In this assignment, you will:
- explore a musical genre,
- conduct independent research to gather foundational information knowledge about it,
- deepen your inquiry to include scholarly writing, and
- synthesize one scholarly source in a brief written reflection.
As we’ve discussed in class, genres are socially constructed categories. Genre is, fundamentally, a cultural taxonomy based on “conventions” that often have historically- and culturally-specific proper names. They might be defined by a variety of factors, including: groups and sub-groups of people; languages; musical instruments, forms, repertoires, and styles; artists and/or ensembles; social and cultural settings; and more. As a way to categorize culture, genres can be very problematic, yet they seem ubiquitous, a sort of infrastructure or matrix whose logic guides a great deal of how culture — musical and otherwise — is received, made, remade, and disseminated.
First, in consultation with your instructor, identify a musical genre that is interesting to you (Danzón)and appropriate to our course. What is it called (by whom and since when)? How is it defined? How (and with whom) is it identified? Are there “standard bearers” associated with it? What other genres is it related to? Etc.
Then, find internet-based resources that offer foundational knowledge in the form encyclopedia entries (Wikipedia, Oxford/Grove Online) and audiovisual media (recordings and videos). The encyclopedia’s will offer solid facts, and the audiovisuals will offer a more vivid sense of the music and culture. At this stage, you will probably want to pause occasionally for context. For example, you might look for definitions of unfamiliar terms, or gather background to understand a given historical or cultural setting.
Next, employ combinations of key terms from your initial search to search JSTOR for scholarly articles on the genre. (For example: Mambo, Pérez Prado, Cachao, dance, community, Latin, tradition, modernity.) Review your search results carefully. In consultation with your instructor, search for peer-reviewed articles that engage directly with the genre of your choice. (Be sure to search for articles or book chapters, not reviews.) Take your time on this step! Then, still in consultation with your instructor, choose one article that seems like the most interesting and worthwhile, and read it! Export a Chicago-style citation of the article to your notes, and consider keeping a set of related citations in your notes.
Finally, after reviewing the article carefully and discussing it with your classmates (and, if possible, friends or family), respond to the following brief (2-4 sentences each):
- Synthesize the most important aspects of the article. What is it about? Beyond the musical genre you are studying, What do the authors want us to know? Be sure to connect the article to the subject matter of our course, and be succinct.
- How do you relate to the genre? How do you relate to the rest of the article’s subject matter and perspectives? (This question is worthwhile, regardless of how familiar or unfamiliar you might be with the genre, how much you do or don’t identify with it, or how much you do or don’t enjoy it!)
- What was the most surprising aspect of the article? Explain what you found unexpected or illuminating, and why.
- Describe how the article (hopefully) sparked your curiosity, and how it might lead you to further inquiry. What aspect of the article makes you want to learn more about its subject?
Include URL links and a Chicago-style bibliographic citation for the article at the top of your reflection.
Be sure to write a complete draft of your responses first, then proofread, edit, and polish it. Save your work as you go. When your writing is ready, upload it here.
Note: We’ll be working on this assignment during in-class workshops and one-on-one consultation. However, you will need to be prepared for those workshops and conversations by reading, taking notes, and conducting independent research beforehand.
Your submission will be evaluated according to its degrees of clarity, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail.
