Music/Society Modern World
Requirements of Assignments:
1. Discussion: (at least 1000 words)
Respond to at least any 3 of the following:
1. What does it mean to be on the political left or right? What does each side value?
2. What is counter-culture? What is it countering?
3. What is your understanding of communism and socialism? Is there a difference? If so, what is it? How are these related to labor movements? What is the difference between the bourgeoises and the proletariat?
4. What is neoliberal capitalism?
5. What is fascism?
2. Assignment:
Briefly respond to each of these prompts. Total word count should be approx. 1000. Include works cited page. You must cite all required readings and films, or it will be a ZERO, with a chance to resubmit for a capped grade.
- (Bierman) Discuss how music played an important role in the labor movement. Include discussion of at least 3 songs, 3 songwriters, 3 labor unions, 3 songbooks, and 3 strikes.
- (multiple articles) Discuss the music of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, including how it expressed a Leftist political ideology. Include an exploration of at least 2 specific songs and their texts from each artist.
- (Eyerman and Baretta) Compare the first and second wave folk revivals in terms of all of these: time, place, people, political issues, historical/Political context, commercialization, class, generation, subculture, media, technology, and drugs.
- (multiple articles) Discuss the music of Bob Dylan. How did it exemplify the major political/social concerns of the Second Wave folk revival? Include a discussion of at least 2 of his songs.
- (Rosenstone; Lund and Denisoff) Discuss counter-culture. What is it? Who are the major figures of it? What were their ideas? (incl. discussion of hippies and beatniks). Discuss the notions of ‘slotted’ and ‘plastic’ people. How were these expressed through music in the 1960s? What troubled the counter culture about these types of people, and how they might approach human relationships? Why was this such a concern at this time in American history?
- (Robinson) Discuss the relationship between popular music and the anti-globalization movement. What does the movement want? What musicians were/are involved (name at least 3)? How so?
3. Extra Credit:
Watch There But for Fortune about the life and work of Phil Ochs. Write at least 700 words summarizing the film and offering your personal reflection. Connect your essay to at least 1 course reading, and 1 other secondary source (that you find on your own).