Course Description
Explores national and international musical and cultural trends. The course draws from Athens, Georgia’s diverse musical communities and their histories, exploring the rock, hip hop, and indie popular music scenes along with African-American traditions, folk and traditional musics, and the emergent Latin music scene.
Athena Title
Music in Athens
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in MUSI 2300H
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to • Express orally and in written form basic elements of musical style • Identify and demonstrate knowledge about diverse musical communities and styles • Develop a critical understanding of the relationship between music and place • Demonstrate an understanding of how local music industries function as well as how they intersect with regional, national, and global music industries • Engage with archival resources, oral histories, and other primary source materials • Place the contributions of the Athens music scene into a larger American and Global context • Understand how the contributions of key individuals can impact musical style and production and musical communities
Topical Outline
1. Introduction of musical terminology 2. Historical introduction to Athens’ diverse musical communities 3. Music during Reconstruction 4. Religious music traditions 5. Folk and traditional music 6. The Hot Corner 7. The emergence of the art and rock scenes 8. Indie musics 9. Music industries and economies 10. Latin music in Athens 11. Festivals 12. Music and place
Syllabus