AMST 40501 - Theorizing Popular Culture

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

American Studies

Description:

The first half of the course is designed to introduce a variety of theoretical perspectives to the students. We develop a historical overview of popular cultural theory and the several iterations it has taken, to include mass culture theory, Marxism, the Frankfurt Schools, Structuralism, Semiotics, Feminism, and Post-Modernism. During the first section of the course, students will be required to write a paper using one of the theories to analyze a popular culture phenomenon of the instructor's choice. The second half of the semester is devoted to a historical analysis of the social impact and meaning of rock 'n' roll. I begin with a demonstration of African music, using recordings of early chants and celebratory music, and then give the class some example of known slave songs, indicating the presence, as early as 1750, of elements that eventually became R & B, then rock 'n' roll. This course is not recommended for students who have taken SOC 34151, as the content will overlap.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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