 |
MU344, Junior Seminar
Fall 2008 |
Mondays
and Wednesdays 2:30-4:20, Filene 206
Mondays 7:00-9:00, Emerson Auditorium |
|
|
| The Beatles
changed the 20th century in general and music specifically.
They set fashion and recording standards and articulated an optimistic and escapist world view for millions. In particular,
they redefined popular music with Lennon and McCartney establishing
themselves as two of the West's most important songwriters. Students will trace the history of these music makers through various biographies and by examing musical examples. |
|
Beatles Seminar Structure |
| Students will compare specific issues and events as addressed in (a) biograpies by Hunter Davies (1968), Philip Norman (1981), and Jonathan Gould (1995) and (b) The Complete Beatles Chronicle by Mark Lewisohn (1992) and the Anthology (2000) compiled by the remaining Beatles with Neil Aspinal. After examiming transcriptions by Fujita et al. (1989), students will present analyses of selected examples of the Beatles' music, comparing their analyses with those of by Walter Everett (1999, 2001). The seminar will form "groups" of 4 or 5 students who will research specific topics and present their findings for each class meeting. Students will submit a short weekly essay discussing some specific issued raised in class that week. [Essays are due via the submission page (see below) by 12 noon each Saturday.] Students will also research a specific aspect of the music of the Beatles and present their findings to the seminar at the end of the semester. |
| Each week, the seminar will view various films and the ten-hour video, The Beatles Anthology at Monday evening sessions in Emerson Auditorium (friends and guests welcome). This semester will also feature a special panel discussion featuring authors Walter Everett, Allan Kozinn, Jonathan Gould, and Tim Riley. |
| Prerequisite:
MU 241 or permission of instructor, Gordon Thompson. |
|
