Global Village Fall 2013 Course: Country Music and the World

GLLC-G210 (# 32504) Country Music and the World
TR, 2:30–3:45 pm , FQ012A
3 cr. / CASE A&H / CASE Global Civ & Culture / GenEd A&H
Instructor: Nate Gibson

Country music has often been described as the music of the South, the music of the
working-class, or even the music of America. But thanks to advanced technology and wider distribution, country music is now a multi-billion dollar global business. This course examines the broadly-defined genre of "country" to better understand how this popular music throughout the world has and continues to reflect upon significant issues such as religion, politics, and war. Through readings, selected listening exercises, and guest lectures, we will explore the transnational spread of country music and its impact throughout the world. Is country music in Nashville any more "real" than country music in Zimbabwe, Finland, or even Russia? More importantly, who is the music's target audience and what does "country" mean to them? This course draws from the disciplines of ethnomusicology, folklore, history, musicology, performance studies, and sociology to widen our understanding of what it means to be "country." [The instructor is also a renowned musician and award-winning author!] [Crosslisted with FOLK]