H85.1198 History & Criticism 4 Credits
Instructor(s): Ben Sisario
This course takes a broad look at the historical development of rock ’n’ roll, from its sources in early 20th-century blues, country and rhythm & blues through giants like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and U2. Drawing on a body of informative work by critics and scholars, we will consider rock music as a reflection of American history and popular culture, tracing its growth and change through a multitude of styles - folk-rock, soft-rock, punk, pop, grunge, metal and indie-rock - and examine issues such as race, gender and celebrity. An emphasis will be placed on developing students’ critical writing skills.
