Written Assignment 3: Women in Popular Music
Select one genre (Country, Hip Hop, Rock Band, Folk, or Soul/R&B) from the list below. Select a genre that you are interested in as you will be asked to identify a female artist(s) you are interested in listening to and discuss her work.
Each genre has an article about an artist (group of artists) that represents an early pioneer for women in their genre. Read through the article in order to answer the questions. It also includes a specific song to listen to. Complete all the elements within the genre you choose. All of the songs are available through Spotify in addition to any links attached.
Complete all elements within the genre you choose.
Country Music:
https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/first-female-country-music-star-kitty-wells-dead-92-flna887746
Who is the woman identified?
Briefly summarize when she was active in her career and what she did that made her more than just the first woman.
Listen to the song that made her famous Making Believe. (find 1955 version on Spotify)
Identify the instrument she is playing and what the lyrics are about.
Are the instruments and lyrics what you would expect from country music?
Identify a woman in country music who you are interested in.
Does this artist demonstrate a connection to Kitty Wells in terms of the lyrics, style, or instrument played?
Has the artist you have chosen spoken about gender in country music?
If so, indicate what she has said and where you found your information.
HIP HOP
http://hiphoparchive.org/artists/mc-lyte
Who is the woman identified?
Briefly summarize when she was active in her career and what she did that made her more than just the first woman.
Listen to her first recorded song I Cram to Understand U (Sam) (on Spotify)
What are the lyrics about? How does it represent early hip hop in terms of the style and sound? (*You may want to read ahead to Lesson 35 in your textbook to help you)
Identify a woman in hip hop who you are interested in.
Does this artist represent a connection to MC Lyte in terms of her style, lyrics, delivery, etc?
Has the artist you have chosen spoken about gender in hip hop?
If so, indicate what she has said and where you found your information.
ROCK BAND
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/01/fanny-behind-the-reunion-of-a-groundbreaking-all-female-rock-band
Who is the group identified?
Briefly summarize when they were active in their career and what they did that made them more than just the first female band.
Listen to the song included in the article.
How many members are there in the band? What instruments are they playing? How is this similar to rock band music of the time?
Identify a female rock band or artist you may be interested in.
Are they similar in terms of instruments used, style of singing, etc?
Has the band you have selected spoken about gender issues within rock music? If so, what have they said and where did you find your information?
Folk (and Protest)
Who is the woman identified?
Briefly summarize when she was active in her career and what she did that made her more than just an important woman in folk. What other singers did she inspire?
Listen to her performance in 1964:
Play Video
Identify her instrument, style of singing, and nature of the lyrics.
Is this what you would expect of folk musicians of the time?
Identify a woman who is involved in or inspired by folk/protest music you are interested in.
Does she have any similarities in the instruments she plays, style of singing, or nature of the lyrics?
Has she spoken about the role of women in music and/or the protest movements? Identify what she says and your source.
Soul and Blues
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/20/etta-james
Who is the woman identified?
Briefly summarize when she was active in her career and what she did that made her more than just an important woman in blues and soul. What artists did she inspire?
Listen to one of her most well known songs, Id Rather Go Blind
Play Video
What types of instruments do you hear in the background? How fast or slow is it performed? Is it what you would associate with R&B and Soul?
Identify a woman in Soul (R&B) you are interested in.
Does she show any similarities to Etta James or demonstrate any influence?
Has the artist you have chosen spoken about the role of women in music or her own influences? Identify your sources.
GRADING: (out of 10)
Identification and summary of the artist(s) career: 2 points
Identification and explanation of the elements of the song listed: 2 points
Identification/Selection of a woman of your own listening interest: 1 point
Discussion of how that artist is connected to the primary artist: 2 points
Discussion of how the artist selected is connected to speaking about womens roles: 1 point
Writing style, editing, and citation of outside sources: 2 points
(Failure to cite sources will result in an automatic zero)
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|