GEOGRAPHY OF WORLD MUSIC -- GEOG 436(G) FALL 1999

Class meets R (Thursday) 5:15-8:00 pm EST 337

Instructor: David J. Keeling Office EST 431, Phone 745-5986

Office Hours: TR(F) 0800-0900, 1300-1400, TR 1530-1700, or by appointment.

EMAIL: DAVID.KEELING@WKU.EDU

COURSE PURPOSE:

** This course focuses on the relationship between popular music as a form of social expression and the cultural/political/economic development of cities, countries, and metaregions across the planet. The key element of the course is an examination of spatial patterns in the evolution and diffusion of popular music both within and between countries. We study the ethnic-cultural roots of contemporary popular music and trace the evolution of English-language popular music from its beginnings in urban society. Drawing on a combination of videos, slides, recorded music performances, and readings, we examine the multidirectional relationships between politics and popular culture, between economic development and popular culture, and between national social identity and popular culture. Musical examples from other environments (Africa, Asia, Latin America, etc.) provide a comparative point of reference for discussions about the global pervasiveness of English-language popular music, its power to shape people and places, and its economic impact in the world economy.

** Required textbook available at the College Bookstore: Andrew Leyshon et al. (1998) The Place of Music. New York: Guilford Press. Available from the usual college bookstore sources.

** Student Assessment: Two midterm reviews (40%), a short Research Paper (20%), a Final Review (30%), and Attendance, Quizzes, and Participation (10%).
** Graduate students, in addition to the above requirements, are required to do EITHER a book review OR a detailed analysis of an assigned research article.
** Students are strongly encouraged to use the research material generated in this course as part of their Senior Assessment Portfolio. Part of the University's Academic Improvement strategy requires that Seniors be assessed before graduation on the general principles gained from their major program of study. The Department REQUIRES that you develop a portfolio containing your research papers, skill course outputs, and other material relevant to your program of study. See your advisor for more information about Senior Assessment.
** All students should have an email account on campus and must be prepared to access and "surf" the Information Superhighway.
** NOTE: The Department of Geography & Geology strictly adheres to the course drop policy found in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. It is the sole responsibility of individual students to meet the cited deadlines for dropping a course. In exceptional cases the deadline for schedule changes (dropping a course) may be waived. The successful waiver will require a written description of extenuating circumstances and relevant documentation. Poor academic performance, general malaise, or undocumented general stress factors are NOT considered legitimate extenuating circumstances. Since the granting of such waivers is rare, we urge you to follow the established guidelines.
** This course requires a commitment of 2.75 hours of class time each Thursday night plus 5 hours of outside reading and research every week. Attendance and participation are crucial in this course and 10% of the grade comprises these components. If you don't attend, you can't participate! Unexcused (undocumented) absneces will affect the final grade negatively. Any absences MUST be communicated to the professor before the scheduled class and MUST be documented by the following class period. All papers, assignments, and other materials must be completed ON TIME in order to pass the course.
** Please make every effort to come to class on time. The class ends at 8 pm, so do not begin packing up materials until the appropriate time as it disturbs other students. Those students who attend regularly generally get more from the course than students who miss class.

Course Outline and Reading Assignments GEOG 436 (G): Geography of World Music

Week One (8/26): Part I: Introduction
Part II: Theories and Concepts in the Geography of Music.
Week Two (9/2): Read Text, pp. 1-30
Part I: African Roots and Rhythms
Part II: Delta Blues, Migration, and the Birth of Modern Rock Music.
Week Three (9/9): Read Text, pp. 31-56.
Part I: Latin American Roots and Rhythms
Part II: The growth of popular Music in North America, 1950s.
Week Four (9/16): Read Text, pp. 104-128 and 176-196
Part I: Merseybeat and Popular English Music
Part II: Video Analysis of "A Hard Day's Night."
Week Five (9/23): Read Text, pp. 151-175
Part I: Europop and the Politics of Music in Communism
Part II: First MIDTERM Exam.

David Keeling's Band "Trackdown" Performing in Britain, 1967

Week Six (9/30): Read Text, pp. 249-268.
Part I: U.S. Society and Music in the 1960s.
Part II: America's "Great Society."
Week Seven (10/7): NO CLASS -- Fall Break.
Week Eight (10/14): Read Text, pp. 222-248.
Part I: Vietnam and Political Protest in Music.
Part II: Social Revolution and the end of a Dream.
Week Nine (10/21): Read Text, pp. 57-82.
Part I: Asian Musical Influences.
Part II: Disco and the Dawning of the "ME" identity.
Week Ten (10/28): Read Text, pp. 83-103.
Part I: The Resurgence of an African Identity in Music.
Part II: Global Emergence -- Changing Political, Economic, and Social Relations.
Week Eleven (11/4): Read Text, pp. 269-290.
Part I: CLASS CANCELLED. Work on Research Paper.
Week Twelve (11/11): Read Text, pp. 291-321.
Part I: Music, Politics, and Sexual Identity
Part II: SECOND MIDTERM EXAM.
Week Thirteen (11/18): Read Text, pp. 197-221.
Part I: Punk and the Politics of Disaffection Part II: Reagan, Communists, Thatcher, and Popular Music
Week Fourteen (11/25): NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week Fifteen (12/2): Read Text, pp. 129-150.
Part I: The Music is the Message
Part II: Comparative Film Analysis

** Research Paper Due 12/2/99--NO Late Papers Accepted **

Week Sixteen (12/9): Review Text.
Part I: Media, Music, Message.
Part II: Global Homogenization? World Music at the Millennium.
** FINAL EXAM: Thursday December 16: 6:00-8:00 pm EST 337 ***
NOTE: No Makeups or Alternative Times are Available for the Final Exam.

The Research Paper Assignment and Study Guides can be viewed by clicking on: Research Assignment/Study Guide
To find out about more exciting Geography courses, visit the Geography Department Homepage.

You can email the instructor directly about this course. Just click on: david.keeling@wku.edu
Return to David J. Keeling's Homepage
Last updated on 10/27/99.