79-765 Roots of Rock & Roll

12 units, Carnegie Mellon University

This course is about open source, collaborative innovation and the impact of social and technological change on American music. We will spend the first half on early remix music slave songs, AngloAppalachian ballads, ragtime, and Depression era blues and country. After studying Bessie Smith, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Hank Williams, and other early artists, well spend the second half on revolutionaries like Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin. The format is informal lecture and discussion. Assignments include reading two books plus some articles, listening to short Spotify playlists, writing three short essays, and doing a final paper project. NB This course may be taken passfail with submission of appropriate form. This course is normally taught in the spring, but it will not be offered in spring 2022.

Prerequisites: none listed

Courseweave needs JavaScript to show sections, workloads and planning tools.