Haas Institute of Popular Culture
New Course in the Department of Fandom
By Rachel Romond
SYLLABUS
FAN 453: Rokenrol and The Red Elvises Phenomenon
Instructor:
Visiting Professor Rachel Romond, president & CEO, Sound Quality Consortium, Inc.
x5155* Des Barres Hall 304
Office Hours TR 6:00-6:55 pm
Course Overview:
This is an interdisciplinary overview of the phenomenon of Rokenrol. Topics include the culture concept, Rokenrol method, the fashion effect, and critical analysis of Rokenrol examples. We will analyze Rokenrol’s insistent interrelational localization within the cultural millieu using Dumezilian, Faustian, and cross-gender relational models, and answer such questions as: Is it possible to have a VH1 special without the words "but the party was over"? On a scale of 1 to 10, how "cool" is Russian Rock? What are the local socioeconomic ramifications of primary-colored hair? If The King were alive, would he live in Southern California?
Class Meetings: TR 7:00-8:45 pm, Des Barres 112
Required Texts:
Rock. Don’t call me K-Rock.
Sills. Voices in my Head, Voices in My Heart.
Yuzov. Zen and the Art of Booty Shaking.
FAN 453 CD
In an attempt to reduce the cost of materials for course participants, we have assembled a compact disc containing musical examples from the Red Elvises/Rokenrol repertoire. This disc is available in the campus bookstore for $25.99.
FAN 453 Course Reader
In an attempt to reduce the cost of materials for course participats, we have assembled a course reader. It contains articles from various popular magazines, trade papers, and research journals, as well as chapters from out-of print books and internet addresses for related multimedia materials. This reader is available in the campus bookstore for $135.99.
Class Schedule:
Note: [R] indicates that the required reading can be found in the course reader.
WEEK 1: Organization & Overview
Tue: organizational meeting
Thu: READ syllabus
WEEK 2: Three Models of the Rock Band
Tue: READ Dumezil, The quipartite structure of the modern musical ensemble [R]
Shaw, The rock band [R]
Hancock, The roll band [R]
Thu: READ Dumezil, The rock and roll band [R]
WEEK 3: Historical Perspective
Tue: READ A Short History of Music, ch. 1-3, 27-32, 56-60 [R]
Thu: Guest Lecturer P.F. Davis "Touring through the Ages"
READ Weinreich & Sommerfield, The effect of body art on roadie street cred [R]
Davis, Fabulous IS my middle name [R]
WEEK 4: Socio-Musical Perspective
Tue: READ Campbell, The Triplet Gods of Rock and Roll, ch 1, 3, 5 & 6 [R]
Rose & Rose, Teach Yourself Guitar in 3 weeks, weeks 1 & 3 [R]
Thu: READ Bernstein, Music Theory Made Easy, pp. 7-115 [R]
WEEK 5: Socio-Musical Perspective, con’t.
Tue: Guest Lecturer E.A. Haas "Zhenya is a God"
READ Rock, Don’t Call Me K-Rock
Moulton, Kolykhanov versus Buckingham: a comparison in technique [R]
Reeves, et al., The effect of fashion on dexterity [R]
Thu: ASSIGNMENT Listen to CD tracks 1, 3, 5-7, 13, 15
WEEK 6: The Performer/Participant Dynamic
Tue: READ Ivey, A cultural study of musical experience [R]
Thu: Guest Lecturer W.B. Gates "Oleg is a Genius"
READ Bernov, The art of making up nicknames as it pertains to world domination [R]
Bernov, It’s only rokenrol balalaika [R]
Yuzov, Zen and the Art of Booty Shaking, ch. 6
WEEK 7: Manifestations of Fandom
Tue: Guest Lecturer M. Brose "Avi is Hot"
READ Anon., I was a teenage avifan [R]
Sills, Voices in my Head, Voices in My Heart, pp. 3-17, 62-66, 126-204
Thu: Guest Lecturer J. Peoples "Igor is my One True Love"
READ Yuzov, Zen and the art of Booty Shaking, ch. 1-3, 7 & 10
WEEK 8: Manifestations, con’t.
Tue: READ A Fan Manifesto [R]
The Red Pages, vol. 2 iss. 1, The Elvises Hair, Nice Shoes!, Fans! [R]
Born in Chernobyl: Confessions of a Red Elvises Freak [R]
Thu: Mid Term Papers DUE 10:00 pm
WEEK 9: Spring Break. No Class.
WEEK 10: Prof. Romond away at conference. No Class.
WEEK 11: Rokenrol Deconstructionism
Tue: READ Foucault. Analysis of hemicharacteristic screduis [R]
Romond. Poshlost: Rokenrol through the eyes of Vladimir Nabokov [R]
Thu: ASSIGNMENT Deconstruct a CD track of your choice.
WEEK 12: Deconstruction, con’t.
Tue: Deconstruction Presentations, CD Tracks 1-8
Thu: Deconstruction Presentations, CD Tracks 9-16
WEEK 13:
Tue: LISTEN: CD tracks 1-16
Memorize all words and accompanying gestures. There may be a quiz.
Thu: no class
Final Papers DUE 10:00 pm
WEEK 14: Wrap-up
Tue: class evaluations
Thu: Field Trip
Meet at classroom. Attendance will be taken. Bring beer money. We will be back by 2:30 am.
Grading:
Midterm paper 10%
Final paper* 20%
Classroom Participation 20%
Participation on Field Trip 50%
* Do not call Prof. Romond before 10:00 am or you will immediately be issued a failing grade on your Final Paper.
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