Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0241 - Music of Immigrant America

The music of immigrant, refugee, and diasporic people in the United States ranges from traditional and folk genres to popular and rock styles, and often serves as a bridge between the old and new cultures. This course focuses on music from a number of immigrant/diasporic communities in the United States, including Irish, East European Jewish, Mexican, African-American, various parts of the Caribbean, Vietnam, and others. We will examine the many ways that identity is created and solidified in immigrant communities through music, song, and dance. This course will introduce students to theoretical models to better understand the dynamics of immigrant culture: subcultural theory, "creative" ethnicity, hybridity/musical syncretism, gender, and cultural appropriation. In addition to regular reading, writing, and listening assignments, students will conduct an oral history and help construct an oral history archive. Keywords: ethnomusicology, American studies, diaspora studies, oral history

Time and Narrative Students in this course can expect to spend 6 to 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.