Rock and Roll as Cultural History
[HUM 495H]
Dr. Steve Ferebee
·
Learning the history of popular
music, 1950 to the present.
·
Connecting that music to the
history of post-World-War-II America.
·
Practicing research skills.
·
Practicing critical reading and
listening.
·
Practicing writing and speaking
clearly, coherently, and correctly.
REQUIREMENTS:
·
Daily reading assignments.
You must keep up.
·
Listening to and thinking about
the music.
·
Participation in class
discussions and assignments.
·
Tests, essays, revisions,
quizzes, oral presentations.
·
Final research paper.
ATTENDANCE:
·
A third unexcused absence lowers
your final semester grade a full step [from B to C, for example].
·
You fail the course after the
fourth unexcused absence.
·
Coming to class unprepared
results in an absence.
·
Failing to come to a scheduled
meeting in my office results in an absence.
·
YOU must let me know if you have
a legitimate excuse for missing class – the class day after your absence
or, better yet, before the absence occurs.
·
Athletes (or other students who
know in advance) must take care of whatever they will miss BEFORE THE DAY THE
ABSENCE OCCURS.
·
If class is cancelled for some
reason, you should come to the next class prepared for both days’ assignments.
·
Three lates equal one absence.
·
Late papers go down a grade for
each school day they are late.
I expect you to be in
class, on time, and prepared. I
expect you to stay and pay attention for the hour.
I ask you to avoid drinking, eating, and chewing gum during class.
I expect you to respect yourself, your fellow classmates, and me.
GRADE:
·
50% essays and revisions and
tests
·
25% final paper and presentation
·
25% class participation
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
These tapes are cassette
tapes which I will be bringing to class. I
do have extra copies of them if you want to check them out.
Aug. 28:
Introduction. The 1950s. Blues
and early r&b. Tape 1.
You will need to read
Szatmary to page 66 and Miller to page 173 as soon as possible, certainly before
the first test.
Sept.
4: The 1950s.
Elvis and Sun Studios. Tape
3.
6:
The 1950s. Elvis continued.
13:
Student reports.
18:
TEST AND ESSAY.
20:
The 1960s. Tapes
4-7.
You will need to read Miller to page 294 and Szatmary to page 190 as soon as possible, certainly before the second test.
25:
the 1960s.
27:
the 1960s.
Oct.
2: the 1960s.
4:
the 1960s. ALSO:
REVISION DUE.
9:
TEST AND ESSAY.
11:
Saturday Night Fever: the
1970s. Disco to New Wave to Punk to
Heavy Metal.
You will need to finish Miller and read Szatmary to page 242 as soon
as possible, certainly before the third test.
16:
NO CLASS.
18:
The 1970s. Tapes 10/11.
23:
The 1970s.
25:
The 1970s. ALSO:
REVISION DUE.
30:
The 1980s. MTV, Rap,
Michael, Madonna, and Bruce. Tapes
11-13.
You will need to finish Szatmary and read all of George as soon as possible, certainly before the next test.
Nov.
1: The 1980s.
6:
The 1980s.
8:
The 1980s.
13:
TEST AND ESSAY.
15:
The 1990s and begin work on final paper and presentation.
20:
The 1990s.
22:
NO CLASS.
27:
The 1990s.
29:
The present.