Midterm Guide for Music 100 (Fall 2022)
The midterm (60 factors complete) for this semester consists of the next components:
Half 1: Investigation of a Large Thought (15 factors)
Half 2: Inventive Venture (15 factors)
Half Three: For/In opposition to (15 factors)
Half four: Imaginative Writing (15 factors)
Due Dates: You could electronic mail me all 4 components of your midterm examination by 11:59pm on October 25. Any supplies delivered after that date shall be thought-about late and factors shall be deducted (10% drop in grade per every day late, together with weekend days).
Directions for Half 1: Confronting Modernism and Know-how
Nation music is an “invented custom.” It attracts on the previous however amplifies and distorts it by way of exaggerated accents, foolish costumes, and trendy musical improvements. And but it presents a musical expertise that purports to be previous, even timeless. Early nation music’s nostalgia for a time that by no means existed was fueled partially by that era’s issues and anxieties about modernity.
There isn’t any single definition of modernity, however it’s possible you’ll discover this temporary description helpful:
“[Modernity derives from] the stresses and strains caused… by the lack of perception in faith, the rise of our dependence on science and expertise, the enlargement of markets and the commodification caused by capitalism, the expansion of mass tradition and its affect, the invasion of forms into personal life, and altering beliefs about relationships between the sexes” (Christopher Butler, Modernism: A Very Quick Introduction, 1). “[Modernity derives from] the stresses and strains brought about… by the lack of religion in faith, the rise of our reliance on science and expertise, the enlargement of markets and commodification attributable to capitalism, the expansion of mass tradition and its affect, the invasion of forms into personal life, and altering beliefs about intercourse relationships” (Christopher Butler, Modernism: A Very Quick Introduction, 1).
You may additionally discover the Wikipedia web page on Modernism helpful as a reference.
Write a one- or two-page paper (with double-spaced textual content) or document a ten to fifteen-minute video essay exploring a selected case of widespread music confronting modernity. It is best to draw from a single observe, or at most a number of associated tracks. You aren’t required to make use of the outline of modernity I’ve excerpted above; certainly, I encourage you to discover the subject and use no matter characterization of modernity appeals to you. You could cite your sources—direct quotes in a written paper must be in citation marks and cited; direct quotes in a video essay must be prefaced with the phrase “quote” and adopted by the phrases “finish quote.” It is best to describe how the music engages with particular parameters of modernism—technological, psychological, cultural, and so forth—and supply examples of the way it reconciles/works out these confrontations. If writing a paper, it is best to use time stamps when specifying moments in a track (“at 2:35” as an alternative of “at two minutes and thirty-five seconds”); if recording a video essay, ideally it is best to use an audio excerpt, or sing and/or play the excerpt.
Standards for Grading: 1) Addressing a selected modernist subject; 2) Readability with which musical examples confront the difficulty; Three) utilizing particular timestamps four) Plausibility of interpretation
Directions for Half 2: Transformative Composition Task
Function: This task is designed to encourage college students to remodel previous materials into one thing new. The coed will adapt folks music to a extra trendy idiom by utilizing a mannequin from widespread music. I exploit the Grateful Useless for example of a mannequin, however the pupil could use any instance as long as it suits the standards outlined beneath.
Process: In style music is filled with examples of songs developed out of folks songs or comparatively conventional materials. The Grateful Useless, for instance, would merely carry out up to date variations of folks tunes—see “Chilly Rain and Snow,” “Darkish Hole,” “Peggy-O,” and “Jack-A-Roe.” At instances, they created a brand new track that alluded to conventional materials with respect to the lyrics or music or each. Significantly putting examples of this strategy are “Stagger Lee,” “Dupree’s Diamond Blues,” “Throwing Stones,” “Deal,” “Casey Jones,” “Appears to be like Like Rain,” and “Sugaree” (though the latter is just not a standard track however solely a decade previous on the time). For this task, do one of many following:
1) Take a folks track from the Cecil Sharp assortment (out there on our Blackboard Website underneath “Assignments”) and create a contemporary model of it (rock, r&b, jazz, hip hop, electronica, no matter) that you simply document and submit. You’ll alter the chords, rhythms, melodies, and phrases as acceptable for your style, however it ought to nonetheless be a recognizable model of the supply track;
2) Take a folks track from the Cecil Sharp assortment and create new lyrics which are at the least loosely based mostly on the standard lyrics (you don’t should document something). I go away it to you to resolve what “based mostly on” means on this context however you’ll have to justify your view within the write-up;
Three) Write a brand new track based mostly loosely on the melody and chords of a folks track from the Cecil Sharp assortment. Your track may be in any type and style. File the track and submit.
Irrespective of which of the three choices you select, write a 250-500-word description of what you had been attempting to realize and the way properly you are feeling you achieved it—specify what you’d do when you had extra time. Be self-critical but additionally minimize your self some slack. As a part of your write-up, you MUST cite an instance of an artist adapting folks materials in a contemporary method or style. Evaluate what you probably did to your mannequin and be particular.
Standards for Grading: 1) Aptness of Adaptation (does it match the necessities laid out above); 2) High quality of Adaptation (does it signify a artistic transformation of the fabric); Three) Write-up (does it clearly lay out the try and supply a crucial viewpoint, in addition to clearly citing a mannequin in at the least one track)
Directions for Half Three: For/In opposition to
Decide ONE of the next matters and write a paragraph (Three-5 sentences) in help of and a paragraph (Three-5 sentences) towards the declare. Help your arguments with as many exact particulars as attainable. You might be by no means anticipated to personally endorse the arguments you make; nonetheless, it is best to use the crucial and interpretive instruments we’ve cultivated this semester to current your argument persuasively. You may be graded on the persuasiveness of these arguments.
1) Minstrelsy merely bolstered prejudices that had been already in place, including or subtracting nothing.
2) Jill Scott (a star of neo-soul, the epitome of 90s authenticity) showing in insurance coverage commercials demonstrates that there isn’t any longer a distinction between the genuine and inauthentic.
Three) True and False: “Whether it is artwork, it’s not for the plenty; whether it is for the plenty, it’s not artwork.”
four) Music can signify the voice and/or identification of a nation (e.g., samba music and Brazil).
5) Printed sheet music is an correct illustration, or “picture” of how music sounds.
6) Bluegrass music introduced nation music again to its roots.
7) Any “noise” may be musical.
eight) The sentimentality of Stephen Foster songs fostered a tradition that privileged sympathy.
9) The truth that so many “nationwide” songs within the US derive from army music demonstrates that nationalism is certain up in anti-foreign sentiment and the specter of violence.
10) New Orleans is the indeniable origin of all actual early jazz.
11) Though he began as an innovator, Louis Armstrong grew to become an Uncle Tom-like character by interesting so readily to White tastes.
12) Crooners like Rudy Vallee challenged heteronormative understandings of what it means to be a person.
Standards for Grading: 1) Plausibility of Arguments (they make logical sense and also you help your claims with some sort of proof—e.g. utilizing connections between particular components of classical music and ragtime for the primary possibility); 2) Readability of understanding of the type of music (or track) you might be discussing (you say correct and clear issues in regards to the music or efficiency); Three) Creativity and Fashion.
Directions for Half four: Imaginative Writing
Elvis Presley had a huge effect on the historical past of widespread music and widespread tradition, and he stays the topic of adulation and controversy. One can strategy his recorded output and his persona from innumerable angles. For this portion of the examination, you’ll choose ONE of the angles listed beneath. You’ll then write a minimal of 1 paragraph from that perspective. Longer discussions are inspired; one paragraph is the minimal. Select a SPECIFIC track to debate. Be at liberty to cite sources. Present citations on the finish of the doc for any sources you examined (whether or not you quoted from them or not).
Angles: 1) Feminist views; 2) Racial views; Three) Political (conservative or liberal) views; four) Financial views; 5) His impression on “movie star tradition;” 6) Crossing or mixing genres; 7) Tv or Film appearances.
Standards for Grading: 1) Readability of critique (that’s, you actually present an inexpensive critique from that perspective); 2) Software to track (your critique reveals one thing fascinating in regards to the track); Three) Creativity and Fashion (you give you a singular perception and talk it properly).
