MUSI208

Country is a far-reaching and deeply meaningful musical and cultural phenomenon. This course provides an introductory examination of country music, broadly conceived, within its historical and cultural contexts. In this course we will seek to understand this phenomenon by analyzing the sociocultural, political, economic, and technological forces that have shaped the development of country music. This class surveys numerous country musical styles including “hillbilly,” bluegrass, honky tonk, “Nashville sound” era, country rock, “outlaw” country, neotraditionalists, alt-country, and pop country. Emphasis is placed on the development of discriminating listening habits. An initial unit will focus on the sounds, and forms of country. The course will then proceed chronologically, with class sessions devoted to various trends and styles from the 1920s to today.