VH_327 The Music of the Beatles

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
David Thurmaier (lecturer), doc. Mgr. Vladimír Maňas, Ph.D. (deputy)
doc. Mgr. Vladimír Maňas, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Vladimír Maňas, Ph.D.
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Jan Karafiát
Supplier department: Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each odd Tuesday 14:10–17:25 Scala
Prerequisites
None
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 70 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/70, only registered: 0/70, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/70
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course will explore the career and music of the Beatles by examining their impact on popular culture in Britain and the United States. Students will learn about popular song forms, recording techniques, and lyric writing and analysis. They will also employ video and audio media for projects, and engage with readings that approach the Beatles both historically and culturally.
Learning outcomes
Students will: 1) Be able to summarize the history of the Beatles (through readings, course discussion, projects, written assignments, video and audio recordings) 2) Be able to analyze the music of the Beatles (through readings, course discussion, written assignments, projects, video and audio recordings) 3) Be able to explain and think critically about developments in popular culture (e.g., fashion, image, politics, literature) spurred by the Beatles (through class discussion, quizzes, and the journal) 4) Be able to explain the basic features of a popular song (lyrics, melody, form, recording) and its related components (through written assignments, quizzes, and class discussion) 6) Be able to critique music and reactions to it (through the use of a journal, course discussion, and on writing assignments) 7) Be able to explain how music fits into popular culture (through written assignments, readings, and class discussion)
Syllabus
  • ROOTS AND EARLY PERIOD (1940-1964) 27 Feb: Pop song terminology, music of 1950s, America and Britain in the 1950s, influences of the early Beatles, the Quarrymen The Beatles in Hamburg, early developments Hello Ringo, Goodbye Pete, Brian Epstein, becoming a group 13 Mar: Beatles and gender, Beatlemania Ed Sullivan show, impact in USA; Early albums and singles; MIDDLE PERIOD (1964-67) A Hard Day's Night, touring during Beatlemania 27 Mar: Folk rock, drugs, changes in style Non-Western influences, Bob Dylan, string quartets Help!, Changes in popular culture, Shea Stadium Two pivotal albums: Rubber Soul and Revolver 10 Apr: End of touring (8/29/66), new experiments The single that changed everything: Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane, Psychedelic era, drugs; The album that changed everything: Sgt. Pepper; Summer of Love (1967) LATE PERIOD AND BEYOND (1968-present) Magical Mystery Tour, the "White Album," India, Dissolution of relationships 24 Apr: Yellow Submarine, Late albums Let it Be, Abbey Road, stylistic changes; Let it Be (movie), "Get Back" sessions, breakup Post-1970; solo careers, adulthood, marriage, death Why are the Beatles still popular in 2018?
Teaching methods
Lecture, possible discussion, readings, video, etc.
Assessment methods
1) Journal of reactions and reflections on each class - 40% 2) Final written essay based on class material that asks students to synthesize topics (e.g., music, lyrics, historical context) - 40% 3) Attendance - 20%
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2018/VH_327