Political Expression in Music Through the Decades
This course explores U.S. and global politics through the decades by analyzing music of political expression
Kirsten Bowman JD
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(774)
Popular
What's included
6 live meetings
5 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Each week, learners will have homework involving the listening and understanding of music and lyrics in political context as well as writing prompts to help engage in class discussion the following week. There will be two short project, due on week three and week six.Assessment
If requested, grades and assessments are available. All assignments must be completed in order to receive grade or assessment.Grading
If requested, grades and assessments are available. All assignments must be completed in order to receive grade or assessment.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
This course aims to engage and involve learners in the big events of the decades (a short introduction of history and political expression in music and then we will begin in the 60's and move forward) through an exploration of the music of the time period, pulling out particular genres, artists and albums of political expression. The relationship between music and politics has existed for centuries. From protest songs to voter campaigns to expressions of anger and fear, artists throughout the ages have expressed their opinions and emotions concerning the big issues of their time through their music. As a form of communication, music has always been used to express opinions about matters of the day. This class aims to expose learners to this type of expression, while helping them to understand the historical political climate as well as provide potential for learners own self expression through music. The course will begin with a quick overview of music as a form of political expression, looking far back into history and events such as the civil war. Very quickly though, we will move into the more modern decades of expression beginning with an introduction to Woody Guthrie, a pioneer of the American musical protest movement. Week two will turn to the decades of the 1960s and 70s - the era of civil rights, environmental rights, war and peace. Musicians such as the Beatles, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and the Sex Pistols will be analyzed. An understanding of the lyrics in the context of the historical events will be studied by the class. Further, learners will engage in analytical thinking concerning how the music evolved and its influence on its listeners and the greater world events. Week three looks at the 80s and 90s - the Cold War, the AIDS epidemic, the 'War on Drugs to name a few events. From Rock the Vote and MTVs involvement in organizing young people around causes to the emergence of hip hop and rap to bands such as the Police who explored the fears of a generation dealing with the silent threat of the Cold War, learners will seek to understand how artists were able to express their fears as well as the fears of a generation through music. Week four begins an exploration into the music of the early part of this century. With the cold war behind us and the era of protest music forgotten, it was the Iraq war which re-sparked musical artists to consider politics in music. From the Black Eyed Peas's 'Where is the Love' to Green Day's 'American Idiot' - from the Dixie Chicks to Pink, we will explore not only the particular music and the events which preceded the artistic expression, but the cross genre experience and how the various artist's followers influenced their musical expression. Week five will explore how political expression has changed over the years and will consider current day events and how artists have found a voice in the complex politcal era in which we are living. Exploring various genres from country to pop to international voices, learners will now listen and try to decipher for themselves whether artists of the day are political in nature and how the expression of their feelings and ideals about the world around them has changed from earlier artists of decades gone by. Finally, learners will share their final projects, having the opportunity to explore their own ability to express political fears, hopes and concerns through music.
Learning Goals
Learning goals include engaging learners who are reluctant history fans to learn important historical events through a medium that interests them. Further, the course seeks to provide learners a window into this important part of musical history and the show learners the way that history has influenced music and how music has influenced history.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
These classes will involve an understanding and engaging on polarizing social issues of the past 60 years. However, the purpose of the class is to help learners understand the history and to analyze how music and politics influence each other, not to espouse any political opinion. No political opinions will be given by the teacher nor encouraged in the class. Further, the artists and music are carefully curated to ensure that inappropriate language and themes, to include violence or mature adult themes, are kept out of the class curriculum. If a parent has a concern, please do not hesitate to contact me.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2018
4.9
774reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a human rights lawyer by profession and a university professor and mom by passion. I have my JD with a specialization in international law and completed my PhD in international law in 2023.
I have travelled the world working for the UN as a human rights attorney and now travel the world with my two children while I consult for the UN and teach at universities around the globe. My home base is in San Francisco, and my University employer is in Sweden. I am passionate about teaching human rights and global issues to everyone from children to adults. No one is too young to understand the importance of human rights and it is never too early to learn about our world, our differences and our shared values as humans on this planet. I love sharing this passion. My children also learn on Outschool and I love sharing my knowledge and passion on Outschool as well.
My teaching style includes discussion and project style learning. I love interaction, but if you want to sit and soak it all in quietly, that’s ok by me too.
An important note about inclusiveness: One of the most important elements of my classes is inclusiveness. ALL are welcome, accepted and included in my courses. Part of learning in my classroom includes learning to make space for everyone. This may mean allowing extra time for learners who need to type answers for example. It also means allowing for all learning styles and having patience when learners might make mistakes and try again with encouragement and compassion from the whole class. This tolerance for diversity is provided, respected and expected in my classroom.
Some important administrative notes:
1) I am rarely able to accommodate schedule requests. Please leave them as when making up future schedules I will try to look at past requests and do my best. However, I work full time for a University, publish and travel to conferences often and usually live in three different time zones a year. On top of that, I homeschool my children and consult for the United Nations. I love teaching on Outschool so much, but am forced to limit my hours during the week in order to fit everything in. I am sorry!
2) due to the busyness of my schedule and the large number of messages I receive it can take me time to respond. I will likely not respond to schedule requests. My priority in response times will always be my students. I will try very hard to respond right away to them. My second priority will be parents of current students as they likely have an issue that needs immediate attention. After that I will do my best to respond. However, know that I travel a lot, so it may take some days for me to return your email, I sincerely apologize for this, I am just trying to make it all work, just like we all are. (Too many balls in the air....this juggling act of life is rough, right?) Thank you for your patience and understanding. It is priceless.
My Class Offerings:
UPPER ELEMENTARY - these classes are designed to engage upper elementary and middle schoolers in critical thinking skills and civic involvement. They are active in nature and involve project based learning.
LIVE COURSES - these are classes which meet weekly at a specific time. They are ongoing in nature and can be joined at any time. They will cycle through and begin again, and you can always check ahead to see where we are in the cycle.
1) Great or Terrible Leaders: You Decide! - an ongoing course which studies global historical leaders throughout time, this class aims to engage students to think about what leadership means and what traits or characteristics are needed to truly be a great leader.
2) Micro Nation: Create Your Own Country! - In this class learners get the chance to create their own unique realm while learning about what makes a country a country - from law to government, language to culture, learners explore what it takes to build a nation. At the end, each learner will have the chance to present their very own Micro-Nation at our 'World's Fair'.
FLEX COURSES - these are asynchrosus and taught by video and online written interaction. They include one office hour per class section where you can show up on a flexible or as-needed basis to tough base and have facetime connection if needed.
1) It's All Perspective: History Depends on Who Is Telling It - This 4-week class is designed to help students to analyze historical information and consider the perspective from which it has been reported. Concepts such as bias, perspective, primary and secondary sources, corroboration and more are explored.
2) Micro Nation: Create Your Own Country! - In this 8 week class learners get the chance to create their own unique realm while learning about what makes a country a country - from law to government, language to culture, learners explore what it takes to build a nation. At the end, each learner will have the chance to present their very own Micro-Nation at our 'World's Fair'.
3) Great or Terrible Leaders: You Decide! - a 10 week course which studies global historical leaders throughout time, this class aims to engage students to think about what leadership means and what traits or characteristics are needed to truly be a great leader.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL OFFERINGS:
1) Water School: The Ways Water and Humankind Affect Each Other - This 7-week course is designed to teach learners to ultimately respect and understand the importance of water. It will encourage critical thinking from all aspects - how water effects learners individually, their homes, their families, their communities. The course comes at the topic of water in an interdisciplinary way, learning about water scientifically, sociologically, economically and culturally in order to ultimately allow learners to critically analyze the importance of water and how our treatment of it impacts themselves and the world they live in.Reviews
Live Group Class
$80
for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
55 min
Completed by 57 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
4-14 learners per class
