This class explores the history of popular music from the 1950's through today, with emphasis on the relationship between music and sociopolitical issues.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- The roots of Rock: overview of the Fifties’ style.
Identify trends in 1950s popular music. Understand socio-political factors in the music business of the 1950s.
- Transition: The early 1960's.
Understand the rapidly evolving genre of Rock and Roll and the socio-economic factors influencing those changes.
- The British Invasion.
Identify the sound of early British pop-rock and its influence on American music.
- Folk Rock, Soul, and Motown.
Understand the diversification of pop music styles in 1960s.
- The 1970's, 80's, and early 90's (Acid Rock, Punk Rock, Disco, MTV, Rap).
Understand the shifts in the music industry and its impact on music from the mid-1970s through today.
- The musicians.
Identify the musical sounds and stage imagery of key artists from the 1950s through today.
- The industry.
Understand the music industry's role in shaping music history in the 20th century.
- The audience.
Describe the symbiotic relationship between artist and audience.
- Society in general.
Understand the connection between popular music and society on a larger scale, with particular emphasis on the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement.
- Identify basic musical concepts found in various pop and rock styles.
- Identify the popular music basic facts and dates (significant events, influential figures, milestone songs, albums, concerts, sociological factors affecting pop music).
- Describe factors affecting artistic thought and development.
- Describe factors affecting consumers of popular music.
- Show how situations in a given time period anticipate events in subsequent periods.
- Develop a continuum of thought that ties popular music development together in a logical sequence.
- Analyze the reasoning used by key players in the music industry and identify the premises and assumptions used in that reasoning.*
* Fulfills the HFCC General Education Outcome for critical thinking and problem solving.
Assessment and Requirements
- Textbook reading assignments
- Audio and video presentations
- Music listening tests
- Tests on readings and lectures
Outcomes
- Humanities and Fine Arts
- Category 5: Humanities and Fine Arts
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Determined by department