Course: Chapters from the History of Popular Music 3: Progressive rock currents of the 1970s of the 20th century

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Course title Chapters from the History of Popular Music 3: Progressive rock currents of the 1970s of the 20th century
Course code KMU/KDPH3
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Blüml Jan, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Thematic Areas: Characteristic features of 1970s rock music (stylistic and generic differentiation, the issue of the so-called popular avant-garde) The phenomenon of progressive rock (social, cultural, and other prerequisites) The concept album and rock opera Progressive rock and rock journalism Progressive rock and classical music Progressive rock and jazz The reception of progressive rock Neo-progressive rock and post-progressive rock Key rock styles and genres associated with the concept of progressive rock: Psychedelic rock, underground (key artists, works, and aesthetics) Hard rock (key artists, works, and aesthetics) Art rock (key artists, works, and aesthetics) Prog rock (key artists, works, and aesthetics) Jazz rock (key artists, works, and aesthetics) Krautrock and avant-rock (key artists, works, and aesthetics)

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Listening
  • Attendace - 26 hours per semester
  • Homework for Teaching - 30 hours per semester
  • Semestral Work - 14 hours per semester
  • Preparation for the Exam - 30 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to understand the Anglo-American rock of the seventies of the twentieth century; in particular, its so called progressive currents (hard rock, art rock, progressive rock, jazz, rock, concept album, rock opera, rock as a synthetic art, etc.). Through selected chapters and case studies (also with the help of a series of audio-visual demonstrations), students will be familiarize with historical, aesthetic and theoretical issues of progressive rock; they will also be introduced to the broader socio-cultural meanings and functions. Observed phenomena will be placed within the broader context; they will be viewed through the lens of contemporary scene (rock 'discourse'): rock and multimedial art, rock and polystylistics, rock-classical fusion, socio-critical functions of rock.
Student will gain knowledge about the specifics of rock music of the 1970s. Student will understand the specifics of each rock style of the given era, he will be able to define these styles, to compare them and to put them into musical context.
Prerequisites
Student should be basically acquainted with the general history of music, also with history of popular music.

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam, Student performance

Attendance, knowledge of literature and the issues discussed in the course of the lectures, at least 60% in the final exam (listening) test
Recommended literature
  • BLÜML, Jan. (2017). Progresivní rock: světová a československá scéna ve vybraných reflexích. Praha.
  • COVACH, John. What's That Sound?: An Introduction to Rock and Its History. W. W. Norton & Company.
  • NICHOLSON, Stuart. (1998). Jazz-Rock: A History.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2026) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2026) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2022) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -