AFR 223
Popular Music and Resistance in Africa and the African Diaspora Fall 2012
Division II Writing Skills Exploring Diversity Initiative
Cross-listed MUS 222
This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

Whether discussing the independence campaigns of African states during the 1950s/60s, the Civil Rights Movement unfolding concurrently in the United States, or 20th century class struggles in the Caribbean and South America, mass-mediated musics have given voice to popular resistance to social, economic, political, racial and cultural disenfranchisement. This course explores popular music as an oppositional tool in Africa and the African Diaspora. A selection of “protest” genres and styles including Afrobeat, Chimurenga, Be-bop, Reggae and Hip-hop will provide case studies for approaching music as politically charged text, allied to specific moments of social change. Relationships between music and Negritude, Pan Africanism, Afrocentrism and other Nationalist ideologies that unify black struggles on all sides of the Atlantic will be examined. However, students will also situate specific case studies within local cultural histories framed by geographical boundaries of nation-state in order to critically explore intersections between genre identity and political discourse. Lectures will make generous use of audio/visual materials.
The Class: Format: seminar
Limit: 10
Expected: 10
Class#: 1894
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: students will write three short sequenced writing assignments which will be peer reviewed and revised; they will also write a longer final paper, and give a final class presentation;
Extra Info: evaluation will be based on the quality of written work, class participation, and oral presentation
Extra Info 2: not available for the Gaudino or Pass/Fail options
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: given to sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are current or prospective majors in Music, as well as current and prospective students concentrating in Africana Studies and Latina/o studies
Distributions: Division II Writing Skills Exploring Diversity Initiative
Notes: meets Division 1 requirement if registration is under MUS; meets Division 2 requirement if registration is under AFR
This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
MUS 222 Division I AFR 223 Division II
Attributes: MUS Group A Electives

Class Grid

Course Catalog Archive Search

TERM/YEAR
TEACHING MODE
SUBJECT
DIVISION



DISTRIBUTION



ENROLLMENT LIMIT
COURSE TYPE
Start Time
End Time
Day(s)