HI3S7-30 From the Blues to Hip Hop
Introductory description
During the early C20th various musical forms, which drew on local musical cultures, many of which were African-American, came together to remake popular music as a dynamic and vibrant force. As the century progressed popular music became an important factor in popular culture more generally, influencing, among other things, politics, media, leisure and fashion. Popular music’s importance has long been the subject of debate with criticism from commentators and intellectuals, including the Frankfurt School’s ‘Kulturindustrie’ critique which saw it as commodified entertainment, whereas others, notably Eric Hobsbawm, saw popular music as more complex and at times both hegemonic and counter hegemonic.
Module aims
These debates have continued and become part of a lively historiography which this Advanced Option module draws upon as it explores the main developments in African American popular music. It uses, but takes a critical approach to genre, explores popular music’s role within mass culture, the impact of technology, the relationship between popular and art music, the debate over ‘authenticity’, the link to other arts movements, the impact of race, gender and class, and music’s role in reflecting and changing politics and identity.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Autumn Term
- Understanding popular music: Theory, 'Authenticity', Genre and History
- The Making of the Blues
- Can this white boy sing the blues? Elvis
- Crosstown Traffic: the blues, rock, race and gender
- It came from New Orleans? Trajectories, myths and the ‘canonical’ view of Jazz
- Reading Week
- Jazz and ‘popular’ music: Swing, Dance, Radio, Gender and the significance of Duke Ellington
- ‘Now’s the Time’: World War II and the emergence of Bebop
- Fables of Faubus’: Jazz and politics
- Miles Ahead: Jazz, Cinema and Miles Davis
Spring Term
- ‘Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud’: Soul Music
- Making sense of Motown
- The Beatles and America
- ‘There’s a Riot Goin’ On’: Black music and the ‘troubled’ 1970s
- 'Many Rivers to Cross': Reggae
- Reading Week
- Hip-Hop: Origins, Gangsta and Commercialisation
- 'Fear of a Black Nation' The Politics of hip-hop
- Grime: Society and Politics
- Popular music, the everyday and the internet
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Critically review and consolidate theoretical, methodological, and historiographical ideas relating to the role of popular music in the twentieth century.
- Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of the role of popular music in the twentieth century and the main developments in African American popular music
- Critically analyse and evaluate a broad range of primary sources (including literary, visual, aural, and material sources) relating to African American popular music
- Effectively communicate ideas, and make informed, coherent and persuasive arguments, about the role of popular music in the twentieth century
Indicative reading list
Generic Reading lists can be found in Talis
Specific reading list for the module can be found on
Subject specific skills
See learning outcomes.
Transferable skills
See learning outcomes.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 18 sessions of 2 hours (12%) |
| Tutorials | 4 sessions of 1 hour (1%) |
| Private study | 260 hours (87%) |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
History modules require students to undertake extensive independent research and reading to prepare for seminars and assessments. As a rough guide, students will be expected to read and prepare to comment on three substantial texts (articles or book chapters) for each seminar taking approximately 3 hours. Each assessment requires independent research, reading around 6-10 texts and writing and presenting the outcomes of this preparation in an essay, review, presentation or other related task.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
|||
| Seminar contribution | 10% | No | |
Reassessment component |
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| 1000 word reflection | Yes (extension) | ||
Assessment component |
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| 1500 word essay | 10% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Assessment component |
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| 3000 word source based essay | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Assessment component |
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| 3000 word essay | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Written feedback provided via Tabula; optional oral feedback in office hours.
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 3 of UENA-VQ32 Undergraduate English and History
- Year 4 of UENA-VQ33 Undergraduate English and History (with Intercalated year)
-
UHIA-V1V8 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of V1V8 History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of V1V8 History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-V1V7 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with a term in Venice)
-
UHIA-VM14 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of VM14 History and Politics (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of VM14 History and Politics (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VM13 Undergraduate History and Politics (with a term in Venice)
-
UHIA-VL16 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of VL16 History and Sociology (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of VL16 History and Sociology (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VL15 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with a term in Venice)
This module is Core option list A for:
- Year 3 of UHIA-V102 Undergraduate History (Renaissance and Modern History Stream)
This module is Option list A for:
- Year 3 of UHIA-V100 Undergraduate History
- Year 4 of UHIA-V101 Undergraduate History (with Year Abroad)
This module is Option list B for:
- Year 3 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
- Year 4 of UHIA-V1V6 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VM11 Undergraduate History and Politics
- Year 4 of UHIA-VM12 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VL13 Undergraduate History and Sociology
- Year 4 of UHIA-VL14 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with Year Abroad)