Reference no: EM133386455

Assignment Description: For this assignment, you will create a 3-song soundtrack album exploring one of the social justice movements discussed in our class (for example, Women's Suffrage, the Labour Movement, the Black Freedom Movement and the Civil Rights Movement, Counterculture, Gay Liberation etc.). Your song selections should be period pieces that encapsulate the mood or events of the time. You will consider song content as well as the circumstances in which the song was composed, performed, received and marketed. This assignment will give you an opportunity to reflect on course themes and readings and assess how each song relates to popular culture and social movements. You will present your insights in a 4-5 page min. (double-spaced) research paper.

You are expected to: Explain how each song fits the context of the social justice movement. The focus of the assignment is to create a soundtrack that works effectively to narrate the feelings, experiences and ideas of a particular social movement. Your soundtrack should also reflect the theoretical and practical foundations outlined throughout the course. Be sure to include as many specific details and song lyrics as appropriate. (I may not have heard all the songs you choose. Therefore, it is crucial that you include specific lyrics from the song in your explanations when making arguments.) You must explain how those lyrics directly relate to the main issues and themes within the movement. You also must demonstrate how these songs reflect a particular gendered lens to address the movement. Essentially, it is your job to prove that the songs fit in with the social justice movement.

Assignment Details:

1. Choose 3 songs. For each song include the title, artist, and portion of the lyrics that support your analysis.

2. Be sure you choose songs that relate to specific events, participants, and aspects of the social justice movement.

3. Only one song per artist. The more variety in song choice/style, the better.

4. Just as music producers do, try to create a progression in the sequence of your chosen songs. Think about time period, artist, and intended audience. Put some thought into the order of your songs and the complete package you are presenting.

5. Your written portion must be correctly written (consider grammar, punctuation, format, citations, capitalization)

6. Remember that songs/lyrics used in our lectures CAN'T be used for your analysis.

7. Remember that you CAN'T use contemporary song choices or artists (ex. Lady Gaga) in your analysis. You also cannot review social movements that are still ongoing (ex. Black Lives Matter).

8. Create an album cover to represent your soundtrack