Code (see Appendix A, p. 12ff). Religious Observance: Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on holidays that require missing discussion should notify their instructor in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of the absence. ASSESSMENT Exams (60% of course grade): There will be two graded exams, a Midterm and a Final, each one covering material from approximately one half of the semester (the Final exam, therefore, is not cumulative). 5

MUSI 1003 Spring 2021

Each exam counts for 30% of your final course grade. In addition, to allow for the fact that most students have never taken a music exam, on Week 4 there will be a practice test, which will not count towards your grade. The Midterm and Final Exams will only be rescheduled in the case of unavoidable and unforeseen medical/family issues or other emergencies, with the approval of the professor and the Dean of Students. The official UConn Final Exam rescheduling policy is strictly enforced, and it is outlined on the Dean of Students website: http://dos.uconn.edu/finals-rescheduling/ In the case of ‘bunched’ exams, you must submit a rescheduling request through the Dean of Students to be approved in advance, so please check your examination schedule and plan accordingly. Discussion Section Work (40% of course grade): Please note that in-class participation and discussion will be graded weekly without exception, and that points assigned for discussion and participation cannot be made up by meeting individually with your instructor or by asking for extra assignments. Therefore, responsible attendance and ongoing participation are expected in discussion sections. More than two unexcused absences over the course of the semester naturally leads to inadequate participation in class, and thus may result in a reduced grade for this component. Full engagement with the course material through regular completion of reading and listening assignments is expected. (Your discussion section instructor will outline expectations for these assessments, and how they will be structured.) A short paper (3 pages) on a prompt pertaining the documentary Paris Is Burning (1990) will be due on Friday, April 9. Watching this documentary is required for this assignment, and for discussion sections on Week 12. Further details, including the prompt, will be provided on a separate handout after the Mid-Term, so that you will have adequate time to work on this paper. A link to the film will be posted on HuskyCT on “Course Content.” (Honors students: the professor will provide separate information about all assignments for their discussion section.) Grade Distribution Lecture

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Midterm Exam ……………………………….. Final Exam ……………………………………

30% 30%

Discussion Section *Honors students, please refer to the Honors Discussion Section syllabus.

Participation/discussion ……………………… 10% Responses ……………………………………. 10% Paper …………………………………………. 20% The total accumulation of points may be read as follows: 93-100% A

90-92% A-

87-89% B+

83-86% B

80-82% B-

77-79% C+

73-76% C

70-72% C-

67-69% D+

63-66% D

60-62% D-

Below 60% F

*We do round up to the nearest integer (ex. 92.5% = 93%; however, 92.4% = 92%)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Assignments for discussion sections will be explained by your TA) Week 1

Discussion Section (DS): Introduction

Jan. 19

Introduction to the course. Music, identity, and diversity.

Jan. 21 century. Week 2

American popular

music:

19th

–

early

20th

DS: American music origins: 19 th and early 20th century

Jan. 26

Tin Pan Alley song ca. 1920-30s.

Jan. 28 1930s.

Blues music and ‘race’ records in the 1920s-

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Week 3

DS: Blues and ‘race’ music

Feb. 2

Hillbilly music in the 1920s-1930s.

Feb. 4

Racial politics in swing and jazz.

Week 4 Feb. 9

DS: Hillbilly music: race and the idea of ‘origins’ The post-war decade, 1946-54.

Feb. 11

The rock n’ roll explosion, 1954-59.

Week 5 Goode.”

DS: Appropriations and historical claims in “Johnny B.

Feb. 16

American pop and the British Invasion.

Feb. 18

Rock in the 1960s.

Week 6

DS: Racing sound

Feb. 23

Soul music in the 1960s.

Feb. 25

MIDTERM EXAM REVIEW – ONLINE, 5:00 – 5 :50 pm

Week 7

DS: MAKE-UP DISCUSSION WEEK

March 2 March 4

MIDTERM EXAM Make-Up Discussion Week

Week 8

DS: Motown

March 9

Record Producers

March 11

Motown

Week 9 Ricky Martin

DS: Coloniality of production: the Estefans, J. Lo, and

March 16

The Latin Craze and boogaloo in the 1960s.

March 18

NO CLASS – Society for American Music Conference

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Week 10 DS: Pygmy pop? Ba-Benzélé sounds, Madonna, and Herbie Hancock March 23

From boogaloo to salsa in the 1970s.

March 25

Punk in the 1970s.

Week 11

DS: Media, MTV, and the mainstream

March 30

Funk and rap in the 1970s.

April 1 Week 12

Pop stars of the 80s. DS: Gender and sexuality in Paris is Burning

April 6

Glam and metal in the 1980s.

April 8

Hip-hop and rap in the 1980s and 90s.

Week 13

April 12-16 – SPRING RECESS

Week 14

DS: Arts and the market

April 20

‘Alternative’ musics: gender and sexuality.

April 22

FINAL EXAM REVIEW – ONLINE, 5:00 – 5:50 pm

Week 15

End of classes

April 27 Reading Day THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR HAS SCHEDULED ALL FINAL EXAMS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 3-8 (THE DAY FOR THE FINAL EXAM FOR THIS CLASS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE REGISTRAR LATER IN THE SEMESTER). PLEASE MAKE TRAVEL OR OTHER PLANS KEEPING IN MIND YOU’RE YOUR ACADEMIC SCHEDULE HAS PRIORITY – THE FINAL EXAM WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED (A CASE OF BUNCHED UP EXAMS WILL BE THE EXEMPTION, AND OFFICIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL HAVE TO BE PROCURED BY THE STUDENT THROUGH THE DEAN OF STUDENTS).

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