Rock and Roll – Its History and Place in American Society 4219-SD077-OG

I would like determine major trends and primary influential performers; present the above in the most objective but at the same time insightful way; present rock and roll as music but also analyse lyrics, social and historical context as well as the most important performers and their contribution and social impact; since rock and roll is vitally connected with the general society, various aspects of this interrelationship will be discussed. A general introduction to each class topic will given dealing with the origins of a particular style, how it fits into a broader historical perspective and how it interrelates with other aspects of society.

Topics
1.The Roots of Rock and the Emergence of Rock and Roll pop music, country and western, Rhythm and blues, Bill Haley, Presley, trends in rock music)
2. Rock and Roll of the 1950s (Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly,
3. The Early Sixties, The Beatles and British Invasion (the Beatles, the Rolling Stones)
4. Folk Music and Folk Rock (Dylan, Byrds, Simon and Garfunkel, the Mamas and the Papas)
5. Soul and Motown (Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Diana Ross, Motown)
6. San Francisco (Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Janis Jopin)
7. Jazz Rock and Art Rock (Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Emerson Lake and Palmer)
8. Mainstream Rock of the 1970 and Fragmentation in the 1980s
9. Heavy Metal, British and American
10. Dance Music
11. Music and Politics in the 1960s
12. Viewing and Listening – Selected artists analysis
13. Viewing and listening – selected artists analysis
14. Viewing and listening – selected artists analysis
15. Final Exam

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

Present the birth of rock and roll; Present main trends and evolution of rock and roll as a unique American kind of music is a social and cultural perspective; Present trends and evoltion of rock and roll Present the impact of rock and roll on American society and internationally

Course coordinators

Włodzimierz Batóg

Learning outcomes

After completing this course student

in the field of knowledge

1. has a knowledge of basic social phenomena in the post WW2 United States
2. understands the role of domestic and international factors influencing rock and roll
3. explains dependencies between those factors
4. is able to present directions of transition, evolution and character of rock and roll in the United States, domestically and in historical and social perspective.

in the field of skills

1. is able to serach for and analyse information in order to create a comprehensive picture of rock and roll in the United States after WW2
2. Is able to compare and justify the character of change, phenomena and processes music culture in the United States
3. formulates critical judgements concering social transition in the USA
4. has advanced skills of interdisciplinary analysis and is able to use them to evaluate the change in a specific period and in the problem discussed
5. is able to interdisciplinary analyse phenomena and processes in the USA after 1945 in the context of music

in the field of competence

1. is open for new phenomena and ideas in the postwar United States
2.understands and appreciates the role of domestic factors to present developments connected with the US society
3. is aware of the role social factors for the contemporary American
4. understands the importance of cultural differences to understand the musical developments after 1945 in the USA

Assessment criteria

Course Methods and Expectations:
Students are expected to come to each class. Register will be checked each time. One absence is acceptable but if you miss the class twice without a serious reason you will asked to come to make it up during my office hours. Students are expected to read the assignments, participate in class discussions and if asked,prepare a presentation on a given topic. Therefore methods will include a little bitof lecture, a little bit of discussion and a little of presentation. Final exam (written) will conclude the course. If you would like to miss class for a reasonable reason let me know.

Course grading

Four elements will considered: a. your presence and activeness (25%); b. your presentation (25%); c. final exam (25%), d. 5-page end of semester essay - 25%. Presence and silence will lead to nowhere

Bibliography

Basic Narrative:
Joe Stuessy, Scott Lipscomb, Rock and Roll. Its History and Stylistic Development
Reebee Garofalo, Steve Waksman, Rocking Out. Popular Music in the United States

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-SD077-OG in USOSweb