Country music fans can now study Dolly Parton in a university course
The Dolly Parton: music, identity and culture module lasts six weeks.
Student’s will have to fork out £125 for the standalone module.
However, they won’t receive any credits that will be counted towards a qualification.
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But Dolly lovers will be able to put it on their CV for further learning.
The course recommends eight hours of study per week – meaning that the budding academic will also need to work 9-5.
The bizarre music module has been launched at Open University.
During week one, student’s will dive into the 77-year-old singer’s life, career and music.
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They will “explore Parton’s relationship to musical authenticity, gender, and poor, white communities in the Southern United States”
The following week they will research Dolly Parton’s ‘southern identity.’
During week three, students will discuss the cross over between pop and country music.
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They will “examine Parton as not only a country musician but also a pop musician with widespread appeal.”
Students can discover how sounds, lyrics and sentiment can convey a sense of musical style.
For the fourth week – they will study the country singers hyper-feminine image.
The module description reads: “You’ll explore Parton’s performance of gender and sexuality through her music, image and reception.
”You’ll consider different interpretations of her gender identity, including as a ‘real fake woman’, an astute businesswoman and an LGBTQ+ ally.”
Undergraduates will then study the singer’s hit, 9-5.
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They will examine the relationship between country music, work and leisure.
For the final week of the module, participants will “focus on two songs that take different approaches to reproducing aspects of Parton’s music – Whitney Houston’s I will always love you, and Pras’ Ghetto Supastar (that is what you are).”
They are expected to “identify musical similarities and differences between Parton’s music and these songs.
After 50 hours of learning, students will not need to participate in a test at the end of the module.
But “there will be three ‘review and reflect’ points built into the course which you’ll use to reflect on your understanding.”
The course description reads: “You’ll explore the relationship between music, identity, and culture through the work of country musician and songwriter Dolly Parton.
”You’ll learn about Parton’s appeal to different audiences, her paradoxical artistic persona and the connections between her music and music by other artists.
”The course situates Parton’s music in relation to country music, examining the genre’s associations with place, race and gender.
”You’ll be introduced to the key concepts and terminology relevant to studying music.
”The course will help you to develop your analytical listening skills by engaging with a range of music examples.”
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