I Want My MTV!
This three-session virtual course taught by Kit O’Toole explores how the rise of music videos changed the course of pop music.
Class Schedule: May 6, 13,20, 2027 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM
When MTV debuted on August 1, 1981, the music charts were filled with Yacht Rock, arena rock, and country crossovers. Just two years later, the channel had introduced US viewers to a new crop of bands, including Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, and the Thompson Twins. Originally, the channel played few Black artists, claiming to be primarily a rock channel. Michael Jackson would break down those barriers, elevating not only his own career, but also MTV and the music video art form.
In addition, women would achieve more success, with Madonna leading the way through her provocative videos. Through the 1980s, the pop charts would be filled with diverse genres from dance to rock to metal to alternative to hip hop, all promoted through the heavily influential MTV. Multimedia presentations and discussions will study the journey from MTV’s earliest days through the 1980s, demonstrating how music and popular culture changed due to one cable channel.
