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UNIVERSIDAD DE ESPECIALIDADES ESPÍRITU SANTO
FACULTAD DE ESTUDIOS INTERNACIONALES
SYLLABUS
ENGLISH VERSION
FOR DAC 11 VER 12 03 09
SUBJECT 20th century music and popular culture
FACULTY Ben Westwood
CONTACT HOURS 48
YEAR 2011
DAYS Mon-Thurs
ROOM F-206
CODE UMUS206
CREDITS 3
NON-CONTACT HOURS 96
PERIOD FALL I
SCHEDULE 10.20-11.40
DATE August, 2011
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course takes a contemporary perspective and looks at the soundtrack of the 20thcentury.
The course charts the development of popular music from 1900 to the present day. We study the
origins of popular music, analyzing the lyrics, music and cultural context of genres including
ragtime, jazz, blues, gospel, country, rock’n’roll, heavy metal, punk, disco, grunge and hip-hop.
The course involves listening to and writing about the musical styles and the cultural background
which helped to create them (and in some cases to subjugate them). We will look at biographies of
key musicians and analyze the social, economic, political, racial and gender issues that affected
the development of music. The emphasis of the course is on American music and culture, although
there will be scope in assigned tasks for students to choose a particular favourite style of music to
analyze and discuss.
2. JUSTIFICATION
Young people listen to, watch and spend more time discussing popular music now than
ever before. Along with television, it is arguably the most influential form of communication.
Therefore the analysis of the music itself, its origins, cultural context and significance is
increasingly important. This course will help to students to develop their listening skills,
powers of analysis and increase their awareness of cultural communication.
3. OBJECTIVES
a. GENERAL
To develop a sound knowledge of popular music in the 20th century, the history of its development
and demonstrate in-depth knowledge of selected musical genres.
b. SPECIFIC
To improve listening comprehension skills, develop literary analysis of song lyrics, develop musical
analysis skills, to gain a broad understanding of 20th century American history and develop a
deeper awareness of cultural and sociological perspectives.
Students will:




Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the history of popular music in the 20th century
including identification and description of specific genres and the key protagonists
Demonstrate well-rounded research skills through investigation of a range of music and
cultural topics
Demonstrate sound written analysis of specific musical styles, genres and their cultural
background
Deliver an engaging and well-researched presentation on a chosen musical topic.
4. COMPETENCIES
To identify and differentiate key characteristics of specific styles of popular music.
To identify key protagonists and key developments in the history of 20th century music
To analyze music and lyrics in a cultural context
To evaluate the cultural origins and influence of key 20th century musical genres
5. COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
DATES
SPECIFIC
COMPETENCIES
Monday
August 29
Recognizes
classifications of
music
Tuesday
Aug 30
Wednesday
Aug 31
Presents short
speech on
specific musical
genre
Identifies
sources of
American
music.
Thursday
Sept 1
Analyses origins
of 20th century
music
Monday
Sept 5
Tuesday
Sept 6
Wednesday
To identify
characteristics
of ragtime
Identifies
characteristics
of jazz.
Recognizes
standardized
songwriting
formats
Analyzes
CONTENTS
NON CONTACT
HOURS
ASSESSMENT
Introduction to
course.
Classification of
pop music
Short class
presentations
Preparation of
informal
presentation
Recognizes
classifications
of music
 Reading
American Popular
Music pages 1 17
Demonstrates
basic
knowledge of
musical
analysis
Sources of
American popular
music.
Introduction to
musical analysis.
19th and early 20th
century music,
early songwriters
and ragtime.
Written
assignment –
analysis of
favourite song
1920s and the
jazz era.
Improvisation.
The rise of
technology.
1920s and 1930s
Tin pan alley.
Gershwin, Berlin.
Songwriting
formats
Pages 18-40
Written
assignment
Identifies
sources of
American music
Pages 41-63
Written
assignment
Demonstrates
more extensive
knowledge of
musical
analysis
Reading p86-119
Recognizes
standardized
songwriting
formats
Origins of country
Revise for quiz
Recognises
Reading P64-85
Identifies
characteristics
of jazz
Sept 7
Thursday
Sept 8
Monday
Sept 12
Tuesday
Sept 13
historical
context of
country and
blues
Demonstrates
knowledge of
American music
1900-1930s
and blues. History
and
characteristics
Quiz on 19001930s
Reading p120151
origins of
country and
blues
Demonstrates
knowledge of
American music
1900-1930s
Identifies
characteristics
of swing and
analyzes
historical
context of
Depression and
War.
Swing and big
band. 1930s.
The Great
Depression and
War
Reading p152194
Recognizes and
analyzes vocal
styles.
Recognizes
cultural context
of 1950s
The big singers –
Frank Sinatra.
Postwar
McCarthyism
Reading p195236
 Written
assignment
Identifies
characteristics
of crooning
Identifies
characteristics
of swing
Wednesday
Sept 14
Analyzes the
roots of rock
and roll
Origins of rock
and roll – rhythm
and blues, country
and western. Early
pioneers
Reading p195236
Written
assignment
Evaluates the
origins of rock
and roll
Thursday
Sept 15
Analyzes the
characteristics
of rock and roll
and evaluates
the importance
of key
protagonists
The rock and roll
revolution of the
late 50s. Chuck
Berry, Little
Richard, Jerry Lee
Lewis, Buddy
Holly. Race issues
and sexuality.
The teenage
market.
Written
assignment
Evaluates the
effects of rock
and roll
The career of
Elvis Presley –
influence and
legacy.
The demise of
rock and roll. The
early 1960s, The
Twist and the
Beach Boys.
Mid term exam
Reading p236245
Evaluates the
effects of rock
and roll and
Presley
Evaluates the
effects of rock
and roll and
Presley
Monday Sept
19
Tuesday Sept
20
Sept 21
Recognizes
importance of
Presley
Identifies
reasons for rock
and roll´s
metamorphosis
Demonstrates
thorough
knowledge of
Reading p245269
NA
Mid term exam
Sept 22
music 19001960
Recognizes
importance of
the Beatles.
Sept 26
Analyzes key
1960s songs
lyrics.
Recognises the
importance and
development of
folk.
Sept 27
Analyzes racial
and gender
issues
Sept 28
Analyzes the
growth of image
manufacture.
Recognises
characteristics
of the
counterculture
Sept 29
Analyzes the
changing role of
women in
music. Analysis
of image, music
and lyrics.
Oct 3
Identifies the
psychology of
stardom and
The career of the
Beatles 19621970. Influence
and legacy
Urban folk.
Influence and
legacy of Bob
Dylan. Lyrical
analysis.
Political music
The popularization
of folk. Simon and
Garfunkel,
Donovan.
Soul music –
Gospel origins,
the rise of
Motown.
Key protagonists –
Sam Cooke, Otis
Redding, Aretha
Franklin, James
Brown.
Civil Rights and
racism
The rise of rock –
guitar heroes,
rock stars,
psychedelia,
progressive rock.
The Doors,
Cream, Pink
Floyd, Jimi
Hendrix.
The marketing of
image.
Written
assignment 2:
profile of
1960/70s artist
Women in music –
history from
Bessie Smith to
Beyonce.
(including Janis
Joplin, Aretha
Franklin, Carly
Simon).
Feminism.
1970s Heavy rock,
heavy metal and
glam rock.
Machismo and
Reading p284295
Reading p273-284
Evaluates
influence of
Beatles and the
British invasion
Understands key
characteristics of
urban folk
Reading p295311
Identifies origins
and influence of
góspel and soul
Written
assignment
Identifies key
political issues
of 1960s
Reading p312349
Identifies
evolution of
women’s role in
music
Reading p350381
Recognises
psychological
issues
associated with
relevant gender
issues.
Oct 4
Recognizes the
origins and
characteristics
of reggae and
punk
Oct 5
Oct 6
Oct 10
Oct 11
Oct 12
Oct 13
Demonstrates
knowledge of
music and
cultural context
of 1960s and
1970s
Analyzes the
effect of
technological
development on
pop
Further
analyzes
stardom as a
concept
Identifies the
origins and
characteristics
of hip hop and
rap.
Identifies the
origins and
characteristics
of grunge.
Evaluates the
concept of
Generation X
Evaluates
psychological
effects of music.
narcissism in
rock. Rolling
Stones, Led
Zeppelin,
Aerosmith.
Gender bending –
Bowie, T-Rex,
Queen.
celebrity
1970s Outsiders
music – reggae
and punk.
Characteristics of
reggae. The
career of Bob
Marley.
The rise of punk
and reaction
against
progressive rock.
Sex Pistols, The
Clash, The Jam.
Minimalism
1970s Funk music
– characteristics.
Disco and dance
music. The
Jacksons.
Quiz on 1960s
and 1970s
Reading p350381
Identifies key
characteristics of
punk and reggae
Reading p382419
Demonstrates
knowledge of
music and
cultural context
of 1960s and
1970s
1980s – electronic
revolution and use
of synthesizers.
Depeche Mode.
Reading p420465
Evaluates
technological
influence on
1980s music
Superstars –
Madonna, Michael
Jackson. Image in
music
Hip hop and rap –
origins from 1970s
to present day.
Introduce
presentation
Grunge,
alternative and
generation X.
Self esteem in
rock and the
decline of the
family unit
Music and identity,
technology and
the music
Reading p465477
Identifies
religious
connotations of
celebrity
Recognises
origins and
influence of hip
hop
Reading Rise and
Fall of Popular
Music Chapter 17
(30 pages approx)
Reading Rise and
Fall of Popular
Music Chapter 18
(30 pages) Paper
preparation
Reading Rise and
Fall of Popular
Music Chapter 19
Evaluates
cultural context
of Generation X
and grunge
Demonstrates
thorough
knowledge of
To analyze
effect of
technology on
musical
development
Present wellargued paper
Oct 17
Oct 18
Oct 19
Review for final
Final exam
Oct 20
One-on-one
feedback
business
(30 pages) Exam
and paper
preparation.
psychology of
songwriting
Presentation of
paper
Written paper due
Demonstrates
deep knowledge
of specific 20th
century
musicians
Revise for exam
Review for final
Demonstrates
wide knowledge
of 20th century
music
Review for final
Final exam
NA
6. METHODOLOGY
This course will take a multi-skill approach involving listening, presenting, reading and writing.
Students´ participation in the classroom is required and while lectures play a key role, students will
need to engage in daily class discussions, both in pairs and in groups, presenting their opinions
informally as well as giving one formal presentation.
There will be assigned readings on a daily basis. Not all of the reading material will be discussed
but may be tested upon so it is the responsibility of each student to read and know the material
assigned.
There will also be regular research tasks, whereupon students will be required to research
musicians and genres for homework (mainly through the internet) and discuss their findings in
class. Some websites will be recommended, but students will also be expected to demonstrate the
ability to identify reputable sources of information.
There will be one quiz and one written assignment for each partial. There will be one formal class
presentation.
Mid-term examination questions may cover any of the material covered during the first part of the
bimester.
Questions on the final exam may cover any material from the entire course. Students may not use
assigned readings or notes during quizzes or exams.
7. EVALUATION
7.1 Assessment Criteria




Written assignments
Quizzes
Presentations
Written and oral exams
7.2 Performance Markers
 Demonstrates thorough knowledge of 20th century music genres
 Demonstrates sound musical and literary analysis
 Composes well-researched essays on specific cultural and musical topics
 Presents insightful analysis of key protagonists of 20th century music
7.3 Weighting
EACH PARTIAL:
40% WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS AND QUIZZES
10% HOMEWORK AND PARTICIPATION
50 % MID-TERM AND FINAL EXAM
 100 points TOTAL
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
8.1 REQUIRED
Starr, Larry and Waterman, Christopher American music: from minstrelsy to MP3 2007
8.2 COMPLEMENTARY
Donald Clark, The rise and fall of popular music
8.3 HANDOUTS
TBA
8.4 WEBLIOGRAPHY:
www.history-of-rock.com
www.blues.org
www.folk.org
www.allaboutjazz.com
www.roughstock.com
www.soulandfunkmusic.com
www.punkrock.org
www.hip-hop.com
9. FACULTY INFORMATION
NAME: Ben Westwood
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ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS--UNDERGRAD:
BA Music, Westminster University, London
GRADUATE: Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism, City University, London
Masters in Journalism (with distinction), Westminster University, London
E – MAIL: westwood@uees.edu.ec
10.
Prepared by: Ben Westwood
Reviewed by: Dean Monica Reynoso
Date: August, 2011
Date: August, 2011