Conversations: Race & Music in America

Catalog description

This course will explore the complicated role that race plays in the history of American music. Beginning with music from the Civil War period (work songs, sorrow songs, soldier's songs etc.) we'll talk about how our history has been represented--and sometimes misrepresented--in a variety of musical forms and genres. We'll also discuss how racial identity has been expressed, exploited, and sometimes created using music. Finally, we'll explore how music forms community along racial lines, and how it occasionally does so over and beyond them. Although we will spend time learning some of the history of race and music in America, we'll also be developing our ability to speak about race honestly, constructively, civilly, and intellectually. In other words, we'll be as focused on smart speech as we are on free speech. Students will be asked to bring examples of music to the class, and they will be required to attend performances on and off campus. Course will meet January 22-April 12.