Reference no: EM133729814

Discussion Post: Constructing Musical Representations of Race in US

Part I

Explain how minstrelsy helped construct musical representations of race in the US, by identifying and describing at least one minstrelsy character. Identify the opportunities that both European Americans and African Americans had, to make a living as performers in minstrelsy. The negative aspects are obvious, but identify at least one positive aspect of minstrelsy.

Explain why ragtime was unique in the context of late-1800s American popular culture. How did the emerging music industry popularize ragtime? Describe how ragtime was initially received by the broader American public - positive or negative. Can you draw parallels between these issues another musical style that emerged in the past 70 years?

Choose three of the following musical styles - vaudeville, country blues, classic blues, ragtime, jazz. For each style, identify the opportunities that musicians had to make a living as performers, and what kind of venues they might have performed in.

Part II

Choose TWO AUDIO examples (not video clips) from Unit 5 and write a journal that presents details of each song as well as comparisons. Utilize your textbook and the PowerPoint presentation for this assignment. Comment on the instrumentation, melody, rhythm, timbre, form and text of each song. Audio examples are found in the modules area choose from the picture

For this journal, compare two audio examples from Unit 5 that you feel best represent the diversity of popular music in the 1970s. In other words, compare two songs that have very different musical styles.