Musically, the 20th century was a century like no other in history. In previous centuries, one had to be in the company of musicians to enjoy music—a condition that dramatically affected the type of music one had access to depending on class, race, location, etc. By the end of the 20th century, the vast majority of music we experienced was pre-recorded and easily available to all whom cared to listen. Technology changed music and the way people socialize with music. On the one hand, recording technology provided the listener with unparalleled varieties of music from virtually anywhere on the earth. But on the other hand, most recorded music was produced and disseminated by a few multinational corporations. Yet then as now we often attached personal meaning to the music we enjoyed and used it as a mark of identity and individuality. Therein lies a central tension in popular music: you the audience have unprecedented choice in the music available to you; yet you may be more removed from the production of that music than ever before.
This class is an opportunity for you to think about the music that accompanies your lives in different ways. Most of you probably have well developed tastes in popular music with up-to-date knowledge about new trends and styles. In this class we audition some of the great music that excited previous generations, and we compliment our knowledge of current trends with historic knowledge about what came before. We will also learn about vernacular, folk, and ethnic musics that continue to influence and drive popular music.
This course begins with an exploration of the social history of popular music and culture in America. What is different about popular music and culture from other forms of musical and cultural expression? Does it meet a social and cultural need particular to twentieth and twenty-first century America? The impact of race, ethnicity, class and gender on popular music is considered. We will also trace the development of music styles, enabling you to hear how even the most progressive or revolutionary music borrows from something that came before.