Advanced Topics in Middle East & North African Studies (390-4-2)
Topic
Pop Music, History, and the Nation
Instructors
Kenan Mikail Behzad Sharpe
Meeting Info
Harris Hall L06: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Course title: Pop Music, History, and the Nation
Moving from the birth of recorded music and the music industry in the late 19th century all the way to the present, this class explores how popular music can be used as a source for understanding history. Using Turkey as the class's main case study but also discussing intersections between popular music and nationalism from Mexico and the United States to Greece, Brazil, and beyond, we will also explore issues like globalization, cultural flows, gender, queerness, and social movements related to music. The class will follow the major turning points of Turkey's history (the westernization movements of the late Ottoman Empire, the establishment of the Turkish Republic, military coups and other crises, social and everyday transformations) through its important musicians, genres, and scenes. While studying specific musical trends (like rock 'n' roll, for example) and their social/historical underpinnings, the class will provide students with broader methodologies and theories for using popular culture and music in the study of history.
Class Attributes
Advanced Expression
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area