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| Evening Train, 2002, oil on cardboard |
Visual Studies 185X Songs & Places: American Roots
Fall 2013 / 4 units / Thursday evenings 6-10pm / 170 Wurster
Anthony Dubovsky
What are the connections between songs and places — visual, musical, and otherwise? How can we describe these connections — give them form?
Music and place have long been intertwined, and the particulars of place have given rise to some of our most memorable songs: "On the Banks of the Ohio," "Shenandoah," "Red River Valley," "Sweet Home Chicago,” “Lonesome Whistle,” “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep.” Whether the folk lyrics from a Russian village on the banks of the Pripyet, or a single line from a shepherd’s flute in the Carpathian mountains, the songster licks of John Hurt down in Avalon, Mississippi, or a precisely bent blues note on a red electric guitar from Muddy Waters in Southside Chicago — the connection is endlessly evocative. However, we live in a world where traditional places — and the traditional songs that come from them — have been rapidly disappearing, inundated by the juggernaut of an international commercial culture which supplants (dis-places/re-places) them entirely--a primary characteristic of our times…
In this seminar-with-projects course we will investigate these changes by listening—by looking closely at the original connection between songs and places — and by making images in response. The medium will be open — drawing, painting, collage, writing, hybrid forms all acceptable. We’ll begin each week by listening to some songs — and learning to sing them. Together with a selection of visual images. Studio projects follow, outside of class. We then reconvene, the following week, to look at and discuss the work. Followed by a new set of songs. Note that during the fall term the course emphasizes American folk songs; the spring term presents the international version (Argentina, Russia, México to date.)
Prerequisites? Upper-division standing. At least some studio art and music background. Class size limited to 15 students. Open to all majors. Application procedures: Send me an email with the following: Your name. Your age. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Your year (junior, senior, grad)? Your major? Musical background? Art background? Tell me something about your interest in this class… Include 2-4 jpegs of your artwork (these must be identified with your name on each jpeg) and send to Anthony Dubovsky at chambersstreet[at]hotmail.com
Listed in Schedule of Classes as Visual Studies 185X Special Topics: Word and Image / CCN 01453
