Blog #4

 

The topic for my proposed idea for the syllabus would be exploring the impact of minority music in American history as well as the various artists and musicians that helped shape up or be the face of entire genres. I had come up with this idea after researching The Golden Record from the famous Voyager 1 spacecraft. I thought it would be a great topic to write about since NASA had collaborated with Carl Sagan to create the record along with Dr. Sagan's wife. I really love the fact that an EP vinyl had been launched into space as a message for extraterrestrial kind. As a massive space enthusiast and all things out of this world, I had always pondered upon the possibilities of life on other planets. I genuinely appreciate how the record contains various cultures around the world to add in order to explain to the hypothetical life forms who we humans are, how many we are, what we do, what we are made of, what other life forms exist, the sounds and looks of Earth and its inhabitants. 

 

For texts, here is a link to a video on YouTube called The 116 images NASA wants aliens to see by Vox. I chose this video since it best explains the mission of the Voyager crafts and the technological differences between our smartphones (greater computational power) and the spacecrafts launched.

 

In an assignment point of view, I believe this would be a great opportunity to receive feedback from students on their favorite songs that they would think had been a cultural impact in minority representation. One can write up ideas in blogs or other such assignments and post with detailed descriptions of the musician that had greatly impacted their minds and hearts. 

 

    This topic can definitely bring out equality with the students and educate each other to what humans are, not just as different cultures or whether or not we are minorities or the majority of a nation. This topic can also immortalize other previously unknown artists that were underrated and preserve their masterpieces in our history, just as the Golden Record has preserved the work of Blind Willie Johnson's Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground.