MUSIC 250
Topics in Music and Culture

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Course Description:

This course will closely examine how the texts and music of blues, gospel, rap and other genres reflected the Black American experience. From slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, music had become an invaluable disseminator of political and social ideals through which Blacks voiced their opinions and views about racism, gender and identity. However it must also be noted that these genres were also a means of creating a sense of community through language, performance practices, history, struggle and heritage. We will therefore discuss relevant and recurring themes (e.g. liberation, gender, family, race etc.) that have pervaded African American sacred and secular music. This course will particularly focus on three periods; slavery, the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

Course goals:

* to know the origins and basic characteristics
* to acquire the skills to compare and contrast various genres and the styles of composers and performers
* to know the themes and issues that have pervaded various genres.
* to write papers and discuss critically various aspects of Black American music Required readings
* Barlow, William. Looking up at Down. The Emergence of Blues Culture
* Davis, Angela. Blues Legacies and Black Feminism
* Neal, Mark Anthony. What the Music Said. Black Popular Music and Black Public Culture
* Southern, Eileen. The Music of Black Americans. Reserve reading list:
Barlow, William. Looking up at Down. The Emergence of Blues Culture
Davis, Angela. Blues Legacies and Black Feminism
Epstein Dena. Sinful Tunes and Spirituals
Harris, Michael. Thomas Dorsey and The Rise of Gospel Blues
Neal, Mark Anthony. What the Music Said. Black Popular Music and Black Public Culture
Roberts, John Storm. Black Music of Two Worlds
Small, Christopher. Music of the Common Tongue
Southern, Eileen. The Music of Black Americans
Stuckey, Sterling. Slave Culture. Nationalist Theory & The Foundations of Black America

Course requirements:

final paper (6 - 8 pages) 25%
midterm paper (4 -6 pages) 22 %
one short paper( 2 - 4) 11%
one quiz 10%
midterm exam 20%
oral presentation( 5 -10 minutes) 6%
group presentation(s) You will be expected to participate in a group led discussion on the assigned readings. 6%

Students with Disabilities:

Students seeking accommodation for a disability often find approaching their professors one of the most difficult things they must do, as they fear being stigmatized, especially if this is their first interaction with their professor. Please make every effort to encourage students to approach you about any special learning needs. In addition to anything you might say at the start of your course, consider adding a statement on your syllabus. The following are some suggestions for welcoming statements which you may choose to add to your course syllabi to indicate your willingness to work with students.
1. If you have specific physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Associate Dean and Director of Academic Advising, Joyce Stern, located in the lower level of the Forum (x3702).
2. I encourage students with documented disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, psychiatric disabilities, to discuss with me, after class or during my office hours, appropriate accommodations. You will also need to provide documentation of your disability to the Associate Dean and Director of Academic Advising, Joyce Stern, located in the lower level of the Forum (x3702).
3. The College will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students need to provide documentation to the Associate Dean and Director of Academic Advising, Joyce Stern, located in the lower level of the Forum (x3702) identifying any special needs. Students should then notify their instructors within the first few days of classes.
4. Grinnell College abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that stipulates no student shall be denied the benefits of an education "solely by reason of a handicap." Disabilities covered by law include, but are not limited to, learning disabilities and hearing, sight or mobility impairments. If you have a documented disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations, please see me and Joyce Stern, Associate Dean and Director of Academic Advising, (x3702) so that such accommodations may be arranged.
5. Any student eligible for and needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a documented disability is requested to speak with the professor no later than (date). You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Associate Dean and Director of Academic Advising, Joyce Stern, located in the lower level of the Forum (x3702).