Popular World Music

Catalog description

This course is an introductory, one semester survey of popular music genres and artists from around the globe that developed and exist outside the dominant American/Western European popular music mainstream. While some familiar international styles such as Reggae, Salsa, K-Pop, and others will be covered, the student will also be exposed to many lesser-known styles and genres. Each chapter focuses on a specific region and culture, its unique popular music (including its historical-cultural origins), and the best-known representative artists. This will foster a deeper understanding of the way popular music developed and is used by various world cultures, leading to a better understanding of the cultures themselves. We will examine not just the music, but also how music is related to and interacts with literature, dance, art, religion, and culture in general, including gender, race, and socio-economic issues. This will be accomplished through a combination of reading, lecture, guided listening, projects and assignments.