Popular Music in Québec

 CANS 301 — Topics in Canadian Studies 2
Canadian Studies
QBST 300 — Quebec Culture and Society
Quebec Studies/Études sur le Québec
Popular Music in Québec
Course section: Fall 2014, Wednesday, 9:35-12:25
Location: EDUC 216
Instructor: Sandria P. Bouliane
Email: [email protected]
Office: McGill Institute for the Study of Canada
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Description
The main focus of this course is on popular music recorded in Quebec during the 20th century, including
French, English and Allophone artists. It deals with topics concerning Quebec popular music with the goal
of integrating key social, cultural, political and historical aspects. Because popular music is also a matter
of personal taste, lifestyle and trends, the course will call on students’ curiosity and experiences to
enhance class activities. The pedagogical approach of this course will use different teaching methods to
ensure both transmission of knowledge and active learning.
Language requirement: A passive knowledge of the French language is a valuable asset for this course (A
capacity to read and to understand oral French). Lectures will be given in English.
Objectives
• Introduce students to different musical genres and styles as they were developed in Quebec during the
20th century;
• Introduce students to the main actors of popular song in Quebec (artists, songwriters, directors,
producers, record companies, etc.);
• Make connections between different linguistic/cultural music scenes;
• Develop students’ ability to hear, recognize and name different styles, songs and artists who have
influenced the development of music in Quebec;
• Introduce the student to multidisciplinary approaches in the study of popular music.
Evaluation
1. Attendance and participation (15%):
Students are expected to complete weekly readings and audio listenings prior to the period for
which they have been assigned so as to have a better grasp of the subject matter and participate in
discussions. Regular attendance is expected.
2. Portfolio (45%):
Throughout the fall, students will put together a learning portfolio which will include a mix of
formal and informal learning. It will consist of a brief summary of 10 classes (200-300 words),
Popular Music in Quebec (Fall 2014)
Sandria P. Bouliane
comments on the readings (100-200 words), personal insights, musical appreciation and audiovideo content. More details will be given in class. The portfolio will be submitted twice, on
October 3rd and on November 26th.
Grading scale:
Course summaries 10%
Reading summaries 10%
Personal and creative content 15%
Peer assessments (oral presentation) 10%
3. Midterm presentation on music festivals (10%)
For this assignment students, in groups of two, will give a 6-8 minute oral presentation on a music
festival held in Quebec. Each team is also expected to create a visual aid outlining the presentation
that will be shared with classmates on MyCourses.
4. Final research paper and oral presentation (30%):
A critical review of an album is suggested, however, if you would like to pursue a topic of your
own choice, please submit a written proposal and have it approved before September 24th.
A detailed plan is due on October 10th and worth 10%. The written essay (8 pages, doublespaced), worth 10% and is due on December 14th. The output will be a presentation during one of
the two last classes. Each presentation should be 15 minutes long and worth 10%.
**A MyCourses page will be available for this course. We will use the page to make information available
to you. Also, you can use it to communicate with the instructor or with other students. The readings will
be posted to MyCourses and all assignments must be submitted electronically into a MyCourses dropbox.
Be sure to upload the correct document named in the following manner:
LASTNAMEfirstname_assignment.fileformat
Ex. PBOULIANEsandria_Final paper.docx or SMITHjohn_portfolio.pdf
McGill Grading
Grade
Grade point
Percentages
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D (Conditional Pass)
F (Fail)
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.0
0
85-100
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
0-49
2
Popular Music in Quebec (Fall 2014)
Sandria P. Bouliane
Schedule of topics and readings
Week
Content
Deadline
Sep. 3
Introduction/Course outline
§ Course content and limitations + Terminological reflections
§ Portfolio entries begin
Sep. 10
The making of Quebec’s popular music history, 1890-1950
P. Bouliane, S., “First Recordings of Popular Songs in French Canada”.
Sep. 17
Québec’s popular music as an artefact
Grenier, L., “«Je me souviens»…en chansons: articulations de la citoyenneté
culturelle et de l'identitaire dans le champ musical populaire au Québec”.
Le Guern, P., “The Spectre haunting Rock Music – The Obsession with
Heritage, Popular and Present-Day Music, and «Museo-mummification»
Issues” (EN/FR)
11h30 Hélène Laurin “Musée et musique: narration et légitimation”
Sep. 24
Popular music and nationalism(s)
Durand, C., “Entre exportation et importation. La création de la chanson
québécoise selon la presse artistique, 1960-1980”.
Jones, C., “Song and Nationalism in Quebec”.
Piroth, S., “Popular Music and Identity in Quebec”.
Singer-songwriters: from Chansonniers to Hip hop
Ramson, A., “«Québec History X»: Re-Visioning the Past Through Rap”.
TBA
11h30 Luc Bellemare “About the singer-songwriter Félix Leclerc”
Festival and
term paper’s
subject
approuval
Oct. 8
Being outsider/ insider: native and exiled music
Proulx, R., « L’Émergence des chanteurs immigrants sur la scène de la musique
populaire au Québec : l’exemple de Corneille et de Lynda Thalie ».
Scales, C., “First nations popular music in canada: musical meaning and the
politics”.
Laura Jordan Gonzalez “About the chilian artist Alberto Kurapel”
Oct. 10th :
Term paper
detail plan
Oct. 15
About Festivals and concert venues (hall, bar, theater, etc.)
Cummins-Russell, T. A. and N. M. Rantisi, “Networks and place in Montreal’s
independent music Industry”.
TBA
Oct. 22
Oral presentation on Festivals
Oct. 29
Musical press, fanzines and its others
TBA
Louis Rastelli “About the alternative music press in Montreal”
Nov. 5
Quebec record companies
Straw, W. “L’industrie du disque au Québec”. (FR/EN)
John, C., [n.d.] “Quebec Song: Strategies in the Cultural Marketplace”.
Catherine Lefrancois “About country-western’s label records”
François Mouillot “About Constellation Records and Alien8 Recordings”
Nov. 12
Punk
Oct. 1
Lussier, M., 2009, “La scène punk montréalaise: processus de différenciation et
métissage en concert”.
Érik Cimon, “Montreal Punk”
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
Oral presentations
Oral presentations
Oct. 3rd :
Portfolio
Dec. 14th:
Final paper
Portfolio
3
Popular Music in Quebec (Fall 2014)
Sandria P. Bouliane
Required readings and others
Exhibition
Music – Quebec: From Charlebois to Arcarde Fire, Exhibition (ends on October 13th), McCord Museum,
690 Sherbrooke St. W. See schedule http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/info/hours/ (14$)
Readings
Cummins-Russell, T. A. and N. M. Rantisi. 2012. “Networks and place in Montreal’s independent music Industry”.
The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien 56(1): 80–97. DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-0064.2011.00399.x
Durand, C. 2007. “Entre exportation et importation. La création de la chanson québécoise selon la presse artistique,
1960-1980”, Revue d’Histoire de l’Amérique Française 60 (3, hiver): 295-324.
Grenier, L. 1997. “«Je me souviens»…en chansons: articulations de la citoyenneté culturelle et de l'identitaire dans
le champ musical populaire au Québec”. Sociologie et sociétés vol. XXIX, no 2, automne : 31-47
Jones, C., 2000, “Song and Nationalism in Quebec”, Contemporary French Civilization, vo. XXIV, no 1
(Spring/Summer) http://mlrc.hss.cmu.edu/FacPages/cjones/QuebecSong1.pdf
Le Guern, Philippe. 2012. « Un spectre hante le rock… L’obsession patrimoniale, les musiques populaires et
actuelles et les enjeux de la « muséomomification » ». Questions de communication 22: 7-44. URL :
http://questionsdecommunication.revues.org/6820 (FRENCH) « The Spectre haunting Rock Music – The
Obsession with Heritage, Popular and Present-Day Music, and “Museo-mummification” Issues » URL :
www.cairn.info/revue-questions-de-communication-2012-2-page-8.htm. (ENGLISH)
Lussier, Martin. 2009. “La scène punk montréalaise: processus de différenciation et métissage en concert”. Volume!
6 (1-2), Géographie, musique et postcolonialisme: 221-236.
P. Bouliane, Sandria [2008]. “First Recordings of Popular Songs in French Canada”. The Encyclopedia of French
Cultural Heritage in North America, s.p. http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article298/First_Recordings_of_Popular_Songs_in_French_Canada.html
Piroth, Scoth. 2008. “Popular Music and Identity in Quebec”. American Review of Canadian Studies 32 (8): 145164. URI: http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/001312ar
Proulx, Robert. 2008. « L’Émergence des chanteurs immigrants sur la scène de la musique populaire au Québec :
l’exemple de Corneille et de Lynda Thalie ». Québec Studies 45 (printemps-été) : 7-28
Jones, Christopher. 2010. “Popular Music in Québec”. Quebec Questions : Quebec Studies For Twenty-First
Century. Stéphan Gervais, Christopher Kirkey and Jarrett Rudy (eds.) Oxford : Oxford University Press.
Ramson, Amy J. 2013. “«Québec History X»: Re-Visioning the Past Through Rap”. American Review of Canadian
Studies 43 (1) : 12-29. DOI: 10.1080/02722011.2013.769018
Scales, Christopher. 1999. “First nations popular music in canada: musical meaning and the politics”. Canadian
University Music Review 19 (2) :94-101.
Straw, W. “L’industrie du dique au Québec”. http://strawresearch.mcgill.ca/straw/traite.pdf (ENGLISH)
Recommended readings (To be continued)
Bellermare, Luc (2007). « Pop Music in Quebec and French Canada», The Canadian Encyclopedia
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/pop-music-in-quebec-and-french-canada-emc/
Bizzoni, Lise et Cécile Prévost-Thomas (eds.) (2008). La chanson francophone engagée. Montréal, Triptyque.
Desroches, Monique et al. (eds) (2011). Territoires musicaux mis en scène. Montréal : Presses de l’Université de
Montréal.
4
Popular Music in Quebec (Fall 2014)
Sandria P. Bouliane
Giroux, Robert (ed.). 1987. La chanson dans tous ses états. Montréal : Triptyque.
Giroux, Robert (ed.). 1993. En avant la chanson. Montréal : Triptyque.
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (London: Macmillan Publishers)
Lacasse, Serge et Patrick Poirier (eds.). 2006. Groove, enquête sur les phénomènes musicaux contemporains :
mélanges à la mémoire de Roger Chamberland. Québec : Presses de l’Université Laval.
Lefrançois, Catherine (2008). “La chanson country-western au Québec : état de la question et piste musicologiques”,
Quebec Studies, 45 (printemps-été) : 29-42.
Musiques : une encyclopédie pour le XXIe siècle, sous la dir. de Jean-Jacques Nattiez. Arles : Actes Sud/Cité de la
musique. 5 volumes.
P. Bouliane, Sandria, Johanne Menlançon et al. (2010). « Chanson populaire francophone au Canada. La chanson de
1900
à
2009 ».
Encyclopedia
of
French
Cultural
Heritage
in
North
America.
http://chanson.ameriquefrancaise.org
Ransom, Amy. “Language Choice and Code Switching in Current Popular Music From Québec”. Glottopol : revue
de sociolinguistique en ligne, no 17 (January) : 115-131.
Rasky, Harry. The Songs of Leonard Cohen : Portrait of a Poet, a Friendship and a Film. Oakville; Niagara Falls :
Mosaic Press.
Straw, W. « Music From the Wrong Place : On the Italianicity of Québec Disco ». Criticism, vol. 50, no 1: 113-132.
Use of Mobile Computing and Communications Devices
Mobile computing and communications devices are permitted in class insofar as their use does not
disrupt the teaching and learning process. But:
1.
2.
The use of MC2 devices must, in all cases, respect policies and regulations of the University;
Due to the potential use of MC2 devices for recording and voice communication, such use is not permitted
without explicit permission:
• No audio or video recording of any kind is allowed in class without the explicit permission of the instructor;
• MC2 devices are not to be used for voice communication without the explicit permission of the instructor.
Plagiarism and Student Conduct
Students should be familiar with McGill University’s student policies and student responsibilities. Special attention
should be paid to the policies on plagiarism. McGill policy and student responsibilities can be found online at
http://ww2.mcgill.ca/students-handbook/.
Mcgill policy statements
1st statement – Academic Integrity
“McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences
of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures
(see www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more information).”
2nd statement: Charter of Students’ Rights
“In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in
English or in French any written work that is to be graded. (Approved by Senate on 21 January 2009)”
3rd statement — N/A (only where there is a final exam)
4th statement
“In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, the content and/or evaluation scheme
in this course is subject to change.”
5