Class in Music

Class in Popular Culture• How is class represented in contemporary popular

culture?– Families in poverty or on welfare?– Working class families?– Middle-class?– Wealthy elites?

• Does it vary by race? By the gender of the head of the household? What of kind of class depictions are presented of gays and lesbians?

• What kinds of values does popular culture present about class position and about money?

Class Messages in Music

• We’re going to focus on 2 songs today:– “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks– “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani

• Distribute lyrics

• Play songs

Analysis• Divide into groups of 3-4• As a group, analyze and discuss the song lyrics for messages

about class• What is the overall message of the song?• Does the music matter? (genre, quality, audience, performance,

etc.)• Are there similarities across these 2 songs?• Do you think these songs are reflective of the messages in

most popular music?• Counter-examples or alternative models you want to bring up?• Where do these songs fit into the 5 taste cultures, plus youth,

black, and ethnic cultures from the Gans reading?