MUSI 444 (H01) - Music and Social Change

Hon/Music and Social Change

Durham   Liberal Arts :: Music
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Credits: 4.0
Term: Fall 2023 - Full Term (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
Class Size:   20  
CRN: 13368
The connections between music and social change with a twofold goal: 1) to heighten critical listening skills so as to become more aware of ways in which music can express social attitudes; and 2) to introduce the social, cultural, and political issues surrounding the music being studied. Course work consists of listening to selected repertoires, reading scholarly and popular essays about those repertories, and extensive in-class (and on-line) discussion about issues raised by the listening and reading. This course does not fulfill a music major program requirement nor does it satisfy the Fine and Performing Arts Discovery requirement for any music major program.
Registration Approval Required. Contact Instructor or Academic Department for permission then register through Webcat.
Only the following students: Honors Program
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course, Inquiry (Discovery), Honors course, Fine&PerformingArts(Discovery)
Instructors: Rose Pruiksma

Times & Locations

Start Date End Date Days Time Location
8/28/2023 12/11/2023 TR 3:40pm - 5:00pm PCAC M220
Final Exam 12/15/2023 12/15/2023 F 1:00pm - 3:00pm PCAC M220
Additional Course Details: 

This semester we will be focusing on music and social change with respect to the current social movements for racial justice and especially the long history and traditions of African diaspora and Black music as it intersected with struggles for societal changes, as well as the role of musical organizations such as social justice, feminist, and LGBTQ choirs in promoting and supporting social change, and also taking into account music and social change with respect to other underrepresented groups in the US.  All readings will be drawn from online resources, and the course will include regular discussion, both synchronous and asynchronous (in the form of online discussions).  You may wish to make sure that you have subscriptions to Netflix and DisneyPlus. 

We will engage with a variety of musics and styles, including works like Janelle Monae's Dirty Computer and "Hell You Talmbout," Daniel Bernard Roumain's classical compositions, the music of Rhiannon Giddens, Terence Blanchard's music for Spike Lee films, Max Roach and Abby Lincoln's Freedom Now, and many other musicians and composers (whether or not we know their names).  I usually make some space in the syllabus for students to help craft some of the specific content we will cover (we generate lists)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVrTf5yOW5s