Popular Music and the City

Catalog description

This course will examine the relationship between popular music and its sociocultural context by concentrating on three urban music forms; blues, soul, and hip hop. Readings will focus on: (1) concepts such as audiences, the music industry, cultural infrastructure, and race; (2) processes such as urbanization, demographic change, and the politicization of popular music. Enrollment limited to 17 first year students and sophomores.