MUS 106 - The Beatles: Music, Critics, and Culture (W) (1)

This course will be primarily devoted to developing your skills as a writer. In addition, woven throughout all of our writing, reading, and discussion, will be an examination of the music of the Beatles! The course will move chronologically, stopping along the way to consider six of the Beatles’ most ground-breaking albums: A Hard Day’s Night (1964), Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), The Beatles (The “White Album,” 1968), and Abbey Road (1969). You will spend a considerable amount of time listening to music, and writing about what you hear. You will also be required to read, discuss, and write based on the following topics: the Beatles’ influences from the blues & early rock ‘n roll; their methods of constructing albums & songs; their melding of diverse stylistic influences; their interaction with the culture & politics of their time; and responses to their music from audiences & critics. No previous musical background is required! Not open to students who have previously completed a First-Year Writing Course.
(First Year Writing Seminar (FYW)) (Humanities)