Freshman Seminar

MUSIC OF PROTEST

Course Syllabus Fall 2007

Instructor: Patricia A. Dixon

Introduction

In this course we will explore the music of protest in the Americas in the last fifty years focusing on the social movements and artists that led the voices of dissent. We will examine the inter-relationship of the United States and Latin America during and after the Cold War, and the events that shaped musical expression in both continents. We will study how music is an integral dimension of human behavior with the power to move masses, to change society, and to be a weapon of political power.

Course Goals

  1. To listen to music attentively and examine the poetic and lyrical meaning of the texts.
  2. To broaden the understanding of musical expression through different cultural identities.
  3. To explore the historical events in the Americas that led to music of dissent and struggle.
  4. To understand the roles of music in society.
  5. To explore what makes this music powerful.
  6. To understand the role of the artist in society.
  7. To understand Popular Music, Political Action and Power.
  8. To see how music is an integral dimension to human behavior and liberal arts scholarship.

Course Objectives

  1. To think critically and learn to express your thoughts clearly, orally and in writing.
  2. Be better prepared to discuss the power of music in society.
  3. To understand how music defines identity and opens public spaces for communication.
  4. Be able to relate music of dissent to political and social movements in the Americas.
  5. Better understand the relationship of the United States in Latin America in the areas of politics, economics and culture.
  6. To understand how the mobilization of traditions through the arts, form collective identities.
  7. Be better prepared to understand the role of the artist in shaping and affecting culture and society.

Meeting Times and Location

The class will meet twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:45 in Room 308 in the Scales Fine Arts Center, Music Wing.

Class Format

Freshman Seminars are designed to involve the student in critical thinking, to develop basic learning skills for life. 

Thinking that takes existing information and identifies wholes and weaknesses, thinking that is free of bias, prejudice, one-sidedness of thought, that reflects a controlled sense of skepticism, that is clear, precise, logical and consistent, will be fostered and strongly encouraged throughout the semester. This will be done by getting away form the typical lecture driven class, to a class based on student participation, student team action, student research, and student oral and written presentations. There will be readings in class, to help students develop strategies for learning the facts and principles of the subject matter and for developing basic learning skills. Films will be shown followed by student-formulated questions.

Students will be asked to evaluate their performance and preparedness in class.

Grading

Grading will be based on the prompt completion of all assignments, on participation in class and teamwork, on writing and oral skills, and on attendance.

There will be three assignments: two essays and a surprise assignment each worth 15% of your final grade, one final assignment paper and presentation in class, worth 35%of your final grade, and attendance and class participation, 20% of your grade.

Required Books

Acting in Concert by Mark Mattern. Rutgers University Press (1998) ISBN 0-8135-2484

Music and Social Movements by Ron Eyerman and Andrew Jamison. Cambridge University Press (1998) ISBN 0- 521 62966

Recordings, Videos and Films

Recordings will be available in the Music Library in e reserves through the library. Students must follow music department rules to listen to recordings in the music library. Students will be expected to find recordings on web sites and outside the class and bring them to class for demonstrations.
Videos will be on reserve at the Main Library and in the Music Library.

Readings

Books will be left in reserve at the ZSR Main Library. Articles will be put on e-reserves for easy access in your PC.

Work Schedule for Freshman Seminar

 

Week

Day

Date

Topic/ Assignment

1

Thurs.

8/30

Introduction: Course expectations, organization, course format and seating arrangements. Go through the syllabus.

Introduction of the material we will cover.

2

Tues.

9/04

Reading Assignment: Chapter 1 "On Social Movements and Culture" Pages 6-25 Eyerman/Jamison. Class Discussion

2

Thurs.

9/06

Reading Assignment: Chapter 1 "Popular Music and Community" by Mark Mattern. Pages 9-23. Class discussion.

Music from the 30’s and 40’s.

3

Tues.

9/11

Reading Assignment: Chapter 2 "Taking Traditions Seriously" by Eyerman/Jamison. Pages 26-41. Class discussion and music examples.

3

Thurs.

9/13

Reading Assignments: Chapter 2 "Taking Traditions Seriously" by Eyerman/Jamison. Pages 41-47.

"Censorship of Forgetting: Origins and Origin Myths of ‘Battle of the Republic’ Chapter I of Music Power and Politics ed. Randall.

Class discussion and music examples.

First Essay Assignment.

4

Tues.

9/18

Essay Due. Readings in class.

4

Thurs.

9/20

Reading Assignment: Chapter 3 "Making an alternative popular culture: from populism to the popular front" Pages 48-60 Eyerman/Jamison. Class Discussion.

Extra Reading: Woody Guthrie the Father of the Now Generation. "Woody Guthrie" from Minstrels of the Dawn by Jerome L. Rodnitzky pages 43 to 62.

5

Tues.

9/25

Reading Assignment: Chapter 3 "Making an alternative popular culture: from populism to the popular front" Pages 60-73

From Lomax to Leadbelly and Seeger.

Eyerman/Jamison. Class Discussion.

Music examples and comparisons

5

Thurs.

9/27

The Civil Rights Movement.

Reading Assignment: "The movements of black music: from the New Negro to the civil rights" Eyerman/Jamison. Pages 74 to 94

Class Discussion. Musical examples

6

Tues.

10/2

The Freedom Movement

Reading Assignment: " The movements of black music: from the New Negro to the civil rights" Eyerman/Jamison. Pages 94-105

Class Discussion. Musical examples

6

Thurs.

10/4

Reading Assignment: Chapter 2 "Popular Music, Political Action, and Power" by Mark Mattern. Pages 25-36.

Comparison with "Brainwashing or Background Noise: The Popular Protest Song" by Serge Denisoff and Mark Levine on e-reserve.

"The Eve of Destruction" versus "The Universal Soldier"

Class discussion.

Second Essay assignment

7

Tues.

10/9

Essay Due. Readings in class

7

Thurs.

10/11

Reading Assignment. "Politics and music in the 1960’s" Eyerman/Jamison. Pages 106-124

Class discussion.

The Complete Monterey Pop Festival

DVD 1512/2

8

Tues.

10/16

Reading Assignment. "Politics and music in the 1960’s" Eyerman/Jamison. Pages 124-139

Class discussion and musical examples

Dylan and Ochs.

8

Thurs.

10/18

Introduction to Latin America

The New Song Movement in Chile

El Pueblo Unido Jamás será vencido

Reading Assignment: Chapter 3 "Popular Music and Democratic Politics in Chile, 1960-1973" by Mattern.

Artist and their message.

Chile: Defeat of a Dictator by Steve York

Videorecording 4232

8-9

Tues.

10/23

Understanding Traditions.

Lecture: Rooted in Rural Traditions: Violeta Parra and Victor Jara.

10

Thurs.

10/25

Reading Assignment: Chapter 4 "Resistance and Redemocratization after the 1973 Coup" by Mattern.

Canto Nuevo’s Musical Expressions

Third Assignment: Surprise!

10

Tues.

10/30

Presentations in Class

11

Thurs.

11/1

America’s Protest Music in the Global Stage

"Understanding Mega-Events: If we are the World, Then How Do We Change it? by Reebee Garofalo Rocking the Boat

Class Discussion

11

Tues.

11/6

Student led class: Women and their message.

Assigned Readings:

Group 1 "Women's Music: No longer a Small Private Party" by Cynthia M. Lont from Rocking the Boat

Group 2 "Hands off my Instrument" from Music Power and Politics ed. Randall.

12

Thurs.

11/8

Student Lead Class: The Internet as a vehicle of protest

Activities in the internet that affect politics, social movements and music making.

Class Discussion

12

Tues.

11/13

Assigned Reading: Who’s Listening? From Music Power and Politics ed. Randall.

Class discussion

13

Thurs.

11/15

Where is music of protest today?

Student generated topics for discussions in class.

Use musical examples, readings, internet sites and other aids to make your points.

Course Evaluation.

Final Assignment and class presentations

13

Tues.

11/20

No class -Thanksgiving Break

14

Tues.

11/27

Individual presentations.

14

Thurs.

11/29

Individual presentations.

15

Tues.

12/4

Individual presentations.

15

Thurs.

12/6

Individual presentations.

16

Fri.

12/7

Classes end.

 

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