Funk is a musical style that emerged during the late 1960s and early ‘70s, and is widely considered as one of the primary influences in the development of disco, rap, hip hop, fusion, and contemporary urban and R&B styles. This course will follow the trajectory of funk from its roots in rhythm and blues through its classic formulation in the 1970s, and will conclude with a discussion of the urban transformation and revival of funk over the last two decades. We will place funk within its cultural and social milieu, as well as examine the evolving musical characteristics of funk in some detail. This course is intended for the general university student and neither assumes nor requires previous training in music. 3 cr.