ENGL 283 - Studies in Popular Songs and Artists

3 Credits

Spring
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 102. This course examines how and why certain songs and artists have become popular in the United States from the nineteenth century to today. Students will learn how genres such as blues, rock and roll, Latin, country, R&B, dance, and rap/hip-hop influenced one another to create popular music and culture. These interactions will be examined from a cultural studies perspective that analyzes lyrics, visual performances, and marketing strategies to understand how the race, class, gender, and sexuality of musicians and music listeners have responded to cultural trends, historical events, technological advancements, and sociopolitical movements to create music that is both timely and timeless.