MUSIC 250
Topics in Music and Culture

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Final paper: 6 - 8 pages. Due by 5 p.m. Dec. 19

Music and the Black American Experience: Social, Political and Cultural Issues
Throughout this course we discussed various issues involving race, gender and heritage and how music addressed these issues. From "Wade in the Water" to "Mississippi Goddamn" black performers and composers have use music to inspire their listeners and criticize America's political and social ideas and policies. Your paper must critically discuss the role music played in the black American experience particularly in regards to social, political and cultural issues. I expect your paper to discuss a theme or themes using primary and secondary sources and readings discussed in class. If you have any questions or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Possible topics

Black American Music and the Southern Experience
Black American Music and the Urban Experience
Jazz as Protest
Social and Political Issues is the Songs of Motown Artists
Songs of Resistance:
Black Women and their Music: Simone, Franklin, Holiday, M.C. Lyte and Tracy Chapman
Rap and Police Brutality
Mahalia JacksonTitle page or title at the top
Thesis statement
Excerpts( You must include excerpts of texts to support your point. I prefer that these excerpts be inserted into the body of the paper)
You must also listen to the recording(s) and explain basic aspects of it. For example is it slow, fast, and is the style music and spoken word, gospel or soul)
6 - 8 pages
Double-spaced
One inch margins on each side
Bibliography and Discography
 
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Second Writing Assignment. Midterm Paper (Due October 18 by 5:00 p.m.).

"Music and the Black American Experience. 1600s - 1940s": Liberation, Gender, Heritage and History
Write a 4 - 6 page paper that clearly demonstrates your ability to discuss critically a theme(or themes) that was prevalent in the music of black Americans from the 1600s - 1940s. As black Americans became increasingly mobile in their quest for employment, companionship, education and political power, countless songs reflected numerous experiences they encountered. From Robert Johnson's "Ramblin'" to Ma Rainey's "Cell Bound Blues," to William Grant Still's "Afro-American Symphony," works by Africans American composers dealt with a variety of themes such as racism, identity and liberation. These songs and instrumental compositions provided a response to the negative stereotype of blacks that persuaded movies, music and literature. I expect your paper to discuss a theme or themes using primary and secondary sources(e.g. journals, recordings, sheet music, and texts). If you have any questions or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Here are some suggested topics:Women and Blues
Ma Rainey
Bessie Smith
Ida Cox
Country Blues: Migration, Poverty and Racism
Robert Johnson
Son House
Charley Pat
African American Music and the Harlem Renaissance
Duke Ellington
Classical Music
Florence Price
William Grant StillGuidelines:
Topic must be within the time period stated above
Title page or title at the top
Thesis statement(Clearly stated in the introduction)
summary
musical examples
4 - 6 pages
Double-spaced
One inch margins on each side
Bibliography and Discography
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First Writing Assignment (Due in class Friday Oct. 4)

"Music and the Black American Experience: 1600s - 1930s"
Write a 2 - 4 page paper that demonstrates your understanding of the role of music within the black American experience. Your paper may be on a theme(e.g. liberation, struggle, salvation or identity); the characteristics of a genre(e.g. spirituals, blues, work songs or ragtime); the music of a performer/songwriter(e.g. Robert Johnson or Scott, Joplin) or the role(s) of instruments in performance or ritual(drums, banjo or fiddle). The topic you choose must clearly demonstrate your ability to critically discuss how music functioned within the black American experience. For example if your topic is on the role of the guitar in the songs of Robert Johnson, you must also discuss how his music and/or guitar stirred up emotions and reflected the experience of the blues audience.
Here are some suggested topics:
The Drum in the Slave Community
God As Liberator in Negro Spirituals
The Ring Shout
Themes in Delta Blues
Work songs in Slave Communities
The Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Spiritual after the Civil War
Guidelines:
Topic must be within the time period stated above
Title
Thesis statement
summary
musical examples
2-4 pages
Double-spaced
One Inch margins on each side
Bibliography and Discography
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. You are expected to cite every source used to develop and write your paper.
Your paper will be severely penalized if you do not abide by these guidelines.