Music 204-A: ST: Jazz and Media

Since its inception, jazz has often evolved along two streams: as an "entertainment" and as "high art." This course takes an interdisciplinary dive into this "high brow / low brow" role of jazz within the genres of film, Broadway, concert-hall art music, and culture writ large, examining its cultural significance from the early 20th century to contemporary productions. Students will explore key jazz compositions and soundtracks, investigating how they help shape narratives and affect moods in cinema, theater, and the concert hall. This course will also highlight several key composers in jazz's evolution in popular media, evaluating their particular impact and influence in their respective productions. More broadly, this course will encourage critical engagement with cultural themes, such as technology, economics, race, and identity. By investigating iconic films, and Broadway shows, and orchestral compositions through these lenses, students will evaluate their historical context and social significance while cultivating an understanding of how these works reflect and influence societal values. May be taken for credit toward the Film and Media Studies major or minor.