MP533: Understanding Popular Music (4 units)
Barry Taylor, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Contemporary
Culture
Barry Taylor is one of the founders of New Ground, an alternative Christian
gathering in Santa Monica California, focused on creating dialog and communication
with those outside the reaches of more traditional church plants. He is also a
singer/song writer whose work has been used in movie soundtracks. Currently, he
teaches at Art Center College of Design and is working on a book about Popular
Culture and Theology.
Summer 2005 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
We live in an age where music plays an unparalleled role. From elevators to concert halls our lives are immersed in music. Christian faith has had a long relationship with music from Gregorian chants to Contemporary worship. How should we think about music and what role does it play in the contemporary postmodern society and church? These are the subjects, which will be tackled in this class.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
· The student will have a broad
understanding of both the structure and social contexts of popular music as
well as an understanding of the moral and philosophical drive of many areas of
pop.
· The
student will also learn how to 'interpret' pop music and be equipped to engage
theologically and missiologically with one of the most dynamic and important
arenas of contemporary culture
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
Music plays a vital, often pivotal role, in both congregational worship and evangelism--this class will equip those seeking to engage contemporary culture, be it in pastoral ministry or social setting, by deepening our understanding of the nature of music and its role in our lives. The class will also be of benefit to aspiring/practicing musicians.
COURSE FORMAT: Classes will be divided between lecture and discussion combined with a multi-media approach to listening and understanding music.
REQUIRED READING:
Simon Frith. Performing Rites.
Pantheon, 1981
Ken Stephens. What to listen for in Rock. Yale University Press, 2002
David Hesmondhagh and Keith Negus, eds. Popular Music Studies. Oxford
University Press, 2002
Nick Hornby. Songbook. McSweeney's S.F. 2002
Bob Dylan, Simon and Schuster. Chronicles. Vol. 1. 2004
John Storey. Cultural Studies and the Study of Popular Culture.
University Georgia, 1996
ASSIGNMENTS:
· A Two-page (2) essay, typed and
double-spaced, which outlines the students music preferences, instrumental
capabilities (if any) and aspirations for the class. This will be required at
the start of week two of the class schedule.
· Two
three-page (3), typed and double-spaced, book reviews from the required reading
list.
· A
fifteen to twenty page (15-20) final paper on a topic to be approved by class
instructor, related to the issues raised by class material. Topics need to be
discussed with and approved by class instructor by Week 4 of the class
schedule.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAM: None.