Department of Music Stony Brook University The Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin Department of Music Stony Brook University Rock, pop music, and society MUS 109 (86275) Fall 2018 This course is a (mostly) chronological survey of the musicians, producers, albums, concerts, genres, instruments, publications, substances, sounds, arguments, and ideas crucial to the past seven decades of rock and pop music. We will examine a musical form vital to twentieth-century artistic innovation, grappling with questions of race, gender, sexuality, and political change along the way. In addition to readings, you will listen carefully to important pieces of music, exploring them formally and historically. Each week, you’ll read a mixture of autobiography, music journalism, interviews, social criticism, and more. You will listen to music, and sometimes view a documentary or video. Several short response essays throughout the semester will allow you to flex your critical and argumentative muscles. By the end of the semester, you will possess an expanded musical vocabulary and a deep knowledge of an important branch of musical history. Class meetings: Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-11:20 p.m. Location: Frey, Room 100 Professor: Dr. Benjamin Tausig ([email protected]) Teaching assistants: Sarah Ghandour ([email protected]) Rebecca Lentjes ([email protected]) Stephen Moran ([email protected]) Kathryn Vetter ([email protected]) Office hours Professor - Tuesday, 11:30-12:30 a.m., or Wednesday by appointment, Staller Center, Room 2344 Ghandour Lentjes Moran Vetter Learning outcomes Students will: • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of major figures, techniques, social contexts, and ideas about rock music and popular music • Build skills in effective writing and speaking about this material and in appropriate modes of listening • Contextualize specific examples within broader understandings of the historical (and contemporary) periods covered Course materials The required textbook (Theo Cateforis, The Rock History Reader, Second Edition, 2012) is available at the university library (limited copies), or for purchase online (usually $25-40). BE SURE TO GET THE SECOND EDITION. All other readings will be available on Blackboard as PDFs. Department of Music Stony Brook University Each week, you will also be required to listen to music before class. Much of this will be available in the Music Library. You may also use Spotify (www.spotify.com), which is free to join, and on which there is a playlist with nearly all the required listening. (The name of the playlist is Rockpop109, under my user name: datageneral). Free plans have time limits per month; plan accordingly. Paid subscriptions are also available. Finally, you are required to have a dedicated paper notebook for the course, which you should bring to class each week. Grading • Five thematic reflections = 10% • Five pop quizzes* = 20% • Five response papers (one page each) = 15% • Midterm = 25% • Final exam = 30% *Pop quizzes -- We will have six short and pretty easy but UNANNOUNCED pop quizzes based on your reading and listening. The lowest quiz score will be dropped, potentially including any missed due to absence. Quizzes cannot be made up. Assignment grading information Assignments are due on the date specified. Assignments must be turned in BOTH on paper in the classroom and electronically on Blackboard via SafeAssign. Due to the large size of the class, late assignments will not be accepted. Plan ahead to avoid problems! Thematic reflections These will be short papers asking you to reflect on a piece of music or musical experience in your own life, with a particular goal in mind (formal elements of music, politics, canon-making). Written response papers You will submit five critical written responses to the readings and listenings. The minimum word count is 200 words, and your thoughts should be clear and well-organized. The response is not a judgment of the music you’ve heard, but a reaction to what you find notable about the work. Papers MUST CITE sources from the course only, and use consistent formatting for all citations. Midterm and final exams The midterm and final will each consist of a mixture of multiple choice, factual questions, definitions, and listening identifications. We will discuss in detail what to expect in advance of each exam. The midterm will cover the first half of the semester, while the final will be cumulative, covering the entire semester. Blackboard course page Course materials not in the textbook will be posted on Blackboard. Check your email account regularly for class announcements. The Blackboard page will also be used for periodic postings and discussions. Assistance is available for students unfamiliar with Blackboard's features. Policy on digital devices Laptops (or tablets) are allowed; cell phones are not. This policy results from two data sources: the first is a large body of research suggesting that devices distract from learning. The second is student comments from past semesters AND studies on technology and disability. Many Department of Music Stony Brook University students report that they appreciate having to put devices away, because it minimizes distraction. But others prefer (or need) to use laptops for notes. Allowing only laptops is thus a compromise. This policy is meant to be respectful of student needs; please be respectful of the policy in turn. Plagiarism Don’t do it. Each semester, people plagiarize, and are surprised when they get caught. This is the quickest way to lose my good will. If you feel unsure about what plagiarism means, ask me, or consult the university policy on academic dishonesty. We use Safe Assign, but plagiarism is EASY to spot even without software. You are responsible for all work that you submit. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Furthermore, faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary, which can get unpleasant quickly. The academic judiciary website has more details: http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/ Statement on Disabilities If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work or perform effectively on timed examinations, I urge you to contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services Office (DSS), room 133 Humanities, phone 632-6748/TDD. DSS will review your concerns and determine, in consultation with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential. I can only respond to requests for disability accommodation if they have gone through the DSS Office. Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with the professor and DSS. For procedures and information go to: http://www.sunysb.edu/ehs/fire/ disabilities.shtml Contact with professor The professor is available during office hours or by email. Emails must be professionally addressed (“Dear Professor Tausig”) and include an appropriate subject heading. I can’t guarantee a response faster than 72 hours, so please restrict emails to non-emergency matters. ***COURSE SCHEDULE*** Tuesday, August 28 – Course introduction, syllabus review, in-class listening exercise Thursday, August 30 Alex Ross, “Rock Music 101” (PDF on Blackboard) Ray Charles, “Hit the Road Jack” (1961); Claudio Monteverdi, “Lamento Della Ninfa” (1638); Tennessee Ernie Ford, “Sixteen Tons” (1955); Richard Hell & The Voidoids, “Blank Generation” (1977); Michael Jackson, “Smooth Criminal” (1987); Ike Turner, “Rocket 88” (1951); The Louvin Brothers, “The Christian Life” (1959), The Boswell Sisters, “Rock and Roll” (1934); Louis Jordan, “Ain’t That Just Like a Woman” (1946); Sister Rosetta Tharpe, “Rock Daniel” (1938); Andrews Sisters, ”Rum and Coca-Cola” (1945) Tuesday, September 4 Department of Music Stony Brook University Rock History Reader, chapters 1-7 (pages 3-24) Elvis Presley, “Tutti Frutti” (1956), Little Richard, “Tutti Frutti” (1957), Etta James, “Roll with Me Henry” (1961); Big Mama Thornton, “Hound Dog” (1952); Ruth Brown, “Wild Wild Young Men” (1953), Buddy Holly and the Crickets, “That’ll be the Day” (1957) Thursday, September 6 – How to write a paper Rock History Reader, chapters 8-11 (pages 25-49) Ben E. King, “Stand by Me” (1960), Sean Kingston, “Beautiful Girls” (2007); Cannibal and the Headhunters, “Land of a Thousand Dances” (1965); The Ronettes, “Be My Baby” (1963); The Crystals, “Da Doo Ron Ron” (1963); Beach Boys, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (1966); Bruce Springsteen, “Born to Run” (1975); ABBA, “Waterloo” (1974) Tuesday, September 11 –RESPONSE PAPER #1 due in class Rock History Reader, chapters 12-14 (50-60); Ann Powers, “The Sexual Revolution and its Discontents (part, PDF on Blackboard) The Beatles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963) and “Twist and Shout” (1964); The Who, “My Generation” (1965); The Shirelles, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1961) Thursday, September 13 Rock History Reader, chapters 15-16 (pages 61-72) Bob Dylan, “Masters of War” (1963), “Visions of Johanna” (1966) “Hurricane” (1975); Supremes, “I Hear a Symphony” (1966) “My World is Empty Without You” (1965), “A Lover’s Concerto” (1965); J.S. Bach or Christian Petzold, “Minuet in G major” (1725); Temptations, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (1966); Smokey Robinson, “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” (1978) Tuesday, September 18 Rock History Reader,