This course will trace the history of rock music from the 1950s to the present,
focusing on those musicians who revolutionized the genre in various periods.
Such "revolutions" are discovered in the use of new sounds and musical forms,
in the relationship between lyrics and musical setting, and in the conception of
rock's role in society. Three objectives will underpin our studies: to develop
listening skills with music that one often hears, but perhaps rarely listens to
intently; to determine in what ways popular music can be interpreted as
reflecting its cultural context; and to encounter the work of several of the more
innovative musicians in the history of rock. Finally we will interrogate our own
activities by asking why the study of the "merely popular" should be pursued in
a liberal arts education, whether new approaches can be developed for this
endeavor, and what makes music "popular."
Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based on two tests, two papers,
and a final exam.
No prerequisites or musical background assumed. Enrollment limit: 80.