MUSIC 1701

FWS: Sound, Sense and Ideas

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

This course explores the global phenomenon of "reality" musical television shows across multiple cultural contexts, including America, India, China, and the Middle East. How are ideas of national and ethnic belonging negotiated on these shows? How does musical performance become a site for navigating between "the global" and "the local"? And how do the ideas of "music" and "performance" differ between shows and cultures? We explore these issues by drawing on foundational works regarding popular culture and music, anthropology of media, and globalization. Through writing assignments and close visual analysis of reality music show clips, we will hone our ability to develop arguments about the relationship between transnational media, global culture, and musical performance.

When Offered Fall, spring.

Satisfies Requirement First-Year Writing Seminar.

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