Class Description
Real ones know that disco was so much more than a tacky fad that reeked hopelessly of late 1970s hedonism: in point of fact, the long disco era was a hugely important moment in the evolution of popular music, especially music made by and for gay and Black audiences. This class flicks the lights on after the party's over to explore the origins of disco as a sound and a scene, moving from the first discotheques in the 1950s and 60s to the dance halls of Jamaica, to seminal early parties like David Mancuso's Love Saves the Day, where funk and soul and rock began to fuse into the disco sound. As the 70s roll on, that irresistible (and surprisingly complex) sound codifies, DJs hone their technique, producers innovate with seamless mixing and the 12" single, and dance floors from coast to coast swell with revelers long into the night. Along the way, there was a little movie called Saturday Night Fever, and a little riot called Disco Demolition Night, but they barely made an impression on disco's truest devotees. By the 80s, disco gloriously transforms, as rap and hip-hop morph out of disco's root elements and legendary DJs like Chicago's own Frankie Knuckles morph post-disco into house. Join us for a deep dive into what exactly makes disco so damn irresistible after all these years.
Rob Onorato is an independent researcher and writer, with special interests ranging from queer writers through the ages to neurodivergent techniques in popular music to botany and horticulture. He has lectured and presented at Rock Valley College, North Central College, and Emerson College, and works as the Newberry’s Director of Individual Giving.
What to Expect
Format: In Person
Class Capacity: 20
Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged
Materials List
Required
- Instructor-Distributed Materials
- Access to streaming music (Spotify, YouTube, etc; paid subscription not required but helpful)
First Reading
- Read and listen to the "Prelude" section of instructor-distributed materials
A Brief Syllabus
- Intro & Overview: What is disco, exactly?
- Origins to 1974: Proto-disco, early venues, the birth of the DJ
- 1974 to 1977: The Golden Age
- 1977 to 1979: From Fever to Demolition
- 1979 to 1985: Post-Disco and Beyond
Cost and Registration
5 Sessions, $255 ($229.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($255), Community Supported ($235), and Sponsor ($275). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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