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CC 399-06 Popular Music as Cultural Communication Bridgewater
State College
Fall 2003 –
Moakley 220
Tuesday / Thursday 1:40-2:55 |
Dr. Arthur Lizie |
alizie@bridgew.edu |
webhost.bridgew.edu/alizie
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Office: Library L323 | 508-531-2170
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Hours: T 9:30-10:30; W 10:30-11:30; by appointment
Course Description
This course explores rock
and roll / popular music as both shaper and reflector of meaning in popular
culture. Using recorded music, films,
videos, and written texts, students examine a range of historical and current
cultural issues related to the production of meaning, including the role of the
music industry in the distribution of music, the impact of videos on music, and
problems of censorship. The course will combine lectures, group
discussions, and written assignments
Required Texts
·
Shuker, Roy. Understanding Popular Music. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2002.
- Additional readings will be distributed during
the semester
Guidelines and Policies
| Philosophy This
class meets in a lecture-discussion format, supplemented by online and in-class
group and individual exercises and activities.
It is essential for your success, and the success of the course, that
you attend every class and come prepared: Complete assignments before each
class and expect to participate in each class.
| Attendance Attendance
at all sessions is required. More than
two absences will drop your final grade, as will habitual lateness, leaving
early, and leaving during class. While
I appreciate the information, merely noting your intended absence does not
constitute an authorized absence.
Authorized absences, in general, include “illness, participation in
official college events, personal emergencies and religious holidays” (Course
Catalog, p. 52). These absences require
third-party documentation. You are
responsible for all material covered in your absence.
If you miss an exam without
prior authorization, you will receive a 0 for the exam. For an authorized absence, I may substitute
an essay or research paper.
Be aware that participation
is not the same as attendance.
Attendance, which is a minimum requirement, means showing up;
Participation, which is an evaluated requirement, means joining in – comments,
clarifications, and questions.
| Academic
Integrity Acts of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to:
cheating on exams; plagiarism (using someone else’s work and passing it off as
one’s own); presenting work from another course; purchasing exams or term papers;
and submitting work completed by another person.
It is not wrong to consult
other works, but you need to document your sources. This means using proper citation if you use someone else’s ideas,
and proper citation and quotation marks if you use someone else’s exact
words. When in doubt, cite.
This course has a
zero-tolerance policy for cheating and plagiarism: Cheat and you get a
zero. A documented instance of cheating
will result in a zero (0) for the assignment and notification of the Vice
President of Academic Affairs as outlined in the Academic Integrity section of
the College Catalog. This could result in expulsion.
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Technology
This is not a web class, but new-media technologies are an integral part of
contemporary learning. I expect you to
have basic word-processing, e-mail, and web-browsing skills. We will integrate Blackboard into the class.
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Assistance If
you require additional or alternate assistance, please inform me so we can make
arrangements to aid your learning.
| Papers Written
assignments must be typed and double-spaced, with proper margins. Use MLA style to document your work. Do not submit first drafts: edit your work
for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and paragraph and sentence structure. I grade papers for form and content: the way
you communicate affects what you communicate.
For late papers, I drop one grade for each 24-hour
period after the end of class.
Missed
presentations will be made up at my discretion.
Evaluation
You must complete ALL
assignments to receive a passing grade for the course.
Information
on individual assignments will be available in class and online.
I
adhere to the school’s grading system:
A
— Superior; B — Good; C — Satisfactory; D — Poor; F — Failure
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Percentage of final grade /
Assignment 25% - 5 Short Papers (5%
each) 10% - 4 Reaction Papers
(2.5% each) 20% - Term Paper &
Presentation 15% - Exam 1 15% - Exam 2 15% - Participation (3 @ 5% each) 100% total |
Grade Scale
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Schedule
of Discussion Topics, Readings, and Assignments
This schedule lists discussion
topics, readings from Understanding Popular Music, History of Rock
‘n’ Roll viewings (available on Media Services system), and assignment due
dates. Additional materials will be
supplied in-class and online. The
instructor reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the schedule.
DATE TOPIC READING &
ASSIGNMENTS
R
Sep 4 Introduction
T
Sep 9 Cultural Studies Shuker Chapter 1
R
Sep 11 Birth of Rock Video Episode 1
T
Sep 16 Music Industry Shuker Chapter 2 Short Paper 1
R
Sep 18 Golden
Age Video Episode 2
T
Sep 23 British Invasion Video Episode 3
R
Sep 25 The Beatles Short Paper 2
T
Sep 30 Technology Shuker Chapter 3
R
Oct 2 Folk Rock Video Episode 4
Movie: Don’t Look Back Reaction 1
T
Oct 7 Sweet Soul Music Video Episode 5 (online)
R
Oct 9 Counterculture Video Episode 6 (online)
Short Paper 3
T
Oct 14 Music Press Shuker Chapter 5
R
Oct 16 Guitars Video Episode 7
Movie:
Gimmie Shelter Reaction 2
T Oct 21 Musicians Shuker Chapter 6
R
Oct 23 The 70s Video Episode 8 EXAM 1
T
Oct 28 Rock Stars Shuker Chapter 7
R Oct 30 Punk Video Episode 9
Movie:
The Filth and the Fury Reaction
3
T Nov 4 Alternative Video Episode 10
R
Nov 6 Musicology Shuker Chapter 8 Short Paper 4
T
Nov 11 VETERANS’ DAY NO
CLASSES
W
Nov 12 Texts Shuker Chapter 9
R
Nov 13 Video Shuker Chapter 10 Short Paper 5
T
Nov 18 Fans Shuker Chapter 11
R
Nov 20 Movie:
Detroit Rock City Reaction 4
T
Nov 25 Politics Shuker Chapter 12
T
Dec 2 FINAL
PRESENTATIONS Final Paper
R
Dec 4 FINAL
PRESENTATIONS
T
Dec 9 FINAL
PRESENTATIONS
TBA EXAM 2