Political Science 289 - American Politics/Music

This course uses popular music - rock, hip hop, blues, country, jazz, and other genres - as an entryway to analysis of major themes in American politics, including American culture and values, patriotism, race relations and immigration, civil rights and liberties, and war and peace. It takes the view that popular music, in addition to being a form of entertainment, often offers incisive commentary on the state of American politics. This course provides a thematic overview of American politics, pairing provocative readings about major issues with popular songs that provide alternative perspectives on these issues. Note that this is not a class about musical genres, music appreciation, or the history of American pop music, but one that views song lyrics and music as complementary to, and in conversation with, empirical and philosophical texts about American politics. (Gen. Ed. SB, DU)