JR 315 - Covering Pop Music: The Road to Taylor Swift and Beyoncé

Credits: 4
This intensive writing course traces the stylistic sources of today’s biggest pop stars, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Both these figures draw extensively from music history, especially the classic rock lineage, and the influence of rap, tributaries like jazz, R&B, Soul, Country & Western, Bluegrass, and performers like Bessie Smith, Tina Turner, Wanda Jackson, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Anchored by the rock explosion of the 1960s-with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan-critical readings and films explore the four themes that unite most American music: race, class, demography, and gender. Open to all majors.

Prerequisite(s): JR 103
Liberal Arts Perspective(s):
Note(s): This course is open to all majors.