Whew, again 5-13-02 @ 12:40am - Thanks in big part to Jeremy Chu and Alex Derevin most work is over.  Grades are calculated (minus the final), and most people look to be in good shape except for some missing scores.  PLEASE meet with me after lecture to ensure your grades are in line with what they should be.   The final is much like the midterm, and shouldn't be very hard.  Please note it ONLY covers lectures since the last midterm, so no need to remember who Stuart Sutcliffe is.  

Whew!!! 5-12-02 @ 7:30pm - I FINALLY finished getting the notes online.  I'm REALLY sorry I'm so late in finishing this, but it took way longer than I anticipated.  Those who volunteered for an early final do not need to worry about it.  (I am starting to write the final now)  I'm also nearly done compiling the grades so I will respond the grade requests in a few hours once I have the final tallies complete.  Don't worry too much about the final as most of you only need to get a handful of questions correct in order to pass the class and I don't think the final will be too hard.

Extra viewing session 5-7-02 @ 6:15pm - I will be showing Let It Be (the movie) once more at my place tomorrow (Wed) at 8pm.  Please email me if you are interested in going and I will email you back my address/etc.  (I get spammed enough for having my email address on webpages, I'm not putting more spammable info out there)

An update because one is needed 5-5-02 @ 9pm - The lecture notes for the 2nd half of the class are going online, and the essays are being read through and graded.  Please check throughout the next day as I get the lecture notes up.  Also, please check with me after class to see how well you need to do on the final (if at all) in order to pass the class.  Also, if you missed a scheduled film showing day, please email me with the films you need to see and time you are available Tuesday afternoon (before class), Wednesday afternoon or Thurs morning-early afternoon.  I will setup viewing sessions at my place (it's too close to the end of the semester for us to reserve a room in Soda) as needed.  Also tomorrow's movie (The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash) is a very fun film made by a rare combination of SNL's cast (circa 1978) and a good deal of Monty Python.  It's very, very good and I highly recommend catching it.

A (mostly) pointless update just for the hell of it 4-15-02 @ 2:30am - No news this time, except to remind you that if you have not gotten the essay prompt in you REALLY need to.  The essay itself is due on the 22nd or 23rd.  Also, a quick reminder that we will show the movie Yellow Submarine in 310 Soda from 8pm-10pm (if I am not quite there at 8pm, I'll be there very close thereafter).  I had a ludicrously hectic weekend so I have not yet typed up the notes for last week's lecture, but I will as soon as I can clear a thing or two off of my ridiculous to-do list.  Also, I slightly fixed a problem with the sylabus where I had the suggested listenings for 2 of the last 3 lectures a bit messed up.  I cleared it up.

Updates to syllabus and such 4-7-02 @ 9pm - I'm sorry for doing this with such little notice, but I have updated the syllabus for the remainder of the semester to reflect a change to give more time for the solo careers.  (there's no way to even begin to cover the solo careers in 1 lecture)  What this means immediatly is that I moved forward the "Magical Mystery Tour" showing to tomorrow.  As with for the midterm, I am certain I will be able to setup an extra showing if there is a need.  I also removed the "returning" of the essay prompts since I have been doing that through email.  If you have no yet sent in your essay prompt, PLEASE do so.  It was due last Tuesday.  On another topic, the midterms have all been graded, and with few exceptions, everyone did quite well and I am more than a little pleased.  One last note, if you have the chance to see Paul McCartney on tour, don't think, just do it.  Nothing more needs to be said.

Yet more midterm, notes and film stuff 3-20-02 @ 6pm - All the lecture notes are now online through the most recent lecture!  The midterm covers the first five lectures (none that haven't been given yet).  We should be able to do the extra film showing for Help! & A Hard Day's Night on Thursday from 7-10pm in 320 Soda for those who couldn't make the earlier showings.  Also the first volunteer took the early midterm, and I am quite glad to report he did EXTREMELY well, so you shouldn't be too afraid of the midterm.

More midterm and film stuff 3-20-02 @ 2:50am (ugh) - Those of you who volunteered to take the early midterm, please show up to 345 Davis today (Wed) expecting it to take an hour.  I will be there from 2-4pm and 5-9pm.  Show up any time when you can stay there for an hour (it probably won't take an hour, but I want to go through the questions with you afterwards to filter out the unfair ones, and I will probably want to buy you a coke for being brave enough to take it early).  Also, it looks as though we PROBABLY have 320 Soda on Thursday night to show an extra showing of "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" for those who missed it earlier.  If I can get a room key for that room, it will be from 7-10pm in 320 Soda.  Since Soda is locked down after 6:30pm, I will do my best to let people in, but be patient for someone to show up if the front door is locked.  I will update this page as soon as I know for sure we can get into 320 Soda on Thursday.  If you still can't make that showing, I am hearing that both films are available to rent most places around Berkeley.  Since I happen to have insight into the midterm (having written it), I would suggest seeing both films.  (especially "A Hard Day's Night")   Now  I will work on getting lecture notes for lectures 4 & 5 in shape to put them up here for studying purposes.  (and cut my master set of 80 questions into 4 groups of 50 for the early midterm takers)

Yet more stuff (it never ends!) 3-19-02 @ 1:00am - The essay prompt is now online (and approved by Prof. Clancy.  We really do have faculty supervision).  I hope to get the lecture notes for lectures 4 & 5 up fairly soon.

Quick update on stuff 3-17-02 @ 12:30am  - The master set of midterm questions are more or less written, so I have to be very careful to hit the neccesary points on the next lecture that I know are on the midterm, but it should be quite doable.  With luck the lecture notes for lectures 4 & 5 should be up much sooner than the earlier ones.  (I have already written my own notes for lecture 5 which is unusually early for me)  I also have a draft copy of the instructions for the essay which I am passing by Prof. Clancy before I post it up.  (yes, in this decal, the sponsoring Professor is quite aware of what is going on)  I will also try to check in on Mofffit on Monday to check and see if the recordings listed on the syllabus are available there so you aren't required to spend a lot of money to get the cds, or worse yet force you to violate the DMCA or some other copyright law.

More lecture notes, and other stuff 3-15-02 @ 10:30pm - I put up the notes to lectures 2 & 3 (once again thank you to Alex Derevin).  I'm also in the process of writing the midterm.  At least one of you have told me that you are unable to make the monday watch sessions, and as I can confirm that at least some questions are about the two films, you need to be able to see the films.  Please email me if you are in this situation with the times you are available in the upcoming week (before spring break), and we will try to figure out a solution.  The essay information should also be up fairly soon.

Start of the lecture notes! 3-11-02 @ I don't wanna think about the time now - The first lecture's notes are now online.  The notes are fragmentary but cover all the points you will need to know for the midterm.  Please excuse the typos and other violations of the English language.  THANK YOU to Alex Derevin for being kind enough to send me his notes that I was able to use as a basis for the online notes.  I'll get the 2nd lecture's notes up in the next few days, but for right now I must get some sleep.  Also, the essay information will probably not be online until later this week at the rate I am going.

Updates (with more to come) 3-10-02 @ 10:30pm - The syllabus is revised.  PLEASE note the changes.  The midterm is moved to the week of April the 1st, and the lecture schedule has changed.  If you cannot make either midterm (either on April 1st from 6-8pm or April 2 from 8-10pm) let me know ASAP.  I will work out a way to adminster the midterm before spring break.  (this also goes for anyone who would prefer taking the midterm before spring break)   I should be able to post some lecture notes and information on the essay later tonight.  Also, if you are wondering where the signed add forms are, I wasn't able to meet up with Prof. Clancy last week (he was ill, and I was also somewhat ill) but I will try to meet up with him on Monday to get them signed.  I should have them in class signed.

Also, I'm sorry I didn't mention it earlier, but there are still some (expensive) tickets available to see Paul McCartney in Oakland on April 1st the last time I checked (correction, this is no longer the case).  Go to tickets.com if you're interested.  (if you see the show, take the midterm on Tuesday April 2nd)

Quick reminder 3-5-02 @ too late to contemplate - VOTE TODAY!!!!!!!!!   Get everyone else you know to vote!   Get people you don't know to vote!  (but only once each)

Final enrollment issues 2-27-02 @ 2:15am - As of right now, the class is full.  I was able to just barely add in everyone who has expressed interest and shown up. I will email everyone sometime today who tried to add this week, but rest assured, if you showed up, you are in the class.  (even if I have trouble emailing you)  If you still haven't gotten an email from me saying you are in from the first week (if you showed up) most likely I typed your email address in wrong or your email account was full.  Please email me if you never got such an email and you showed up the first week so I can give you the neccesary instructions on how to get the add form processed.  If you still want to take the class, but do not care if you get units for it, you are always welcome to show up, but I'm afraid I cannot add any more people who want the class for units.  (do not worry if you showed up to the first two meetings, I've guaranteed you a spot)  Now for a little sleep.

Even though this is an EECS course, it will NOT involve computers beyond any problems I may have setting up my laptop to play video clips.  It is listed under EECS because Prof. Clancy and the EECS dept were kind enough to sponsor the course.

Again, as soon as any of this changes, I will update this page immediately.

If you have any further questions or issues please email me.

In this course we will examine the history that lead to the rock and roll band the Beatles, how they progressed and developed, and how they influenced and continue to influence everything from popular music to politics to popular culture trends.  The course will utilize multimedia components such as video, and music when appropriate to accompany the lectures.  On behalf of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, we hope you will enjoy the show.

Class requirements:
 As the coordinators feel there are no adequate texts covering the Beatles, there is no assigned text thus making attendance extremely important.  Lecture notes will be posted online, but anything covered during lecture is fair game on exams regardless of whether it is in the official lecture notes or not.  Given there is no text, and exams come from lectures attendence is not something you should take for granted. The course will have a total of 2 examinations with 30 questions (multiple-choice and short answer) each, plus a 4-6 page essay required on a topic, subject to approval of the coordinators, examining a particular area of influence the Beatles had.  (more information on this later in the semester)    In addition, there will be optional media watch sessions taking place after lectures on selected days to watch films appropriate to the subject of the lecture.  (the films are listed in the course schedule)
 It is also suggested to listen to specific songs or albums before class (and by listen, I do not mean put it on in the background) as time is very limited in lecture and thus I prefer to use lecture time to either lecture or present video or music that is rarer and thus I cannot expect people to find.  In addition, it would aide your in your understanding and appreciation of course, but most importantly it's good music.

Course grade:
 The grade (pass/fail) will be determined by adding together the following items:
 Course participation: some number out of 20 points (mostly determined by amount of sessions attended)
 Exam 1: some number out of 25 points
 Exam 2: some number out of 25 points
 Essay: some number out of 30 points

 70 points total and higher is a passing grade
 

Course schedule:

Feb 11/12 - Introduction / Rock and Roll before the Beatles

Feb 18/19 - President's Day - no session

Feb 25/26 - Prehistory of the Beatles through recording of their first LP
        Suggested Listening:  The Beatles - Please Please Me

Mar 4/5 - The Beatles Take The World - 1963-mid 1964
        Suggested Listening: The Beatles - With The Beatles

Mar 11/12 - The Toppermost of the Poppermost! - mid 1964-1965
 Afterwards optional showing of "A Hard Day's Night"
        Suggested Listening: The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night & The Beatles - Beatles For Sale & The Beatles - Help & The Beatles - Rubber Soul

Mar 18/19 - Outside of the Beatles - Rock and Roll from 1962-1967
 Afterwards optional showing of "Help!"
        Suggested Listening: Beach Boys - Pet Sounds, Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks Vol 1 - Disc 1, Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited & Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

Mar 25/26 - Spring Break - no session

Apr 1/2 - TBA Lectures
 First midterm
 Essay topics due

Apr 8/9 - All You Need Is Love - 1966 - Mid 1967
  Afterwards optional showing of "Magical Mystery Tour"
        Suggested Listening: The Beatles - Revolver, & The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Apr 15/16 - Revolution #9 - Mid 1967 - 1968
 Afterwards optional showing of "Yellow Submarine"
        Suggested Listening: The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour & The Beatles - The Beatles (aka The White Album)

Apr 22/23 - The End - 1969
 Essays due
 Afterwards optional showing of "Let It Be"
        Suggested Listening: The Beatles - Let It Be & The Beatles - Abbey Road

Apr 29/30 - The Dream Is Over - 1970 - 1980 (Solo Careers)
        Suggested Listening: John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon - Imagine, John Lennon - Lennon Legend, George Harrison - All Things Must Pass, Paul McCartney - Wingspan & Ringo Starr - Ringo

May 6/7 - Free As A Bird - 1981 - 2002 (Solo Careers)
 Afterwards optional showing of "The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash"
        Suggested Listening: George Harrison - The Best of Dark Horse (1976-1989), Paul McCartney - Flaming Pie 

May 13/14 - Standing on the Shoulders of Giants (The Beatles' influence on popular music and society since their breakup)
 Second multiple choice exam
        Suggested Listening: TBA