ACOM 218 - From Gaga to Beethoven: Writing About Music

How does music get into our brains, minds, and hearts? What makes music addictive? What makes a musician or a piece of music “great”? How does music influence our ideas about politics, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality? In this course, students will explore such questions by reading about music, listening to music, and writing about music. Assignments and discussion will focus on the art, science, and history of contemporary popular music genres, including rock, pop, hip-hop, country, and jazz. Students will also attend –and write about—one live musical performance in New York. No musical training or background is required, only a willingness to think about music in a critical fashion and deepen your musical appreciation.
3 credits