Lamine Touré performing on the sabar, with his band Group Saloum. (Photo courtesy of J. P. Candelier. Used with permission.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Patricia Tang
MIT Course Number
21M.294
As Taught In
Spring 2005
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Description
This course focuses on popular music, i.e. music created for and transmitted by mass media. Various popular music genres from around the world will be studied through listening, reading and written assignments, with an emphasis on class discussion. In particular, we will consider issues of musical change, syncretism, Westernization, globalization, the impact of recording industries, and the post-colonial era. Case studies will include Afro-pop, reggae, bhangra, rave, and global hip-hop.