MUS306: Syllabus

MUS306H1: Popular Music in North America

Spring 2006

Professor C. Cain

003, Northrup Frye

Lectures: Tuesdays, 9-11 a.m.

Instructor: Prof. Celia Cain Office Phone: (416) 946-0221

Office: Edward Johnson Bldg., Rm. 230

Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:00-3:00 and by appointment

COURSE OBJECTIVES: A selected survey of North American popular music from the 1930s through the present. Students will develop a critical framework for listening to and analyzing popular music in historical and social context by focusing on aspects of performance, representation, composition, mass media aesthetics, and commodification.

READINGS & LISTENING:

Text: Rockin’ Out. 3rd edition. by Reebee Garofalo. This book comes with a cd. It is available for purchase at the Bob Miller Bookroom.

Other readings will be available in electronic format through the University Library system called ERes (Electronic Reserve System). The course website is: http://eres.library.utoronto.ca/coursepage.asp?cid=3055 The password is rock. It is accessible through the library's main site by clicking on "Exams & Courses" on the left-hand side of the page, or linked through my website at http://individual.utoronto.ca/ccain You should familiarize yourself with the University of Toronto Libraries web page and establish a my.access account. You may also wish to create a my.library account to keep useful resources handy.

Listening assignments are available for download through the website. Listening is also on reserve in the Music Library. All listening must be done in the listening room; copies may not be made of audio material. All required readings and pieces for listening are examinable.

Precis: Maximum one page (double spaced) description of concert the student will attend for the term paper. Include name of band/festival, date, genre of music, location, and other relevant description.

TERM PAPER:

Concert Review (5-6 pages) DUE Tuesday 16 March 2004

Attendance at and written review of a live concert or musical “event” during the semester. NOTE: STUDENTS MUST ATTEND A CONCERT SOLEY FOR THIS COURSE. Focus on how this particular musical event, genre of music, and/or performer is commodified, through media of various types (flyers, internet, radio, cds, television, etc) and other means, and how this commodification contributes to the formation and maintenance of a performer and audience persona or type. Write a balanced, well-organized paper of about 5-6 typed & double-spaced pages, plus bibliography. See Term Paper assignment for further information.

COURSE POLICIES:

Student Responsibility

It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of policies, procedures and deadlines which are in effect during his/her attendance at the University of Toronto. It is also the student’s responsibility to attend classes regularly, to keep his/her work up to date, and to complete assignments as required. It is the responsibility of students with disabilities and/or personal circumstances that may negatively affect their academic performance to inform me as early in the term as possible, either directly or through advisor, registrar, or other appropriate channels with appropriate documentation. For further information on University policies regarding disabilities, please see http://www.library.utoronto.ca/equity/ssd.htm or http://www.sa.utoronto.ca/area.php?waid=5

Missed Tests and Examinations

Only in cases of illness or extreme extenuating circumstances shall missed exams be averaged in with other term work. With respect to the former, a doctor’s certificate must be presented. In most instances the signing physician will be contacted to verify the validity of the certificate and the seriousness of the illness. Only missed final exams may be deferred or rewritten.

Term Assignment Late Policy

Assignments are to be submitted personally at the beginning of class on the due date. Assignments submitted at any time after class has begun will be considered late and will be penalized at a rate of 10% per business day. Late papers will be accepted for a maximum of five business days past the due date, after which assignments cannot be accepted. There are no extensions.

IMPORTANT: Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. The terms that apply to the University's use of the Turnitin.com service are described on the Turnitin.com web site.

Plagiarism and Other Academic Offenses

Any instance of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to University policy, including submitting one assignment for two courses. Students are advised to consult the relevant sections of the current Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar.

GRADING:

Precis 5%

Midterm exam 25%

Paper 35%

Final exam 35%

Grading System

Grading follows the Faculty of Arts and Science policy: