MUS 114 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Pop Music, Piano, Domestic Violence
MUS 114
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Reading #2
Black minstrelsy is the first American form of popular culture
Reflected social context in which it was made
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Watched and enjoyed by many
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"In creating a new sense of whiteness by creating a new sense of blackness…"
(115)
Putting others down to make yourself look better
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Negatively defined
Defining whiteness as something it is not (blackness)
§
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No positive content
Why?
Outlet for people to address negative, confusing emotions
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Know their place in the new social order
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Reading #3
Talks about classic blues
Strong female singers
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More instrumentation
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Spirituals vs. blues
Spirituals seen as "God," blues seen as the "Devil"
Spirituals draw on themes of religion, God, etc.
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Blues is more secular
Not spiritual nor religious
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Focuses more an sexuality, relationships, domestic abuse,
violence, anger
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Talks about pain
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§
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In blues, you hear about travel or transience or relationships
Reflected the new freedom of former slaves
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Hyper-realistic portrayal of what relationships were like
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Why is critique hidden under layers of irony?
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Section 1
Friday, October 5, 2018
12:01 PM
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Why is critique hidden under layers of irony?
Not as palatable
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To make it more popular
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Societal standards
Some of this issues were not seen as "social issues" and were
therefore not talked about
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Things to remember:
Realistic portrayal of relationships and violence
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Use of irony to talk about that
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Assertive, independent (but not completely), not-victimized women
Radical during this time
§
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find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Black minstrelsy is the first american form of popular culture. Reflected social context in which it was made. "in creating a new sense of whiteness by creating a new sense of blackness " (115) Putting others down to make yourself look better. Defining whiteness as something it is not (blackness) Outlet for people to address negative, confusing emotions. Know their place in the new social order. Spirituals seen as "god," blues seen as the "devil" Spirituals draw on themes of religion, god, etc. Focuses more an sexuality, relationships, domestic abuse, violence, anger. In blues, you hear about travel or transience or relationships. Some of this issues were not seen as "social issues" and were therefore not talked about. Made to be legible only for the time it is made. What the artist wants to make you feel vs how you actually feel. Seems really upbeat and happy, which i feel doesn"t match the original interpretation.
