Bring the Funk in Spring 2010

American Studies is delighted to cross-list a new course from a new member of the KU faculty, Anthony Bolden's Theory and Practice of Funk (AMS 696/AAAS 523/AAAS 723). Meeting Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-4:15, this course can be taken for undergraduate or graduate credit. Here's how Prof. Bolden describes the course:

A multi-disciplinary course that examines the conceptual foundations of the theory and practice of funk. Employing a wide array of materials, including dance criticism, musicology, literature, and interviews, we will examine the aesthetic characteristics, philosophical principles, and performance practices associated with funk. Although most people tend to conceptualize funk in terms of the dance bands of James Brown, Sly Stone, George Clinton, and others, the earliest references to funk in English came from blues dancers and musicians near the turn of the twentieth century, and there is evidence to suggest that funk is a concept that survived the Middle Passage. As such, funk (or the funk impulse) is a fundamental element of virtually all black musical genres; it predates such terms as hot, swing, and soul, which seem to be synonyms of funk. How do we, then, account for the privileged space that funk occupies in the history of black vernacular performance? How do we document its presence and examine its cultural impact? Important clues can be found in the area of dance. And since the funk impulse is reflected most vividly in kinetic expression, especially dancing, the class will adopt George Clinton’s premise that if it makes you move your feet, “it’s the Funk.” Beginning with traditional African religions, we will examine the central role dancing played in possession rituals, and devote considerable attention to manifestations of this impulse in spirituals, blues, swing, soul, funk, and hip hop.

AMS majors who are pursuing a concentration that needs a little more funk in it should consult their advisors about whether this course would fit. You may contact Prof. Bolden for more information.