Blues. The Voice of a Black Soul 4219-SD031-OG

The aim of the course is to explore blues as an important medium of expression for African-Americans. The course presents a bluesman as a poet and a spokesman for the black community. We shall discuss the assigned readings and listen to various songs and interpret the lyrics in the context of social changes in the first half of the twentieth century and during the Civil Rights movement in the United States. We will examine such concepts as double consciousness, blues identity, blues as a form of protest and black feminism. We will also search for blues in the works of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright.

Type of course

general courses

Prerequisites (description)

Basic knowledge about history of the United states and the black culture.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge. Upon completing this course student:
1. Has in-depth knowledge of the history of blues music.
2. Understands the role of blues in the black freedom struggle.
3. Knows basic events from the African-American history.
4. Is aware of the complexity of the African-American identity.

Skills. Upon completing this course student:
1. Is able to analyze and interpret various aspects of blues songs.
2. Has the ability to recognize correlations between blues and literature.
3. Has basic skills necessary for conducting research in black culture.

Competences. Upon completing this course student:
1. Creatively approaches the study of the black folklore.
2. Understands the importance of blues in developing African-American consciousness.
3. Is prepared for the further study of the black music.

Assessment criteria

Two short essays (2-3 pages each). Students are also expected to discuss the assigned readings.

2 essays : 50 points each, 100 points total.
Participation: 50 points.
Total : 150 points.

Bibliography

Ferris William, Blues From the Delta, (NY: Da Capo Press, 1984).
Hughes, Langston, Songs Called The Blues.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/271782
Ralph Eastman, Country Blues Performance and the oral Tradition.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/779350
Haralambos Michael, Richt On: From Blues to Soul in Black America, (NY: Da Capo Press, 1979).
Levine Lawrence, Black Culture and Black Consciousness, (NY: Oxford University Press, 1979).
Komunyakaa Yusef, Langston Hughes+ Poetry= The Blues.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3300276
Tracy, Steven C.
To The Tune of Those Weary Blues: The Influence of the Blues Tradition in Langston Hughes's Blues Poems.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/467538
Oliver Paul, The Blues and Ethnic Literature.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/467484
Cone, James H, The Spirituals and the Blues: An Interpretation, (NY: The Seabury Press, 1972).
Lacava, Jacques D., The Theatricality of the Blues.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/779286
Lewis, Nghana Tamu, In a Different Chord: Interpreting the Relations Among Black Female Sexuality, Agency, and the Blues.
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1512389
Davis, Angela Y., Blues Legacies and Black Feminism.
(NY: Vintage Books, 1998).
Suisman David, Co-Workers in the Kingdom of Culture: Black Swan Records and the Political Economy of African-American Music.
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3660349
Courlander, Harold, Negro Folk Music, U.S.A., (NY: Columbia University Press, 1963).
Guralnick Peter, Santelli Robert, ed., Martin Scorsese Presents:The Blues. A musical Journey, (NY: Harper Collins, 2003).
Madura, Patrice D., A Response to David Carr, "Can White Men Play the Blues?: Music, Learning Theory and Performance Knowledge".
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40495455
Garon, Paul, Blues and the Poetic Spirit, (London: Eddison Press Ltd., 1975), 54-61.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 4219-SD031-OG in USOSweb