Hymns of the Republic: The Music of American Religion

3 units

Religious musical expression in the United States has bolstered pride, preserved ethnic identity, claimed respect, called for change, and, in short, been the stage for the living out of democracy. When the sounds of American religion are opposed or paraded, it is rarely for only religious reasons. Our studies will venture into race and ethnicity, regional identity, and the construction of American cultural politics. We will engage with a diverse collection of recorded artifacts, film, and news media. Along the way, we will encounter rowdy camp revivals of the Second Great Awakening, spirituals of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the social politics of American Judaism, the anti-rock crusades of conservative Christianity, the preservation of spirituality through Native American pow-wows, contemporary controversies over the use of the Islamic adhan, and more. The ability to read music is not required for this course.