The American South: Its Stories, Music, and Art

Ends soon! Save on skills that make you shine with 40% off 3 months of Coursera Plus. Save now

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The American South: Its Stories, Music, and Art

Instructor: Dr. William Ferris

36,589 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

406 reviews

7 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

406 reviews

7 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 6 modules in this course

From small farms to urban neighborhoods, from the region itself to the more distant worlds of the southern diaspora, we discover the stories, music, and art of the American South.

Reflecting on geography, the diaspora, the mythic and the global South as ways to approach the contested memory of the region.

What's included

6 videos1 assignment

Considering the content and form of the stories, toasts, dozens, auctions and religious sermons and what they reveal about Southern Culture.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment

Understanding the distinction between folk art traditions and the high art of the academy with examples of basket-weaving, quilt-making, sculpture, painting, and photography.

What's included

11 videos1 assignment

11 videosTotal 50 minutes

Formal and Folk Art4 minutes
Basket Weaving4 minutes
Quilting4 minutes
Folk Sculpture4 minutes
Folk Painting5 minutes
Community Tradition2 minutes
Black and White Photography6 minutes
Color Photography5 minutes
Sense of Place6 minutes
Sense of History6 minutes
Literature's Influence3 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Southern Artists30 minutes

Examining the lives and works of great Southern writers and looking at how specific stories, music, and art are referenced and provide structure for literary forms such as the novel and the short story.

What's included

7 videos1 assignment

Exploring Southern music and its roots in work chants, fife and drum, and one-strand on the wall music.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment

Focusing on this distinctive form of music, so intimately defined by sense of place, class, race, and tradition.

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(63 ratings)

Dr. William Ferris

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

1 Course36,589 learners

Offered by

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Explore more from Music and Art

Status: Preview
University of Pennsylvania
Reconstructing America's Story
Course
Status: Free
Rice University
America Through Foreign Eyes
Course
Status: Preview
University of Virginia
Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction
Course
Status: Preview
University of Rochester
The Blues: Understanding and Performing an American Art Form
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
69.62%
4 stars
20.49%
3 stars
6.66%
2 stars
1.72%
1 star
1.48%

Showing 3 of 406

Reviewed on Oct 28, 2017

very helpful an introduction! Making me really wanna know more about the South. Love the Story-telling oral tradition of South!

Reviewed on Oct 4, 2015

Amazing course! Conversational, relaxed lectures that are well-informed, paired with excellent archival footage--mostly generated by the presenting professor.

Reviewed on Nov 6, 2015

I really enjoyed this course. The lecturer has a style that keeps you interested. The content was very interesting.

View more reviews

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.