The Research Paper
In her 2017 article, “Beyonce’s Overwhelming Opus; or, the Past and Future of Music Video,” Carol Vernallis claims that music video has played a central role in creating a culture of what she calls
“intensified audiovisuality.” Moreover, she argues the following: “If schools, museums, and libraries paid more attention to ‘minor arts’ like pop music and music video, we might interpret our contemporary
mediascape differently, and we might be more attuned to the ways audiovisual ideas flow through today’s media swirl.”George Lipsitz also argues that popular music ought to be taken seriously. In his 2007 book, Footsteps in the Dark: The Hidden Histories of Popular Music,Lipsitz argues that popular songs can reflect and shape “important historical realities, even though their creators for the most part never intended them to be heard in that way” (Lipsitz viii). Taking a similar approach to Lipsitz in her celebrated study of blues music, Blues Legacies and Black Feminism (1999), Angela Davis argues that female blues musicians bridged social consciousness with musical expression, thereby paving the way for later artists and the evolution of popular music. In short, music is not just
historical. It’s history in the making. For this research paper, you will choose any music (or related
subject) to take up as your object of study. It might be one song or several songs. It might be a single album.ed in the music? Has its significance been misinterpreted or underappreciated? Has the music been neglected by certain demographics? Who is it that might need to be convinced that
this music matters?
Give only a brief biographical overview of the artist. This overview should serve to illuminate the music. Do not give an extended encyclopedic overview of the artist’s life.
Interpret and explain the lyrics (as opposed to
summarizing them). Prioritize your own explanations, and feel free to do
so in conversation with other interpretations of the lyrics.
Interpret the music itself along with any relevant album art, videos, concerts, etc., when applicable.
Utilize relevant research materials: articles, books, album reviews, recordings, video footage, and websites that illuminate or discuss your album and the artist.
Album to use: Champions by Meek Mill
Some sources to use have been included in the attachments, they are by Angela Davis and George Lipsitz. This source here is by Carol Vernallis: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/f/fc/13761232.0041.105/–beyonce-s-overwhelming-opus-or-the-past-and-future-of-music?rgn=main;view=fulltext
Samples essay written by me are included to incorporate my writing style into the essay.
Last Completed Projects
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