College Seminar (104-7-1)

Topic

Life and Love on the Dance Floor: Berlin Dance Mus

Instructors

Domenic DeSocio

Meeting Info

University Hall 118: Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

"This course offers a study of Berlin, Germany's world-famous role as a major center of contemporary dance music (techno, house, disco) and nightclub culture. Beginning in the 1990s with the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Berlin, the city quickly became home to cutting-edge DJs, party planners, club owners, and dancers, including notorious clubs like Tresor and Berghain. Coming together, they pioneered new ways to express oneself and connect with one another through music and dance. This course examines many aspects of this culture, from the unique genres of music and how DJs create music to the technology of sound, the experience of dancing and of clubs as spaces, and the politics of belonging, representation, and identity on the dance floor, in particular its complicated exchanges with Black communities and music in Chicago and Detroit, the birthplaces of this music. We also will consider the social, cultural, and political implications of nightlife and dance music as a site of community-building, friendship, and love within contemporary Western society, especially for queer communities. As a College Seminar, the course will introduce you to college life and the essential, but mostly unwritten, rules, expectations, resources, and habits for you to succeed as a student. This "hidden curriculum" will include topics such as time management, emotional health, academic integrity and the mechanics of citation, and how to seek help. Our assignments will include a variety of small, weekly writing assignments and short summative, comparative, and analytic essays to begin your familiarization with college writing. There will also be an experiential component to the course involving events with DJs in which you will talk about practical topics such as the work of DJing and making music and the politics and logistics of dance."

Learning Objectives

Learn about the history and culture of dance music and dance clubs in the United States and Germany. Exercise skills and habits to succeed in a discussion-based university seminar course. Develop your own writerly voice to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Acquiring skills necessary for success in college, including: setting and evaluating academic goals, studying effectively, reading and thinking critically, understanding standards of academic integrity, and knowing when and how to ask for help.

Teaching Method

Seminar

Evaluation Method

Attendance Class participation Papers Writing assignments

Class Materials (Required)

All materials will be available on Canvas. No purchases necessary.

Class Attributes

WCAS College Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required