Notes: This offering of MUSI 301 will focus on the genre of Progressive Rock.

Notes: Canadian Identity in and through The Tragically Hip. Formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1983, The Tragically Hip have become more closely identified with Canadian identity than any other musician/musical group of their generation. Unlike many Canadian musicians whose early domestic success led to major international fame (musicians as diverse as Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Justin Bieber and Michael Bublé), the Hip's intense popularity inside Canada has not been matched with any particular critical or commercial success in the United States or elsewhere. In part, this can be explained by the strong sense of place in the band's lyrics, penned by Gord Downie. Canadian geography 'both physical and social' echo across the band's oeuvre, from 'Bobcaygeon' to 'Wheat Kings' and beyond. More than this, the evolution of the Hip's music and lyrics have paralleled some important political and social developments in Canada, supporting various justice initiatives, beginning with the unjust incarceration of David Milgaard. Most recently, this concern with social justice is evident in Downie¿s album The Secret Path (2016) which turned the true story of a young indigenous boy's death fleeing from Residential School in the 1960s into a concept album that resonates strongly with key aims of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. All of this suggests the music of the Hip as the nexus through which to study various constructions of Canadian identity through the close reading of many songs from their 13 studio albums, essays and live performances and side projects. In addition to in-depth study of their oeuvre, the course will consider larger issues of Canadian identities, such as what role music plays in identity formation, and enduring concerns about who shapes such identities.