Jazz: An American Art Form in a Global Context

This course examines the history and development of jazz music in relation to its effect on American and other global cultures. We will consider how jazz developed and expanded into an internationally accepted popular music by the late 1920s from its meager beginning on the Mississippi Delta and New Orleans seaport.  A survey of jazz styles will include, spirituals, folk music, the blues, ragtime, vaudeville, stride, musical theatre, swing, bebop, jump blues, Latin jazz, R&B, soul jazz, free jazz, etc.

Students will explore the history and development of jazz and research the cultural influences that have shaped the music from its inception to its introduction to European culture by the end of World War I.  This course will include in-class presentations by artists and scholars in both performance and visual arts. In addition, this course will include a one-week research trip to Paris where students will examine the cultural influences derived from jazz music. Final projects will include a research paper and presentation on a specific topic of interest approved by the instructor.  

This course satisfies the Expressive Culture Core requirement.