Hilbert College MU 281 History of Rock and Roll Fall 2024, Start Date 10/28/24

The History of Rock and Roll is designed to introduce students to the history of Rock and Roll (1940 – 1985). The focus will be on understanding the social realities and aesthetic questions that led to the emergence of a particular style of Rock and Roll at a particular time. For instance, the electronification of musical instruments, especially in the 1950s, made possible the appearance of new forms of music in the 1960s and beyond. If the electronics revolution never occurred, Rock and Roll never would have been developed – or at least it would be very different. Similarly, the lyrical content of much Rock and Roll can best be understood through looking at the social conditions of the time. Listening to the lyrics sung at the famous Woodstock festival, for example, one can identify values and life philosophy of the 60s generation. Therefore, this course introduces a music history but does so by highlighting why certain styles emerged in certain time periods.