Soundtrack to Revolution
David McDonald
Folklore and Ethnomusicology
Can music change the world? If so, how? What are the dynamics of music, activism, and social justice? How does music facilitate revolution? This course proceeds from the basic idea that music is a powerful means of transforming society, developing community, and pursuing social justice. In this course we will examine the connections between music and power, highlighting the ways people around the world have used music as a form of resistance from South Africa, Egypt, Japan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. From this, we will investigate the dynamics of power and protest through an engagement with contemporary social justice movements in North America: BLM, Standing Rock, #MeToo, #Caravan, Occupy, and Parkland Strong. As an Intensive First-Year Seminar we will be using our many cross-cultural case studies as a springboard for further discussion on local, national, and global issues. At the heart of these discussions, however, will be an investigation into the role of music in revolution. Our class sessions will take many forms, extending beyond the classroom to include panel discussions, film screenings, community activities, and fieldwork. Ultimately, the goal of this class will be to equip students with the critical skills necessary to understand, engage, and transform the political worlds they inhabit.
This course is eligible for honors credit through Hutton Honors College.
Catalog Information: COLL-S 103 FRESHMAN SEMINAR IN A&H